Apology

[kellymoe]

Great to hear about Brit Pac stepping up and giving a hand. Steve and Marty and the rest of the folks at BP are tops in my book and get 90% of my business. Look forward to hearing stories about trips you have had and trips you will have.

 

[Alaska Mike]

Of course there is more. I started writing my travel journals around '94 or '95 and during the 56 weeks between Sept '97 and Oct '98 I spent 20 of those weeks on the trail From about half way up British Columbia to the Mexican border, California to Vermont. I was doing journal writing most of the years.

Just know that your efforts won't be in vain if you decide to transcribe some of your journals.

My approach? Some people navigate by GPS, some by compass & map. I mostly navigate by whim and consider myself as being spot on if I end the day in the same state I was planing on at the beginning of the day.

Tread lightly, stay away from drop offs (I deathly afraid of heights) and go wherever whim takes me, sometimes stopping every 100 feet or so to take a picture. Occasionally not leaving camp that day because I'm trapped inside a good book, or stopping for several hours waiting for the sun to get into the right place for a picture. There are many who would consider my approach best explained using chaos theory math..

That's what I'm talking about. You don't seem as caught up in "destination fixation" as some of us are. From you writing, it's quite evident that you can be quite comfortable on a chilly, rainy, otherwise miserable day, with all you need at an arms reach. That kind of satisfaction while on the trail is a destination in itself. Slowing down to admire the little things (when you have a V8's power) is a talent not often seen these days.

They are good folks and have good prices on their stuff. British Pacific has come through for me several times, including overnighting parts to me when I'm broken down on the trail.

It's also nice that they're on my side of the country.

 

[TeriAnn]

That's what I'm talking about. You don't seem as caught up in "destination fixation" as some of us are.

Oh I am very much caught up in the destination fixation. An important truth in life is that the journey is the destination. The destination I'm fixated on is being out on the trail.

From you writing, it's quite evident that you can be quite comfortable on a chilly, rainy, otherwise miserable day, with all you need at an arms reach.

Very few women enjoy being uncomfortable. So yes I set my Land Rover up to be homey and comfortable. A little nest where I can comfortably revert to my childhood and play house.

Sometimes it can be quite nasty though. I don't have a heater I can run at night (though I have been known to sleep with a 12V electric blanket inside my sleeping bed).

On those cold mornings I slide out of bed still in my sleeping bag, drop the tail gate to let the dog out, reseal the truck and turn on both burners and the broiler full on. I fill the tea pot the night before because I know the Land Rover's water system will be frozen. The tea water goes on to start heating.
By the time my first cuppa tea is ready the Dormobile's interior goes from somewhere around 10 degrees to around 70F and I'm ready to get out of my sleeping bag, take a quick sponge bath and get dressed. Easy to do when the centre ceiling height is just under 8 feet.

Dressed, I remove the sheet of ice from the dog's water dish (which was inside for the night), warm the water up with some of the hot water, drop the tailgate and bring out water and food for the dog. I button the vehicle back up, have a second cuppa tea and maybe fix french toast for breakfast.

After breakfast comes the other normal morning things, dishes, cleaning, repacking, checking fluids, walk around with the dog. Maybe another cuppa tea. I get up early but I tend not to be ready to drive early. I've always enjoyed leisurely mornings. If my destination were something other than the journey I would have to hurry up and be on my way to the destination. But since my destination is to be on the journey I can enjoy each moment knowing I'm at my destination.

But yes, most people seem to be fixated on getting somewhere else in the morning instead of just being in the moment. That's why I mostly travel alone instead of convoying with others.

By the way, thanks. This subject has been therapeutic for me.

 

[Alaska Mike]

Sometimes it can be quite nasty though. I don't have a heater I can run at night (though I have been known to sleep with a 12V electric blanket inside my sleeping bed).

On those cold mornings I slide out of bed still in my sleeping bag, drop the tail gate to let the dog out, reseal the truck and turn on both burners and the broiler full on. I fill the tea pot the night before because I know the Land Rover's water system will be frozen. The tea water goes on to start heating.
By the time my first cuppa tea is ready the Dormobile's interior goes from somewhere around 10 degrees to around 70F and I'm ready to get out of my sleeping bag, take a quick sponge bath and get dressed. Easy to do when the centre ceiling height is just under 8 feet.

Dressed, I remove the sheet of ice from the dog's water dish (which was inside for the night), warm the water up with some of the hot water, drop the tailgate and bring out water and food for the dog. I button the vehicle back up, have a second cuppa tea and maybe fix french toast for breakfast.

