My name is Noel I live in Banning, Ca about 20 minutes west of Palm Springs. I'm on the precipice of 60 years old, under-employed with a worn out back. I'm 6'1" and come in at 200 lbs. I haven't camped in 15 years, but have a bucket list adventure planned for next summer June 2020 with a childhood friend, riding our ageing Adventure motorcycles to Alaska- where my daughters family lives in Kenai. (I've driven there once (5 years ago) and lived in Anchorage for a year as a 20 year old.) Because of space limitations and my back issues, sleeping on the ground sounds a bit scary for an 18-21 day one way sight-seeing trip (selling our bikes there and flying home). It was scary to think about until I started reading about hammocks and the space 'and comfort possibilities' they offer. That's why I've joined up to this forum. So about me? I'm a non-commercial bee keeper- 30 hives (I thought my wife was spending too much on honey and thought- 'hey I can do that on the cheap and save money buying honey' and started raising bees Bwa-hahahahahaha). With well over 100 stings my first year I.... oh that's another story. All that and I also raise about 40 varieties of fig trees for fun and dabble in aqua-ponic gardening and would go back to raising dairy goats, rabbits and chickens if I had the room. Back in the day, I was pretty much a 'campground' 3- room tent camper with the family-(5 kids and their friends too) , so everything including the kitchen sink usually got tossed into the back of the Ford station wagon after work (and of course always after dark- not including whatever could be lassoed onto the roof of the car) But alas I can't do that easily on a motorcycle. My comfort is a real issue. After running several 2nd hand stores (some successful, and um.. some not) I can longer stand on my feet for hours on hours, but can ride a motorcycle with plenteous stretch stops. So about the budget. I'm without a job and my lovely bride of 33 years who is a nurse at our local hospital is the one keeping us afloat and still hosting 2 of 5 kids (a couple of college kids still at home) this has left my wife and I in extreme budget mode, so all that personal stuff just to say, my personal purchases now are scrutinized with a fine toothed comb- being bald, there's no room to comb-over or hide any purchases from her-lol. Anyhow... with all that exhaustive prerequisite introduction stuff safely bivied away, I'm on the hunt for an entry level, budget minded, hammock set-up for that June ride to Alaska. I plan a couple of colder weather 'over-niters' before hand to learn the ropes or cords or... etc. So a good net to keep out the winged alligators is mandatory, as well as I'd imagine a top and bottom quilt (btw Could I make these myself out of old down sleeping bags?) and was thinking of packing a twin sized down quilt for bedding. I know this is all sounding pretty hokey (I'm a redneck at heart). But this is where red-neck and hokey really come together, I've been looking at hammock combo's on (gasp) AMAZON! I saw an "Easthills Outdoors Jungle Explorer 118" x 79" that looked interesting. (Edited)What are your thoughts on that model or similar? Or go off the 'Al le Carte' menu?) I would say my entire hammock budget is going to be in the neighborhood of $200. Again, maybe I could 'Gerri-rig' a top and bottom quilt (I can only hand stitch). Any suggestions for a Amazon purchase? Again I'm 6'1" and 200 lbs. with a busted back. Is any of this doable or am I dreaming here? Reading your posts, you guys seem like really nice quality group of people who wouldn't mind lending a redneck some advice. I'll probably read a few of your idea's before responding- but I am reading them ALL!. Thanks to any and all in advance. All blessings to you. Noel. oh..BTW my handle "butdusty" is in reference to Psalm 103:14 when David talking of Moses he said that men are 'but dust'.
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