Meal Time

Oh, joy!  It was one of those days when the UPS driver AND the mail carrier bring packages!  First a package from REI with a new windbreaker to try.  It's the Patagonia Houdini, a name that kept coming up on the hiker lists.  It's pink, just like my jacket.  I'm starting to sense a theme...  Love the Houdini, it's a keeper.  Also in the box, a stuff sack that reverses to a very light-weight fleece to use as a pillow.  It's a 2 oz luxury item.  Only marginally related to backpacking, the new strap for my garmin running watch was delivered.  I really don't like running without it--this morning I ran holding it in my hand!

Before I was finished basking in the glow of new items, on my front porch was an envelope from zpacks with a shoulder pouch.  I will use this to hold a water bottle for the hike.  The side pockets are too hard for me to reach easily and I want to make sure I have water readily available.  There is also a little mesh pocket on it for little stuff.  It's made from cuben fiber which is a very intriguing material.  The pouch weighs less than the half-sheet receipt and the sandwich ziploc bag it came in!  Now I'm thinking I might need a tent from this material...

I have saved the best for last.  My mom sent a box with sample dehydrated meals for me to try!  Chicken noodle soup (homemade noodles!!!), split pea soup, chili mac, bean chowder, carrot cake oatmeal...and the list goes on.  There were some little crackers (especially love the sesame, mom!), some kale, dried carrots, spinach...

I'm not sure where to start!  I'm pretty sure it's going to be the chicken noodle soup :)

100 Days

One hundred days from now I expect to take my first step from the Mexican border in the direction of Canada.  If I mess up and go the wrong way, maybe thru-hiking isn't the sport for me!  Exciting, scary, sobering...yup, all of those feelings and more!  I'm still in the "long time/just around the corner" mentality, depending on the day and how fast my mind is racing.

Just gotta say how much I love Amazon Prime :)  It's especially fun when you forget what you ordered and the package arrives.  It's like Christmas only better because you KNOW you are going to love what's inside.  Today's surprise was Coconut Manna made by Nutiva.  I have been enjoying some wintery weather here in Houston, but unfortunately, cold is not a friend of Coconut Manna.  It needs to be at 73 degrees or warmer to be at spreadable consistency.  I couldn't wait so I put the container in a bowl of warm water.  Not soft enough to stir, but good enough to sneak a spoon down the side of the container for a taste.  Mmmmmmm...good.  Now I'm craving more.  It says you can use it as a spread in place of cream cheese or butter.  There is a recipe for oatmeal on the container and more recipes at nutiva.com.  Can't wait to check them out!  This stuff is seriously good!

I wonder how long I could hike with just this stuff, a jar of peanut butter, and a spoon???

When You Gotta Go

My $20 coupon for REI expired on Sunday, so that warranted a shopping trip.  I made a list of things I still needed for the hike and was able to cross a few things off.  Got a hat with a wide brim for keeping the sun off and for my mosquito netting to go over, a couple carabiners, a pocket knife (no pic), some down mittens (wondering now if these are overkill), and perhaps most exciting, a book about the Lone Star Hiking Trail.

The Lone Star Hiking Trail is the longest wilderness footpath in Texas at 128 miles.  Texas is a big State, but fortunately I am not far from this trail so it is a perfect training trip for me.  It's flat and at a low elevation, but it's the best I've got and I'm thankful it's close to home.  I heard that this weekend is the last of deer hunting season, so hopefully I can hike the trail without fear of being shot.  I would love to get out there soon.

Also on my list of things to acquire is a tool for digging a cat hole.  Many people say that a stick or the heel of a boot work just fine.  Well, I tried that in Washington with only marginal success.  So, I have ordered a titanium cat hole trowel.  It weighs in at just over a half an ounce which seems more than reasonable for a tool of this nature.  If you want to check them out:  http://www.qiwiz.net/trowels.html.

While we're on the subject, I have also discovered a technique that allows girls to pee standing up.  Why didn't our mothers teach us this?!?!

Ooodles of Noodles

My mom, resupplier extraordinaire, is experimenting with soup recipes that she can turn into trail meals.  Every time I suggest something is "good enough" she scoffs and insists the meals should taste as good as possible no matter what it takes.

The food item of the week was soup and critical for soup recipes is noodles.  Word is that she nailed it today with homemade noodles that stay firm and rehydrate completely in a short amount of time.

It's all I can do to keep from sticking a fork into my computer screen!

Thanks, Mom :)