After breakfast comes the other normal morning things, dishes, cleaning, repacking, checking fluids, walk around with the dog. Maybe another cuppa tea. I get up early but I tend not to be ready to drive early. I've always enjoyed leisurely mornings. If my destination were something other than the journey I would have to hurry up and be on my way to the destination. But since my destination is to be on the journey I can enjoy each moment knowing I'm at my destination.

But yes, most people seem to be fixated on getting somewhere else in the morning instead of just being in the moment. That's why I mostly travel alone instead of convoying with others.

You don't know how luxurious that sounds to me. Just to be able to sleep in a bed with some sort of comfort while on the trail would be a dream. Eating food that isn't freeze dried, some form of jerky, or with a half life approaching that of plutonium would also be a plus.

My method has been honed by years of short-duration trips, where more care is given to the vehicle than the passenger. I'll heal... eventually. I can gut it out for a few days, but by the end I'm kinda crusty and I have the 1000 yard stare going on. The bad sleep (sleeping bag under a blue tarp) and bad food (never really learned to cook on the trail) kinda backs up on you after a while.

What interests me now is sustainable, comfortable travel, while maintaining a level of simplicity. I'll probably never own my own Dormobile (or even a RTT), but the lessons learned can certainly impact how I use and view my own Rover.

 

[TeriAnn]

My method has been honed by years of short-duration trips, where more care is given to the vehicle than the passenger. I'll heal... eventually. I can gut it out for a few days, but by the end I'm kinda crusty and I have the 1000 yard stare going on. The bad sleep (sleeping bag under a blue tarp) and bad food (never really learned to cook on the trail) kinda backs up on you after a while.

My measure of how good an expedition set up is, is simple. How long can people be out on the trail and still wake up in the morning eager to learn what's over the next ridge.

The limit is approached when a stop at a restaurant or maybe overnighting in a motel becomes very inviting and not just a convenience to get you down the road quicker than setting up camp for the night.

The limit is reached when the comforts of home becomes more attractive then the unknown over the next ridge and you are just going through the motions until you get back.

Anyone can put up with anything for a short time. A good expedition rig is one that can take care of you for the long term. Comfort & good food are an important component of modern long range expedition travel. Unless of course you subscribe to the old mountain man way of doing things and just assume a certain percentage of your party is likely to die off along the way.

 

[mountainpete]

My measure of how good an expedition set up is, is simple. How long can people be out on the trail and still wake up in the morning eager to learn what's over the next ridge.

The limit is approached when a stop at a restaurant or maybe overnighting in a motel becomes very inviting and not just a convenience to get you down the road quicker than setting up camp for the night.

The limit is reached when the comforts of home becomes more attractive then the unknown over the next ridge and you are just going through the motions until you get back.

Anyone can put up with anything for a short time. A good expedition rig is one that can take care of you for the long term. Comfort & good food are an important component of modern long range expedition travel. Unless of course you subscribe to the old mountain man way of doing things and just assume a certain percentage of your party is likely to die off along the way.

Very well said.

Pete

PS: It's great to have you back TeriAnn

 

[Michael Slade]

But yes, most people seem to be fixated on getting somewhere else in the morning instead of just being in the moment. That's why I mostly travel alone instead of convoying with others.

You just smacked the nail right on the head for me. That is also my philosophy. I'm sure it is shared by many here.

Good to hear you're getting back in the saddle. I was planning on going to the ralley, but have recently taken on a commitment that might not allow it.

I also know how you feel about the EYE-RS. Grrrr......

 

[Alaska Mike]

My measure of how good an expedition set up is, is simple. How long can people be out on the trail and still wake up in the morning eager to learn what's over the next ridge.

The limit is approached when a stop at a restaurant or maybe overnighting in a motel becomes very inviting and not just a convenience to get you down the road quicker than setting up camp for the night.

The limit is reached when the comforts of home becomes more attractive then the unknown over the next ridge and you are just going through the motions until you get back.

Anyone can put up with anything for a short time. A good expedition rig is one that can take care of you for the long term. Comfort & good food are an important component of modern long range expedition travel. Unless of course you subscribe to the old mountain man way of doing things and just assume a certain percentage of your party is likely to die off along the way.

