The Traveling Spyderco Delica. . .

[BD_01]

Press play, then read this post.

We’ve had two storms pass through since Cam came to town. This morning’s rainy commute gave rise to a beautifully clear evening. Cam insisted we go for a hike, in spite of a blustery wind chill of 55° F. (Sorry, Cam made me put that in there for @Glock Guy.).



Early in our hike we were reminded that in spite of a few rain showers, San Diego (all of So Cal actually) is really a desert. Ok, technically semi-arid along the coast...but you get the idea. As such, it always cracks me up when residents act surprised each time a “drought” is announced. A drought. In a desert. Really.?. Hills that look green today will be a tinderbox of brown and brittle sage by May.



San Diego County is full of hills and valleys, in some places extending right to the shoreline. Some suburbs interdigitate with the valleys giving the illusion of solitude, not very far from the city center.



In other places the population has engulfed the terrain as far as one can see.



Given the weather and my work schedule, Cam might not have many opportunities to watch a Pacific sunset on his trip. He wanted me to share this one with you.



I thought the music would be fitting.

 

[MostMenAreRuthless]

Great posts!

 

[BD_01]

When the weather broke for a bit, we set off on our usual Saturday conquest!



The conditions were less than perfect, but here’s the deal...If you wait for perfect, you’ll spend a lot of time dry. We’ve been desperate to get into the water.



Heading home, we decided to take side streets through Encinitas. In my last post I explained that although it’s been a (relatively) wet week for So Cal, we really don’t ever expect to see that much rain. Well, there’s at least one guy in town who’s not taking any chances.



By the time we were close to home, it was already getting cloudy again. Our tank was running low, so we found the cheapest pump in town.



Back home Cam volunteered to help troubleshoot our furnace, which crapped out last night. Unfortunately Cam has yet to visit palonej , so he wasn’t much help with the repair.



I’m usually a do it yourself kind of guy, but I think I’m calling in the pros for this one. Know anyone in San Diego, Joe?

 

[palonej]

When the weather broke for a bit, we set off on our usual Saturday conquest!

View attachment 870066

The conditions were less than perfect, but here’s the deal...If you wait for perfect, you’ll spend a lot of time dry. We’ve been desperate to get into the water.

View attachment 870065

Heading home, we decided to take side streets through Encinitas. In my last post I explained that although it’s been a (relatively) wet week for So Cal, we really don’t ever expect to see that much rain. Well, there’s at least one guy in town who’s not taking any chances.

View attachment 870068

By the time we were close to home, it was getting already getting cloudy again. Our tank was running low, so we found the cheapest pump in town.

View attachment 870067

Back home Cam volunteered to help troubleshoot our furnace, which crapped out last night. Unfortunately Cam has yet to visit palonej , so he wasn’t much help with the repair.

View attachment 870077

I’m usually a do it yourself kind of guy, but I think I’m calling in the pros for this one. Know anyone in San Diego, Joe?

Excellent post......just excellent!! Except for the furnace issue! Looks like it has been changed before, rare to see that white sealant from the factory.
Be careful who you call. Just did one in PA last week. The woman called 2 companies and both tried to sell her a furnace!! Thieves.
The assembly cost me $250 for a York 100,000 BTU furnace.
Good luck and don’t hesitate to hit me up with any questions!
Joe

 

[MostMenAreRuthless]

Great posts! Love the thought bubbles!

Cam will soon be heading to his new destination. . . Stay tuned!

 

[BD_01]

If Balboa Park is the heart of San Diego, it’s soul is the harbor. With Cam’s final weekend closing in, Tuner felt there would be no one better to show them around the waterfront than an old sailor buddy. His name is Davey.



First stop, Star of India.



Star of India was built in 1863 and has the distinction of being the world’s oldest ship still sailing regularly and also the oldest iron-hulled merchant ship still floating. She made 21 round the world voyages before 1900 and her hull, cabins and equipment are nearly 100% original.

If you look past her bow, you’ll see the Soviet “Foxtrot” class submarine, B-39. B-39 is a retired hunter-stalker; at nearly 300 feet long, she is among the largest conventionally powered submarines ever built.

Both vessels are part of the Sandiego Maratime Museum.
(More from the waterfront to follow)

 

[BD_01]

Just up the pier from Star of India, Davey introduced Cam and Tuner to a local veteran.



Comissioned in 1945, CV-41 was the largest ship in the world for a decade. She operated for 47 years and saw everything from WW II era F4U-4 Corsairs to modern F-18 Hornets operate from her deck.



