Well, my bags are packed, or I should say, every closet and cubby inside Pam is full. I have a weeks’ worth of food, plus nuts and the like to munch on. I went to the home improvement store the other day and had a nice guy in the plumbing department cut various lengths of tubing, picked up various wire and grabbed a few spare nuts and bolts — basically, I’m ready to MacGyver better than Richard Dean Anderson.
Sticking with the theme of sharing this experience the best I can, feel free to peruse my supply list — modified from a list found at Westfalia.org — or just skip on down to the bottom:
110v extension cord, HD grounded, 2, 25′ & 50′
1st aid kit, lg. + snake-bite
A/C adapter old 2-prong outlets to 3-prong grounded
address & phone # book
air compressor, 12v
aluminum foil
bath towels, 2
battery jumper cables
binoculars, armored 8×30
blankets, 3, down, wool, jean
bottle & can opener (Crap! still need a can opener!)
box, storage (plastic covered shoe box), 2
bug spray, DEET
bungee cord assortment
butter dish
camera, bag, acc., batteries, etc.
canteen or water bottles
car chemicals
car factory shop manual
car service & warranty books, dealer addresses
car spare parts for planned services + 2
cell phone, AC & DC chargers
Chap-stick
cheese grater
cloth to clean glasses
clothes pins, metal clip style, 10-12
clothing, 8 days ea. + jackets (Layer up!)
coffee press
tea pot
funnel
flashlights
eating utensils, 2 sets
credit cards
cutting board
dish washing liquid
degreaser, “409”
dishpans set of 4
dishtowel
dish-washing sponges, 2
duct tape, 2″
egg carrier (I bought one. A little green guy from REI. Note, these should instead be called egg crushers, as when closed, they manage to break the very eggs they are made to protect.)
electrical assortment (wire ends, fuses, wire, etc.)
electrical tape
emergency blanket/survival tarp
emergency saw
eyeglasses cleaner
fire starters, GI surplus or commercial
sheets & pillow cases, set
flares & safety triangles
flashing trouble light/lantern or strobe
folding water bucket
glue, Crazy-glue & epoxy
hand cream
hand towel
hardware assortment (nuts, bolts, screws, etc.)
hatchet or sm. ax
hats
heavy plastic spoons, 2
hose clamps or seals/clips
hose, fold-flat water w/ spare washer
hose shutoff valve, 3/4″
hunting knife, lg.
laundry bag
laundry soap & Bounce
maps
matches, strike anywhere, wood
soup bowls, 4
micro-cassette tape recorder for photo log
multi-strand baling wire
nail/staple assortment
oil, spare engine, 2 qt.
paper pad or notebook
paper towels, 2 rolls
passports
pillows, 2
extra prescription glasses
rain ponchos
rope, 2 lengths 5/16-3/8″ dia.
scrubby & SOS pads
shoes: boots, running & shower clogs, ea.
shovel, sm. or folding
soap
soft sealing 3/4″ hose adapter for hookups w/ damaged threads
spatula
spice assortment
swimsuits
toaster, camps stove style
toiletries & hygiene products
toilette paper
tool kit + extra or special tools for specific car
trashcan
velcro and snaps for repairs
vitamins, etc.
washrags, 2
WD-40
whiskbroom
ziplock bag assortment
Yep, all that and a kitchen sink.
Honestly, I don’t know how well I’m going to sleep tonight. True adventure is right around the corner. None of this “I tried a new restaurant” or “I took a new way home from work” adventure… but real Jack Kerouac stuff.
First, it’s south, into California. I’m not sure how far I’ll make it in the first day, but my goal is to get into the Golden State tomorrow, even if that means just getting across the boarder. I still haven’t decided if I should go for a night or two in the Redwood Forest, where I always hope to meet an Ewok, or make a mad dash toward San Francisco with the hopes of finding a warm beach somewhere further south. There’s good river swimming in the forest, but sunny beaches sound nice right now, especially seeing that it was hailing this afternoon.
Because I spent the morning buzzing around, packing and cleaning, then took the afternoon to attend Norman’s funeral and the ensuing family gathering at Grandma’s house — I love my grandma, she’s the classiest gal I know — I haven’t had a whole lot of time to let my mind settle on the fact that tomorrow I’ll be setting out on the road trip I have wanted to take for the last ten years.
Now,all packed up, my mind buzzes with questions. Who will I meet along the way? What will I see? Where will I find hardship, enlightenment, peace?
Holy crap, here we go.
Corkscrew man. You forgot a corkscrew. I don’t know if you plan on opening any wine, but you never know and it’s always a good idea to have one around.
All the best to you & your grand adventure Andrew. Personally I’m hoping that you do find an Ewok in the Redwoods.
Oh, yeah… I have a corkscrew. Just not a can opener. So wine is go… chili is not.
Thanks for the kind words, I’ll send you pictures of any Ewoks I might meet.
I LOVE lists.
And you. You, more.
But also, lists.