sounds like a good week for dreams, not so good for tootsies, tho!  i'm so excited (vicariously, of course) about your alaskan trip!  between you and your sister, i'm going places!

 

if it occurs to you, please keep an eye out for wierd, *not right* fridge magnets.  i'll be happy to reimburse you.

 

i know how you are about talking on the phone, but i hope you'll have your cell with you and maybe call from time to time for company on the road.  so you can give me even more vicarious thrills.  i'm just saying.  (((((((((((((b.))))))))))  to two fridays from now!!!!

 

hugs,

 

s/l

Plan on at least a 4-man tent and a good large air mattress along with a hatchet/ax/machete... strike-any-where matches, a propane or LED lantern... I'd pass on State or Federal Parks - unless you're willing to buy an annual pass - they're expensive... a lot of counties have nice, cheap, campgrounds. Also a couple of flashlights, a portable radio and lots of extra batteries... a million++ CP AC/DC spotlight is usefull. A firearm doesn't hurt to have with, unless you're going into Canada, then it causes a world of trouble. Plan for the worst, hope for the best!

www.sportsmansguide.com is an excellent source for camping gear.

thank you - I plan on a simple trip - camping for me is not much more than an overnight stop so supplies and such will be minimal - I've got my food and drink pre-purchased, 2 burner stove, cookware, hatchet, ground cloth, air mattress, pillow, 20^o bag and a poly-filled mattress as well.  Have shopped for but not yet bought the tent but am avoiding the temptation of the really nicer looking ones with more height and interior room and am sticking to a basic dome tent ( 8'x9' 3 man) from walmart that gets good user reviews for ease of setting up and water-proofness.  I'm tempted to spend an extra $50 and actually get an enclosed 13x15x7 tall screened gazebo (no floor) to set the tent up inside of - extra protection against bugs and room for a camp chair and cooking gear outside the tent - but that sort of defeats the idea of parking, eating, throwing up the tent, and going to bed 1,2,3.  Maybe in the future should I decide to take a real camping trip where I would spend time in one place it would make more sense.  Of course, I'm camping out of my car, not backcountry, so the need for some things isn't all that strong and many are already part of my travel kit that is always in the trunk

The spotlight might be a good addition - especially for those late at night, "what was that noise?" jitters!

I hate to duplicate a product, but while the spot is a good double as a camp light, I would also ideally like to get a new maglite that serves not only as a quick lite inside the tent, but as personal protection (although, I guess I could always sleep with the hatchet under my pillow!).  I'm crossing my fingers that even a hatchet or crow bar will be allowed into Canada - many years ago they confiscated a 4 foot pole I kept behind my drivers seat calling it a 'weapon'.

Trouble is, there are SO many cool things that would be nice even my simple 'wish list' is topping $200 and my camping vs motel difference is only $500-700 to begin with.

 

I'm doing KOA and National Parks in the states - clean, safe, along my route.  KOA has showers and is about $25 a night average as opposed to a $50 Motel 6.  Do you believe they even have water, electric, wi-fi and cable tv at many tent sites? LOL!  I've got a couple of pdf files for Canadian campground/RV parks.  Out of 11 nights in Canada only 2 will be wilderness and the others all have lodges nearby (about $80) in case the nighttime weather is too cold for my comfort.  US camping will be another 11 nights with half in National Parks so I will be getting a pass for them - the all-access pass with individual camping fees for 5 nights will still average about $30 per night. 

Wish I had more cash in the bank, I'm psyched for this trip and wouldn't mind stretching it longer than 35 days if I don't get the California gig in June!

Happy Birthday! =D

shhhh! (thank you).

Whoops!  My lips are sealed from here on out.  Well, at least until next year =)

TOO LATE!!!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!