In addition to being a maratime museum, Midway is also a museum of Naval aviation. A Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is on the elevator. As a side story, I have an old friend who was a Top Gun instructor during the Tomcat days. As such, he flew all kinds of jets as part of the aggressor squadron. I asked him what he liked best, aside from the F-14. Without hesitation he grinned and said the A-4. Apparently these jets could turn on a dime, and I recall him mentioning the aggressor planes having specially updated engines with more power.



Finally, Cam found a place to stretch out and relax! He and I both agree the Midway Museum is a “must visit” if you’re ever in town.



Next to Midway there is a memorial for Bob Hope. Bob Hope traveled the world for nearly 50 years to lift the spirits of troops, often in less than ideal circumstances. A medley of his USO performances plays at the memorial. If you have any familiarity with the culture or politics of the times, it only takes a minute to realize Hope was a comedic genious! His stuff is still very funny, even by today’s standards.

(more to come...there’s lots to see)

 

[BD_01]

It’s been a rough and distracting week, but let’s finish up our trip to the harbor.

Shelter Island is right across the street from the SD airport and provides a nice view of the city-center and waterfront.



The Coronado bridge and Midway are in the background, center and right. Naval Station San Diego is under the bridge, which was constructed high enough to allow ship’s passage. Incidentally, Nimitz class aircraft carriers are too tall, and actually dock at the Naval Air Station, almost directly behind the tour boat.



This is the landing where most sportsfishing boats are docked. Point Loma Seafood is a fish market/restaurant on the seawall that has the best fish tacos on the planet (although some will argue that point!).



One of the best harbor views is from Cabrillo National Monument. Naval Air Station North Island is center. The harbor entrance is immediately below.



Driving to and from Cabrillo one quite literally passes through Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. I went on the grounds to snap a picture with Cam, but it didn’t feel right. The place is just too sacred. Outside the walls somehow felt ok. I’ll post a pic respectfully in memorandum to the Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, and Coasties who dedicated their lives to serving their country. Peacefully overlooking the Pacific, there is no better resting ground for our heroes.

 

[BD_01]

Paps, Tuner, Davey and I had a blast showing Cam around San Diego. We hope you enjoyed our adventures too!

Before Cam headed off to DustinY , he had an obligatory visit to the spa. He had cousins from Taiwan, Itally, and Colorado stop by to see him off!



I encourage everyone who gets a visit from Cam to send him off with a postcard from now on; he totally loves the idea!



I’ll let Cam’s next host surprise you with info on the destination. He hit the slot about an hour ago.



I learned a few things over the last two weeks, mostly about myself. First, there is very little in my daily life that a Delica can’t do as well or better than my other knives. Buuut, I kinda missed changing things up. I was reminded that VG-10 is better than it gets credit for these days. Most surprisingly, I learned that, thanks to @Gary W. Graley, the very best way to carry a Delica is in a watch-pocket with a lanyard.

 

[DustinY]

Hey everyone, Cam arrived today is Safford, Arizona (kind of forgot about his arrival, and the package surprised me, he went to work right away and made quick work of the amazon package that also arrived with him).


I'm going to try my best to get him to some of the better parts of Arizona while he is here with me. Despite Arizona being known for its heat, we have areas (like our mountain, and Flagstaff where i just graduated with my BSE in Mechanical Engineering) that get loads of snow. Pictured behind Cam here is Mt. Graham where just the peak is still showing white. Cam and I might take my husky up there for a photoshoot. Also pictured is the post card he was sent with, i'm going to try my best to continue this and send him with one from my area.



I know BF's has an issue with high res photos but i also took cam outside for a quick photoshoot with my Canon (i'm not photography expert but i'm going to try to get some good shots of him).





Overall, Cam is safe and ready for some adventures in AZ. I will update the thread when i have some more pictures

 

[BD_01]

Awesome to see Cam happily enjoying the sunshine! He felt a little jipped at his last destination.

 

[DustinY]

I don't think i made it clear in my last post, but i'm glad that i get to have this opportunity with Cam, he's a workhorse. This community is pretty rad, and has taught me a lot since i joined it a little over a year ago. Today i had big plans, i had a new knife coming in the mail, and was planning on taking pictures with Cam (after all, he did open the package). Unfortunately, i got my first bad mail call. The price i got on the knife should have been a signal, and i should have asked more questions, but the knife i was sent was used to open some sort of chemical that etched deep onto the blade.

The Liong Mah GSD has a pretty porous satin, and initially i just thought it was gunk (because there was some substance leaking out of the knife, looked like a brown grease, or thats what i assumed). After trying to wipe it off with some iso alcohol a thousand times, i realized i got sent a knife that was not as described. I didn't want to contact the person i got it from because i was a bit upset, and instead went to a group of friends that i've made through the community. They gave me a list of options (initially i just wanted acid wash it and tumble the blade, so i wouldn't have to interact with the individual that sold me the knife, it was from FB not BF and i don't know if me ranting about it here violates any rules, but its part of this forum because Cam). Well, i took some other advice to try to salvage the satin and polished it with some Never Dull, and it turned out amazing. Tons of elbow grease, loctite, nano-oil transformed this knife that was sent to me with a crazy pattern and a loose pivot into something great. It still needs more work, but i was happy with the results for the night. More to come soon hopefully! (Did i overreact? How would you guys have handled this? Obviously it wasn't as bad as i initially thought, but i was still stunned and feel lucky that i was able to salvage it...)

