Sounds, too, like it might be a stove with a little "age" on it and no telling if it's still being made and by whom. Besides, the price now-a-days for the these off brand replacement throw-away fuel tanks can be astronomical. Let me give you an example ... a friend of mine is getting to the age where back-packing is just not a good idea and he gave me his "GAZ"back-packing stove. It very well might be a good stove for back packers but for my use, not so good. The disposable butane fuel tanks are expensive, plus they do not hold the fuel content of the 16oz Coleman types. I took my tent up to the North Carolina mountains this past summer for a 5-day outing to see if we could catch a few trout and we camped streamside. I made the mistake of taking this GAZ stove, along with the two or three extra tanks that my friend had given to me, and neglected to take my old single burner standby Peak stove. Well, used those GAZ tanks up kinda fast and then went into Brevard to see if I could find who might carry this brand. Found an outdoor provision store that carried them but the price per tank was $6.95 each! To be sure, their Coleman tanks were high, too (something like $3.50), but they contained more fuel! I ended up going down the road a little ways to the K-Mart and bought a single burner (made in China) butane stove that uses the Coleman type tank. The stove was only $8.00 - plus their store brand of Coleman type 16oz tanks were $1.99 each. The end of this story is that I gave that Gaz stove, along with the pouch that held the stove and it's accessories and what was left of the fuel in the last remaining tank, to a woman back-packer. She was so delighted! Now I have another back-up stove to the other back-up stove, which is a back-up stove to the main popup camper stove! Dale

My girlfriend grew up in Maine and lives there every summer. Twice now we have taken sea kayaks out for extended trips on Mooshead Lake (last time 4 days). There are VERY nice primitive campsites every few miles along the shore. All have a picnic table and pit toliet. They are first come, first serve. We have always gone during the week in Sept and never had a problem finding a campsite. I don't know what it might be like in the middle of the summer. This last time we went to Acadia and while it is a must see place, even in Sept it was pretty crowded. Maine is a great place! Enjoy! Scott

Wow, what a busy week; closed the deal on the house; secured the mortgage; selected all the flooring for the house and most of the window coverings; and even had time to check out several W/Ds. Sad to say we are back to square one with W/Ds. Two of the Fisher & Paykel models require pulling a plug in the agitator to add detergent; I have severe psoriasis on my hands so tasks as simple as writing isnÂt possible half of the time. Pulling a plug to add detergent is not on my wish list for a washer. Their AquaSmart model required selection of basic functions like bleach and fabric softener for each load (not that I use these products due to skin condition) by scrolling down a computer screen. I believe soap/bleach/fabric softeners dispersers should work automatically. But more important, I like my functions readily available on the console--not buried in a computer screen that I have to power up and scroll through. IÂm all for technology, but only where it really matters. And frankly, I donÂt think it necessary for a computer to dispense bleach and fabric softener. Interesting note about F&P warranty: I noticed on their website the specifications stated only 1 year for the warranty (Consumer Reports and others said they had a 2 year warranty). I asked the salesman at LoweÂs and he confirmed the company cut their warranty in half! Miele and Samsung still look good and are still expensive. However, Sears (Great Indoors) said Miele reduced their prices on the 4840 washer to $1799 and gas dryer to $1199 even though both floor models were sporting the old price tags of $1900 and $1249 respectively. But I thought their prices higher than other stores to begin with...yes? Still concerned about the vibration and whether these two brands will use enough water to rinse out the detergent. I gave the Maytag Bravos and the Whirlpool Cabrios a good looking over. They look the same in many ways, but the Maytag seems to be built sturdier--the doors seem heavier and sturdier; the machine doesnÂt seem and jiggley as the Whirlpool. Interestingly, some of the accessories are not packaged with the Bravo; they include a coupon with the machine; for $18 shipping and handling, they will send the purchaser the drying rack couple of other accessories. Both machines rank up a lot of complaints on consumer forums...but then again, there isn't a brand out there that doesn't have a number of complaints. Gas Dryer Question: IÂve never used a gas dryer before (apparently 90% of dryer sold in Southern California are gas). IÂm a neat freak and usually clean behind my W/D every 3 months or so--including the vent tube. Other than cleaning the lint out of the vent, is there anything else I should do maintenance-wise to ensure the machine doesnÂt burn the house down?

Hey Kate - I did the hippie backpacking / hostels / sleeping on trains with Frommer's Book "Europe on $5.00 a Day" or some title like that in 1973. And the Euro- Rail Pass. I did not ever speak or see the guy I traveled with after returning to the US ~LOL~ I married someone else in 1975 - still married - so your "marriage survival test" was accurate. Sharon - what a beautiful couple you two make! Now who would have thought he would grow up to be a Biker-Harley Tat Guy!!! TOO FUNNY. My sister used to get those curls in her hair - we called them Banana Curls (don't know why).