I tend to strip away a lot of things in my everyday life that some people consider essential, and my approach to expedition wheeling may be similar. For instance, I rarely listen to the radio/CD/whatever, simply because it's nice not to have all of the clutter in the background. My Jeep doesn't have a functional radio installed. Odd for a person that majored in music, isn't it?

However, decent food and a warm/clean/dry place to sleep are pretty important to me as I get older, so I can look forward to the day and not have my options limited by my physical condition. Pulling this off in a SWB vehicle may be a challenge, so I might cross the custom tea rack off the must-haves (not a tea drinker), but a lot of the other ideas and routines ring a bell with me.

 

[grahamfitter]

Pulling this off in a SWB vehicle may be a challenge, so I might cross the custom tea rack off the must-haves (not a tea drinker), but a lot of the other ideas and routines ring a bell with me.

That's your problem, right there. All SWB challenges can be solved while drinking tea!

Cheers,
Graham

 

[madizell]

decent food and a warm/clean/dry place to sleep...

Decent Food? -- Smartfood is what I remember.

Warm/clean/dry? -- I don't recall these particularly on the northern trails. You must have had the only spot around that met these criteria.

 

[Overdrive]

First of all, glad to see you're back! I always enjoy reading your posts. Will check out the new addition to your website.

My measure of how good an expedition set up is, is simple. How long can people be out on the trail and still wake up in the morning eager to learn what's over the next ridge.

The limit is approached when a stop at a restaurant or maybe overnighting in a motel becomes very inviting and not just a convenience to get you down the road quicker than setting up camp for the night.

The limit is reached when the comforts of home becomes more attractive then the unknown over the next ridge and you are just going through the motions until you get back.

These ideas should go down in the ExPo "words of wisdom" hall of fame. Very well said.

I get up early but I tend not to be ready to drive early. I've always enjoyed leisurely mornings. If my destination were something other than the journey I would have to hurry up and be on my way to the destination. But since my destination is to be on the journey I can enjoy each moment knowing I'm at my destination.

This is how I view travel as well ; unfortunately, I'm usually with someone who wants to get going early so we can "arrive" early. I guess a lot of it boils down to how much time you've alloted for the particular journey. Which is why I can't wait to retire and get out from under the time constraints of a full-time, punch-the-timeclock job.:safari-rig:
Welcome back!
Scott M.

 

[Alaska Mike]

That's your problem, right there. All SWB challenges can be solved while drinking tea!

See what you can learn on ExPo? I thought it was beer and a big hammer.

 

[Alaska Mike]

Decent Food? -- Smartfood is what I remember.

Warm/clean/dry? -- I don't recall these particularly on the northern trails. You must have had the only spot around that met these criteria.

Smartfood and beef jerky isn't what I call sustainable cuisine. It's more for those one-day adventures. With the prospect of longer trips and bringing the family along, the culinary approach changes a bit. The build philosophy will take this into account. It might only manifest itself in a Coleman stove and some basic food, but that's light years from what I carry now. Different world.

As far as the warm/clean/dry bit goes, the CJ-5 never really gave me that opportunity. Perhaps the Rover will provide a better platform for civilization.

 

[TeriAnn]

This is how I view travel as well ; unfortunately, I'm usually with someone who wants to get going early so we can "arrive" early.

My usual idea of the end of the day destination is where I happen to be around dinner time and I usually try to eat around 4:30-5ish so I don't go to bed full.

Since I camp inside my vehicle, don't have a fire and carry a toilet on board when I leave camp, all I leave behind is tyre prints, some foot prints and maybe a small gray water wet spot. All of which are gone with the next wind.

I guess a lot of it boils down to how much time you've alloted for the particular journey. Which is why I can't wait to retire and get out from under the time constraints of a full-time, punch-the-timeclock job.

That brings on an entirely different problem ... $$$$. When you retire most people have the time to take a trip but have to save up disposable income for a month or more just to get a fuel tank of gas or to replace that part you broke last trip.

For most of us, life seems be be divided between the time we have money for gear & trips but no time or having the time but no money. I was really lucky in '98 to have both for over half a year and was able to spend 20 weeks out of a year out on the trail. These days it takes about $160 to fill my fuel tanks. Next month it will cost more.

 

[revor]

Isn't the irony of retirement? No that you have the time you don't have the:

Money
Energy
Good Health
Companions
And on....

Cuisine...

It's amazing what you can make from a bunch of rice, a bit of canned stuff, dried beans or dried vegi's, fruit and meat.

Or just Do it like the folks down under do it! Bring everyting with you.