 

[uxo2]

. More to come soon hopefully! (Did i overreact? How would you guys have handled this? Obviously it wasn't as bad as i initially thought, but i was still stunned and feel lucky that i was able to salvage it...)

View attachment 877909

Nice shot with Cam.
As for your deal. If it works for you.
Then good deal.
But GBU would be the best place for further discussion on the liong.

 

[DustinY]

Nice shot with Cam.
As for your deal. If it works for you.
Then good deal.
But GBU would be the best place for further discussion on the liong.

Appreciate the feedback brother, noted. Going to just continue with the Cam pictures

 

[DustinY]

Man, does life ever stop and let you breathe for a second? Had big plans for the weekend, but the only thing on my to do list that i got to was change the oil in my Subaru. Got to wash the car this week too, just not during the weekend like I had wanted to. In AZ it's pretty good practice to have a coat of wax on the roof and hood to protect the paint before summer comes, so Cam was around during that process too.


Cam was also a part of my greatest mail call. I believe the day before Cam arrived i got drawn by the norseman brothers for their lotto, norseman #1025. Lucky for me i had the funds saved for a big knife and was currently in the market, and this sealed the deal on what to buy. A week and a half later, it showed up all the way from our brothers up North. Cam was there and a part of the very special process. I think this is where Cam and I will part, after this special and monumental day. I'll carry him today for the last time, and go hunt for a postcard to ship with him, but i think Cam is ready for his next adventure.




Overall, i want to thank Shaun, Jim (who shipped me Cam), and this forum for creating something as cool and special as this. Cam has been awesome to host, and i can't wait to see who gets him next!

 

[uxo2]

Any updates?

 

[DustinY]

Well, today is a sad day, i got the email that Cam's new host was ready and waiting for him. Hopefully David will enjoy this little guys as much as i have.

Cam hung around and rode shotgun in the pocket almost everyday he was here (i don't get to cut much besides packages, but he didn't seem to mind). Today, he rode shotgun the last time, but not as a pocket passenger, as a good tool that was being passed along for a new journey. I'm sure that he'll enjoy his time in Portland though. And yes, even though i'm was born and raised in AZ, Cam helped celebrate the Eagles W in the Super Bowl the entire time he was here, and is hopeful for the 76er's in the playoffs, as well as the Flyers.



Last shot of him all boxed up, can't wait to see what else is in store for this little guy!

 

[RipD]

Package arrived today. I had to go switch what I was carrying before I could open it. Inside I found Cam safe inside some nice pink foam and a couple of post cards. Here is Cam and the relative who set him free.

Initial reaction is that Cam is a user. Exactly what I expected. Quick overview: action is good for a back lock knife. Works as expected. A little blade play - very minor and no issue. Blade has seen some use (more on that below). Overall, looks like he's ready for some action.

Had to check the fit. No problem.

Decided to see if Cam had any edge on him. Hmmm... tears paper pretty well. Not so good on the cutting. Gave him a few strokes on the strop. Not sharp now, but will cut.

Took a look at the edge. Has a few small chips visible on the show side of the blade. Flipped it over... double bevel on the clip side. Interesting.

Got some better blade pics with a real camera if anybody wants to see. It's had some use.

Tomorrow he'll see some of the town and probably go for a hike. I expect there will be some cutting involved as well.

 

[RipD]

I didn't get to town today as expected, so no city shots. Woke up to it being cold and wet.

Today is recycle prep say. Cam got cardboard duty. No issues and I only needed to cut a few pieces.

A little later we went outside to do some sprinkler repair. May seem silly since it was pouring rain today, but warm, dry days are close. This didn't last long. Cam wasn't cutting hose very well and it was raining too hard to be outside.

My stroping on the blade didn't last long, so Cam had an appointment with he Sharpmaker. After too much time I realized this isn't going help much. The Sharpmaker is good at letting you know where dull spots and chips are. This blade wasn't getting any smoother. It did get a little sharper. I'll likely need to go on a stone or my Edge Pro (I'll go easy on it - it just needs an edge not a regrind).

I was going to tell you guys where I am with some city shots. This trail sign does it nicely.

Typical Portland wet day pics:

Tress are flowering right now.

 

[uxo2]

No update