For a lot of people, the opportunity to get outside and walk, hike, and bike is one of the greatest lures of camping. It is for me even though it also usually means I am going to be a buffet for mosquitoes.

And, a recent survey conducted by National Transportation Reform Groups that was conducted by Harris Interactive, seems to indicate that Americans are serious about wanting to see more trails for hiking, biking and walking in the United States.

Currently about 80 percent of transportation dollars in the United States are spent on roads and only about 1.5 percent are spent on walking and bicycling.

If people who voiced their opinion in the survey had their way, only 37 percent of transportation dollars would be spent on roads; 41 percent would be spent on transit, and a whopping 22 percent would be spent on walking and bicycling.

It makes sense. The high gas prices in the United States are enough to make a lot of people think twice before turning the key in the ignition of their vehicle with many instead turning to walking and biking.

And with national attention on childhood obesity (there’s plenty of chubby adults too - me for instance) it makes sense to start spending more money on trails for walking, hiking and biking so that it’s easier for everyone to have safe and convenient places to hoof it and pedal it.

So in the spirit of the “power of one person” the Rails To Trails Conservancy is asking people to get the word out and to also possible win a free t-shirt in the process (who doesn’t like to be rewarded?)

During the last week of August congressional representatives are going to be in their home districts campaigning for the elections and word is that one of the ways they find out what’s on the minds of their constituents is to read the local papers.

So here’s what Rails To Trails would like you to do: write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper asking for more walking, hiking, and biking trails. If your letter gets printed between August 25 and August 31, the Rails to Trails Conservancy will send you a free t-shirt!

It’s a win-win situation. You get the word out about wanting more walking, hiking, and biking trails and Rails to Trails rewards you with a t-shirt (that, yes you could wear while out walking, hiking or biking!)

For all the details, including some talking points and tips on writing the letter, click here to go to the Rails to Trails Conservancy website.

More dollars spent on trails is great for everyone, including campers because dollars tagged for trails will almost certainly mean more trails near campgrounds, state parks, and national parks.

Okay, so the first thing you are probably thinking is what in the world is Jig A Loo.

No it is not a freaky dance move, but if you want to come up with one and name it the Jig A Loo then go ahead and dance your heart out.

Okay, here is the real scoop. Jig A Loo is a new silicone-based lubricant that, according to the Jig A Loo website is unlike any other lubricant because it contains no oil, grease, wax, petroleum distillates or detergent, so it doesn’t stain or stink. It stops squeaks, un-sticks just about anything, protects against rust, and is an exceptional water repellent.

Its uses are nearly endless because it lubricates, repels water, fights rust and ice, stops squeaks, and works as a protective coating.

Not only is it a great product to use around home but it also has many uses while camping.

Because it repels water it can be sprayed on tents, backpacks, canopies, shoes and anything else you want to keep dry.

Because it lubricates and stops squeaks it can also help those slideouts in your RV or camper stop squeaking and sticking.

Because it fights rust and ice it can prevent tools, ball joints, lug nuts and screws from rusting.

Because it protects it can help keep the rubber seals on your camper from drying and cracking.

Plus for a short time you have the chance to win a really great prize package from Jig A Loo just for checking out their website: JigALoo.com.

What is the prize package? One lucky winner, which will be chosen randomly, will win the following:
- a one year’s supply of Jig-A-Loo (three 10.9 ounce bottles) a $17.97 value
- 1 America the Beautiful annual pass (read about it by clicking here) an $80 value
- a $150 REI gift card (redeemable at REI.com, any of their stores or by phone)

Yes, it’s a prize package worth almost $250!

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

1) Go to the JigALoo website by clicking here and check out all its camping and outdoor recreation uses.

2) Post a comment in the comments section at the bottom of this post with the following two pieces of information: A) which of its uses you think is the most useful (lubricates and stops squeaks, fights rust, repels water, or protects); and B) what you would use it for if you had a can of it.
Here’s an example of what someone might post: “It would be most useful to me because it ‘lubricates and stop squeaks’ and I would use it on my sticky popup slideout.”

That’s it!

That is all you need to do to be entered in the drawing for the great prize package of a year’s supply of Jig-A-Loo, the America the Beautiful annual pass, and the $150 REI gift card.

But you only have a short time to do it. The sweepstakes ends at midnight central time on Thursday, September 4, 2008.

Only one entry per person/e-mail address will be accepted. The winner will be randomly chosen using Random.org (I will enter the number of entries/comments I receive into random.org. It will randomly select a number and that number comment will be the winner). The winner will be contacted via the e-mail address used in the comments form so please be sure the e-mail address you enter is correct and working.

Don’t delay!

