So this past weekend I went back home to western PA and got to see most of the gang going on this trip. Didn't get to see Greg but I was assured by his lovely wife that he WILL be there! We spent many hours laughing and imagining how bad we're all going to feel after the first day after about 32,500 paddle strokes after realizing we have 100,000 more to go... (Thanks MIKE!) We also got to hear a lot of sage like advise from the original team. Most specifically though, we figured out it's about 60 days away. Wait... I just looked at a calendar and 7 weeks from right now I'll be in a canoe. In the water. The actual Quest will have started. We'll have every item we need for several days and nights of rough camping. I will have my gear tightly packed in hermetically sealed jugs of my own design. BuzzJugs (tm) Look for them at a retailer this fall!
The funny part is we're still figuring out exactly what supplies we are taking.
Sure, we realize we're going to be taking the usual stuff: Canoes (duh), tents, water, solar charger for DVD player, Greg's beer supply, Mike's Bigfoot costume, all three of Seth's MREs, Rob's mustache wax (I don't even know what that is!) Mark's rubber snake (100% serious), my guitar and a couple of tarps. You know, necessary items.
It seems the team has different ideas of necessary.
Seth started this whole Quest. He said we were doing this and he got us organized, starting with a packing list divided into three categories. Need, Good Ideas and Comfort. I think to myself, "what a good way to prioritize." Before I start reading his list, I start making my own list in my head following the same guidelines. Then I read Seth's list... My quick list was drastically different than Seth's. Food was in the Comfort section. Let me say that again: Seth put FOOD under COMFORT. Not Need, not even Good Idea... Comfort. Food.
I was trying to figure out a way to pack an air mattress. A cooler didn't even make his overall list. "I'll drink my Diet Pepsi warm..." Boy oh boy! This trips sounds better and better everyday!
So when we pressed the wise ones for tips and any details they could recall, they claimed they ate like kings on the trip. Hot foods cooked on a camp stove and fire. Meats and cheeses. Bread and beer. Snacks and cold drinks. This had my interest. Meats and cheeses???
Seth became almost enraged at the thought of "Cooking all that food, we don't even really need, in heavy pots and pans??? Ridiculous!" Just the mention of a cooler immediately gets the "Not in MY boat!" response. I'll be honest. I don't find eating to be a ridiculous part of any day. Actually, I quite enjoy it. At least I thought I did!
Seth's plan involves MRE's. Meal, Ready to Eat. It is a self contained individual field ration in lightweight packaging bought by the United States Military to be used by service men in combat or other field conditions where organized food facilities are not available. They come with a main dish, a side and toilet paper. The deluxe models even have a "Flameless Ration Heater" that may or may not emit hydrogen gas. They are as delicious as they sound. It's like eating at a place called "Restaurant." You know it will get the job done and fill the basic dining requirements... but not much more than that. That's an MRE.
It was theorized that Seth was outsmarting us all by having other people carry the "Heavy pots and pans!" That may be true. Honestly, considering what we're signing up for, outsmarting us won't be that difficult. We are CLEARLY not that bright. I have a different theory. I think it's an issue of just keeping it simple. Seth has planned this out and nothing will affect his nutrition needs. Rain, Snow, Sleet or even the slight possibility of Sunshine. He will eat... and have toilet paper.
I on the other hand will be looking for an outlet to plug in my air mattress.
Seven weeks and counting!
