Testing, testing, testing. It is a good thing too. I tried to stuff everything into my car and couldn't see out the back window. Had to rethink exactly what I needed and didn't need! Out went the zero gravity lounger. Decided on no redundancy! Oh I will miss my lounger. But I went to Odd Lots last night and found a canvas chair that has a foot rest. I am testing it for a day or two to see if it kills my back. I must admit I measured things and planned how to pack it today and it worked out well.
Decided to leave the car seats up and removed the head rests. So now I can see out the back window and nothing is above car seat height. It seems to fit logically now too. The food storage box is very heavy and will always stay in place behind the passenger seat. I won't have to take it out again as I can add or take stuff away without taking it out of the car. Best to keep foods in the car overnight except where they provide bear boxes.
I am comfortable with the way the car is loaded.
Today the winter tires comes off and the fluids will be checked and perhaps a wash and vacuuming. Might as well start out clean. There are just a few details left to do. How will I spend the next 12 days? You all must be sick of this preparation stuff and want to hear about the real trip. I am so excited about seeing Fallingwater first. Start out with a real highlight. I am expecting the Lexington, KY area to be bright green with white fences. After that I have no clue what the heartland of the country actually looks like. What do Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas look like? Is it all flat? My Prius likes flat.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Testing, testing 1, 2, 3. Well working out the bugs in erecting the tent has worked out and the new design to help me erect the tent by myself has been completed. (KISS) It is now time to test the stove and hot water heater. Both run on propane so I need to be outdoors to do it. I am leaving this a little late if I need Coleman for repair.
It is also "whittling down" time. I have put everything in the garage and laid it out. Food staples need to be gone through and stuff eliminated and the equipment basket needs work also. How many paper towel rolls do I need to start out? I also have an accumulation of the small propane tanks that my lantern also runs on and wonder just how many I need to start. At this point I almost need a caution sign about PROPANE on board. but I figure they are small and will fit in spots into which nothing else will fit.
Gathering my knitting projects into small bags and my painting supplies into one carry-on. I don't watch TV at home, and I certainly won't be watching it on the trip, so I need things to keep me busy when I am sick of thinking and reading about the next stop down the line.
I am trying to pack things that are related in separate bags, such as stuff for hiking together. I want to pack the car in such a way that what I need for immediate set up is available first; tent, lights, stove, food, water. The fluff can go farther back in the car. I want my boots and rain suit available for set up in the rain. The realities of packing, however, will really dictate what goes where. I suppose a "dry run pack" would really do the trick. Do I want the bad news now or the day before I leave? Time is getting short and I am getting more excited by the day.
It is also "whittling down" time. I have put everything in the garage and laid it out. Food staples need to be gone through and stuff eliminated and the equipment basket needs work also. How many paper towel rolls do I need to start out? I also have an accumulation of the small propane tanks that my lantern also runs on and wonder just how many I need to start. At this point I almost need a caution sign about PROPANE on board. but I figure they are small and will fit in spots into which nothing else will fit.
Gathering my knitting projects into small bags and my painting supplies into one carry-on. I don't watch TV at home, and I certainly won't be watching it on the trip, so I need things to keep me busy when I am sick of thinking and reading about the next stop down the line.
I am trying to pack things that are related in separate bags, such as stuff for hiking together. I want to pack the car in such a way that what I need for immediate set up is available first; tent, lights, stove, food, water. The fluff can go farther back in the car. I want my boots and rain suit available for set up in the rain. The realities of packing, however, will really dictate what goes where. I suppose a "dry run pack" would really do the trick. Do I want the bad news now or the day before I leave? Time is getting short and I am getting more excited by the day.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Thank heavens for brother-in-laws. My sister and brother-in-law came to visit today and I was discussing my trip plans. I had made this tent "helper putter upper" contraption. Ed took one look at it and said "there has to be a better way." We went out and laid out the tent and staked the corners and put on the outside roof poles. Then I crawled in and tried to put my "helper" up and it was a sorry excuse for a Rube Goldberg device. Very unstable. Meanwhile Eddie is video taping my fiasco on his camera. I will have to see these at family functions for years to come and I can hear my nephews laughing already! Anyway, Ed decided it had to only be one telescoping pole with something on top to keep the pole from maiming the tent material. We put something over the top of a pole and then found rings on the inside of the tent that we could use as tie downs. Got out the bungee cords and cross tied the pole in place and to the center of the roof. Then I was able to make my way outside and could put up the corner poles. We timed that part at a mere 5 minutes compared to the videoed portion of my struggles! Strong winds will pose a problem but I will face those when I get them!
I found this great reference book that gives information about what facilities are at every exit on every interstate in the country. Great for finding locations, such as Flying J truck stops for DSL, grocery stores, laundromats, etc.
So the reference materials and maps are all put in folders. I have added a stopover in Dessert Hot Springs to spend several nights with a fellow weaver, and will be able to rack up another national park, as Joshua Tree is very close to Dessert Hot Springs. I was going to have to stop in Barstow, CA anyway, so this wasn't too far out of the way. I fleshed out more info on my itinerary and looked up potential camping spots for the trip home after South Dakota. and also some stops along the way. Had the hardest time finding anything in Elko, NV but I will trust the Recreation.gov site I have been using to research and book National Park camp sites. Elko is in a huge National Forest so they are covered under Recreation.gov also.