Check out JigALoo.com today and post your comment by clicking on the word “comments” right below this post (the right hand side)! Remember, the deadline to enter is September 4, 2008 at midnight, central time.

NOTE: Due to shipping restrictions of Jig-A-Loo because it is in an aerosol container, the contest is open to residents of the United States only.

UPDATE: If you are unable to find Jig-A-Loo in your local store, it can be purchased online from Ace Hardware.

Every once in a while a product comes along that is so simple yet works so well that a person wonders why they did not think of it themselves.

The cooler insulators from CoolerInsulators.com are an example.

One of the company’s founders, Randy Kempton, was kind enough to give me a little background on where the idea for the insulators originated from.

Randy says, “The need for Cooler Insulators originated from growing up and camping in Southern Arizona where it’s no secret the temperatures routinely surpass the triple digit mark. As a kid, I watched my dad stress and worry about keeping the food cold and keeping it from spoiling …..freezing ice blocks days before our trip started, constantly moving the coolers to the shade throughout the day, getting upset at us kids for opening the cooler, and planning our trips near places he could get ice. I never realized the whole production and operation around keeping food cold until I started taking my kids camping; I can now empathize with my dad. There are few, if any, affordable options for those of us that ‘tent it’ and aren’t fortunate enough to own RV’s with actual refrigerators………….until now!”

I agree even though we don’t tent camp (at least I don’t anymore although my husband usually tents it once a year) but instead have a small popup, with a refrigerator about the size of a large microwave that is full after I put 5 things in it. Coolers are a necessary part of any of our camping trips.

My husband and I had the opportunity to try the 5 gallon beverage insulator cooler, which is pictured below, on our camping trips the past 2 weeks. The insulator worked great, saving us time that we (when I say “we” I really mean my husband since I always make him go get the ice) didn’t have to spend going to buy ice and money we didn’t have to spend buying ice or using gas to drive to a store or gas station to get it.

Although our test of it was not exactly scientific (no fancy lab, goggles, or white suits - instead it was the great outdoors, sunglasses and shorts) we were able to do a side by side comparison because we were camping with my brother and sister-in-law, who have the exact same Rubbermaid 5 gallon beverage cooler that we have (the cooler insulator website says the insulator fits the Igloo and Home Depot 5 gallon beverage coolers but it also fits the Rubbermaid 5 gallon beverage coolers perfectly).

Our cooler, the one with the cooler insulator on, used less than half the ice the cooler without the insulator on used; plus even after all the ice in our cooler had melted our water stayed cold a lot longer.

Both coolers were put in direct sunlight. We didn’t bother trying to keep them in the shade like normal because we really wanted to put the insulator to the test.

The first trip, we were running behind schedule (pretty typical for us - sometimes I think I was born “running late”), so we just dumped the couple trays of ice cubes we had in our freezer into our cooler and headed for the campground. Usually that much ice would barely keep the water cool until the following morning. With the insulator on, we still had ice cold water the next night. By comparison, the 2 blocks of ice (made by freezing water in one gallon milk containers and cutting them off) in the uninsulated cooler had melted and the water was warm.

During the second trip, my husband and brother in law both put a 7 gallon bag of ice in each water cooler on Monday. By the time we left the campground on Thursday we still had ice cold water. My brother in law had warm water that nobody in their family wanted to drink even though he had put more ice in his cooler on Wednesday morning.

I’m sold on this product and I highly recommend it. If you go camping and use coolers, these insulator covers will cut down on the amount of ice you need which means the insulator will end up paying for itself.

They would also be great for non-camping uses, such as for someone who works outside all day and takes their lunch to work in a cooler (there is an insulator for small lunch coolers and one for medium sized lunch coolers).

I plan on getting a second insulator - one for my food cooler so that I can cut down on my ice usage even more (okay, maybe I’ll be nice and get 2 so my husband’s beer cooler keeps his beer frosty cold longer).

Storage of the insulator when it’s not in use is easy. It folds and takes up very little space, which is important to people who tent and those who have small campers like myself.

But, you don’t need to take my word for it. Try one for yourself. There’s really no risk because they come with a 60 day money back guarantee so if you decide it doesn’t work the way you think it should you can return it and receive your purchase price back.

Plus, the insulators have a one year warranty (of course this warranty doesn’t include things like someone deciding to turn the insulator into a space suit for their Halloween costume and destroying it in the process)

Check out the entire line of cooler insulators by visiting: coolerinsulators.com

SPECIAL NOTE: The 5 gallon beverage coolers are temporarily out of stock due to high demand as of the day I’m writing this, August 20, 2008. But the word from company owner Randy K. is that they are expected to be back in stock within the next 2-3 weeks, so keep checking their website. All the other insulator covers are in stock though and can be ordered right away.