On dehydrators, and other things

This week, I turned my previous athletic declines around. I ran a hair over 50km, biked over 100km, and hit 100 reps of all my strength exercises on Friday. I do need to get back in the water, and start adding weight to my runs, but things are at least improving.

Today, I got a 9-tray excalibur dehydrator...for free. Basically, I saw one on craigslist earlier this week and messaged the seller. They felt so bad about not messaging back that they offered to let me have it for free today. It was a bit of a train ride, and frankly the thing is filthy, but that's fine. It did get me thinking about how I would build a good dehydrator. I think the basic idea would stay the same; horizontal rectangular trays with a heater and fan in the rear. But I don't think this thing has an actual thermostat; the temps are just positions on a potentiometer. I'd also want to use some standardized size of tray and cooling rack, like half sheet pans or quarter sheet pans, so pans and racks from many manufacturers would work. Supporting them is an interesting issue; perhaps making the sides of corrugated metal, or perhaps each of the four corners inside the box could include a vertical spring. In any event, there should be a proper dehydrator, and possibly a timer. Could a humidity sensor automatically shut the dehydrator down once the right level of dehydration was achieved?

I finally threw away my old mattress. 30 year old lump of rubber foam that it was, it was just getting to be too much of a mess. I'm thinking of other options. Buckwheat hulls? Camping sleeping pad? Just continue sleeping on what amounts to a wooden platform? I'm actually intrigued by the last option, if only for minimalist reasons. Insulation might become an issue in the fall.

I do intend to buy a good camping sleeping pad anyway, because I intend to try bikepacking, or bike touring (definitions vary based on source). It seems interesting to consider making some gear myself. for example, a quilt, but perhaps with a piece of netting or a single layer of material where it goes underneath to keep the edges from coming out while still avoiding the wasted insulation in that area from a sleeping bag. Or the tent; I can imagine several modes. A simple, ultralight anti-bug setup with a bathtub floor that reaches a substantial distance up the sides, a rain fly that (working with those sides) would also provide protection from even driving rain (and perhaps a vestibule), and a warmer setup which, combined with the fly, would provide two layers and all the warmth that comes with them.

I also find myself interested in cookless camping. Trail mix, granola with dehydrated milk, various jerkies, and the like could all reduce or even eliminate the need to carry a stove, fuel, cooking utensils, etc. Once I get my new (to me) dehydrator cleaned up, I think I'll try making some jerky and fruit leather. Then maybe I'll eat cookless for a few days, just to try it out.