028 High or Low Top? Gillette Castle, Oregon Coast, Curtain Divider, Ikea Eket, American Van

High top or low top? That IS the question this week, and while high tops have a lot of appeal, low tops have a place as well. We'll also visit Gillette Castle, the Oregon Coast, and review Ikea Eket and suggest American Van.

How can you secure your van? Not personal security, but keeping people out of your van! The Amazon Fire HD 8 has a cool secret, and Salvage One is an interesting place to visit in Chicago. Would like a free water pump? We tell you how. And FINALLY, and explanation for all the Aurora references. And we try Rock Auto and report back. COVID-19: This the BEST resource https://vanlifers.co/pages/coronavirus

CONTEST!!!! If you live in the US and e-mail me before July 7th, 2020 with a story or other item of interest that I can put in the podcast, you'll be entered to win a brand new PWM Solar Charge controller. Every entry will receive a Hook Waka Bang sticker. Your privacy will be respected - nothing shared, stored, folded, spindled or mutilated.

• High-top or Low-top?
  • It boils down to this: do you want to optimize living or driving/parking?
• Tales From the Road
  • A trip to the Oregon Coast! Sort of. Florence to Astoria has some of the most picturesque driving the US. If you can see it.
• Resource Recommendation
  • American Van: A catalog of commercial vans that might have something just for you.

• Tech Talk: Curtain Dividers

  • The secret to hanging a curtain between the front and the back is a shower curtain tension rod.

• Product Review: Ikea Eket

  • Eket is a different type of Ikea product, not made of MDF and it doesn't need hex wrenches! What's best is that it comes in different depths.

• A Place to Visit: Gillette Castle
  • One of my favorite spots in New England, this castle was the home of William Gillette, creator of "Sherlock Holmes" as we know him. It's full of surprises.
  • Gillette Castle State Park