Re: [RC] What I have learned- packing for 6 weeks on the road - TypeF \(Jackie Floyd\)
LOL ... that was great. I wish you a really, really
GREAT trip. I can't see how anything could go wrong with that many provisions.
Unless, of course, you forget some tack. But then, if you happen to hook up with
Karen Chaton, she's loaded in that department. Oh no, wait ... she just had a
tack sale. Oh, but I'm SURE she has lots left, knowing her! :)
I would love to go on this ride, but alas, I have
magazine deadlines to deal with on a monthly basis. Maybe someday I'll be
retired and The Duck will still be having them. One can only keep their fingers
crossed.
I have decided, however, to throw caution to the
wind and find my way to the Cold Springs XP. I've told myself that if I feel
guilty, I can always come back after only riding three days. Somehow I don't see
that happening, however! Have already warned both editors, their assistants, the
owners of the magazines and lord only knows who else that they'll just have to
do without me for a week. Fortunately, Cold Springs is only a few hours from me.
Now if I have to go to New York for a ride, not a chance! You ARE
adventurous!!!
Subject: [RC] What I have learned-
packing for 6 weeks on the road
We are only a week away from heading west from
New York to the start of the XP2004 in Nevada. We are giving ourselves a
week to amble across the country while visiting with old friends in Illinois
and Colorado before the five week ride.
I am in the process of unloading my
trailer, a 10 foot long wall with no LQ, into the big 18 year old LQ
(affectionately named "the Mother Ship" ) we are leasing for this trip.
We moved recently and I figured the best place to store stuff was in
the trailer, so for months I have been stacking things in anticipation of this
trip. As I saw things on sale, or things I might need, I bought them and
tossed them in the trailer. As I am hoeing out and trying to organize
it, this is what I have learned:
1. I am very forgetful. Well, I have
had alot on my mind, anyway, and found I now have multiples of many
things.
2. I am apparently subconsciously afraid of
three things:
a.
dehydration. I have cases of water, fruit juice, gator aid, and boost-
LOTs of cases- I had to divide them up to put on opposite sides of the trailer
so we wouldn't go down the road with a lean!
b.
the dark. I have all these cool flashlights and batteries. I guess
I got carried away, or I just couldn't resist a great design.
c.
caffeine withdrawal. I have cans of double shot expresso, instant
coffee, free trade whole beans, cans of ground coffee and those little bags
you use like tea. I also have a one cup electric pot, a french press, a
bean grinder, a stainless stove top pot, and a one cup pour through
dealy. Good grief!!! The kicker is, the trailer came with a Mr.
Coffee on the counter!
3. BIG cans of baked beans, and german
potato salad must have been on sale. Good for pot lucks, I guess.
4. Dry socks are important. I forgot
I bought a bunch on sale last fall and tossed them in the trailer.
I just bought more recently....the kind that are short and have
the dry wicking stuff on the bottom, if anyone needs some!
5. During this months long gathering
process, I have learned that the male check out employees at Big Lots are
amused when I buy 5 or 6 tubes of desitin and several tubes of triple
antibiotic, while the female cashiers don't bat an eye.
6. This part I have not
learned.....how do I pay bills while we are on the road?? My regular
payments are going in envelopes with post dated checks and a date
where the stamp goes, and my mother will religiously mail them on the correct
date, but how do I make sure the rest are paid??
I realize there are Walmarts all across the
country, and I don't need so much stuff, but the plain truth is that I have
been so excited about this trip that I had to do SOMETHING while I was
waiting, and so I shopped. I truly think we have enough stuff to eat to
get through the 6 weeks with just buying milk, bread and eggs. If you are
near, NV, UT, WY or NE, stop by for some dinner, dry socks, a drink, or a
chat. We will be the ones with the Mothership lit by numerous really
cool flashlights.