I am loath to take off my winter tires until we get our March blizzard that is sure to come. But there is very little left for me to do before I can get on the road. My hair is cut, no hair products or blow dryer. The snuggle suit for cool nights is completed and I put in a full length zipper in to my Cool Max sleeping bag liner. Got spare keys for the neighbors, bought cards and am weaving gifts that I will need to give out on the trip.
Oh and added my sorority sister from college to my site near Grand Teton and we will do a few nights there and then do Yellowstone together. She has a Scamp trailer that she can tow. It will be nice to have company for part of the trip. She is a resident of Jackson Hole, WY, she knows both areas quite well. I can get the local scoop.
I have cooked a casserole that I can freeze portion sizes and use for the first few days. Then it is "ice" all the way. Been scouring the grocery store for foods that don't need refrigeration as I don't want to deal with a huge cooler. Been borrowing small mayo and ketchup packets from WAWA so I don't have to try to keep mayo cold. I actually found the European type milk in a carton that doesn't need refrigeration until it is opened. It comes in pint containers so will work well for morning cereal. I just want to brew up a cup of joe and eat a quick breakfast, pack a lunch, pack up the gear and hit the road. While in the national parks for 7 nights I can cook up some goodies when I don't have to go anywhere or do anything in particular except absorb the ambiance of where I am. I will have my dutch oven in tow and it can handle a variety of meals and baking. I make a mean cobbler in my dutch oven, although I will need help eating it all. Good way to meet people; hand out homemade cobbler.
I was looking at info on SD when I came across this unique place called Wall Drug Store. It all started back in the 30's when the owners wanted to attract customers to their store so they started to put up signs" Free ice water at Wall Drug." Well it caught on and Wall Drug signs were seen all over Europe during WWII and it has continued today. All the signs have the mileage back to Wall Drug. What a hoot and there is still free ice water. Luckily, Wall , SD is near the Badlands and an old Minute Man missile silo. Do I really want to see a defunct Minute Man missile silo??? Think I will pass on that but definitely want to see Wall Drug.
I found this great reference book that gives information about what facilities are at every exit on every interstate in the country. Great for finding locations, such as Flying J truck stops for DSL, grocery stores, laundromats, etc.
So the reference materials and maps are all put in folders. I have added a stopover in Dessert Hot Springs to spend several nights with a fellow weaver, and will be able to rack up another national park, as Joshua Tree is very close to Dessert Hot Springs. I was going to have to stop in Barstow, CA anyway, so this wasn't too far out of the way. I fleshed out more info on my itinerary and looked up potential camping spots for the trip home after South Dakota. and also some stops along the way. Had the hardest time finding anything in Elko, NV but I will trust the Recreation.gov site I have been using to research and book National Park camp sites. Elko is in a huge National Forest so they are covered under Recreation.gov also.
I am loath to take off my winter tires until we get our March blizzard that is sure to come. But there is very little left for me to do before I can get on the road. My hair is cut, no hair products or blow dryer. The snuggle suit for cool nights is completed and I put in a full length zipper in to my Cool Max sleeping bag liner. Got spare keys for the neighbors, bought cards and am weaving gifts that I will need to give out on the trip.
Oh and added my sorority sister from college to my site near Grand Teton and we will do a few nights there and then do Yellowstone together. She has a Scamp trailer that she can tow. It will be nice to have company for part of the trip. She is a resident of Jackson Hole, WY, she knows both areas quite well. I can get the local scoop.
I have cooked a casserole that I can freeze portion sizes and use for the first few days. Then it is "ice" all the way. Been scouring the grocery store for foods that don't need refrigeration as I don't want to deal with a huge cooler. Been borrowing small mayo and ketchup packets from WAWA so I don't have to try to keep mayo cold. I actually found the European type milk in a carton that doesn't need refrigeration until it is opened. It comes in pint containers so will work well for morning cereal. I just want to brew up a cup of joe and eat a quick breakfast, pack a lunch, pack up the gear and hit the road. While in the national parks for 7 nights I can cook up some goodies when I don't have to go anywhere or do anything in particular except absorb the ambiance of where I am. I will have my dutch oven in tow and it can handle a variety of meals and baking. I make a mean cobbler in my dutch oven, although I will need help eating it all. Good way to meet people; hand out homemade cobbler.
I was looking at info on SD when I came across this unique place called Wall Drug Store. It all started back in the 30's when the owners wanted to attract customers to their store so they started to put up signs" Free ice water at Wall Drug." Well it caught on and Wall Drug signs were seen all over Europe during WWII and it has continued today. All the signs have the mileage back to Wall Drug. What a hoot and there is still free ice water. Luckily, Wall , SD is near the Badlands and an old Minute Man missile silo. Do I really want to see a defunct Minute Man missile silo??? Think I will pass on that but definitely want to see Wall Drug.
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