3/22/13 - Gear Talk - 1

It's now March 2013.  We have had more snow this year than just about any in the past decade.  It keeps coming ... first a blizzard in late February, then on March 7-8 (my retirement), another 24", yesterday 10", and the weatherman talks of more tomorrow and this coming weekend!!!  All I want is clear trails.

So, while we wait for the snow to melt, lets review more gear.

Communication with Home  

Some folks take cell phones, ipads, laptops, video cameras, etc.  They post on Facebook or blogs, in addition to phone calls.  Well, that's all extra weight and tends to easily push one over the 15lb limit.

On my research project for Henry David Thoreau's "A Walk to Wachusett," I utilized a microcasette tape recorder.  Very light, easy to use, and it easily fit into a pocket.  I have thought of this option, but at this time, I think it will remain at home.  In addition to carrying the extra blank tapes, batteries would also be required ... nothing is of substantial weight in and of itself, but it is just one more thing.  

For now, I will be going low-tech... pen and paper.

Low-Tech Communications

 Let me explain.  

Journal

I have been a journal writer for years and there is no reason not to continue the practice on this trip.  Surely there will be plenty of things to enter into the journal - new sights, new people, new experiences, new sounds, new smells, new feelings, and new discoveries.  And so a simple blank lined paper journal which is not to heavy.  We all know books can be heavy.

Letters

I am the webmaster for my brother-in-law's Ham Radio Stamp business. - AIRMAILPOSTAGE.COM.  Two of the items which he sells are airmail envelopes and the appropriate international postage stamp for a first class letter to be sent from the country in question to the United States.  And so, with a purchase of 2 dozen air mail postage stamps from Spain and 2 dozen air mail envelopes, I had filled each with a blank paper.  Along the route, I will pull an envelope, write a letter home, and mail it at the next Spanish post office that I can find.  The letters and the journal should reflect a good accounting of the trip.  

Phone Calls

I am told that bigger towns and cities have, for lack of a better term, telephone cafes.  I would expect that I can drop into them and make a call home just to let Kathy know that all is well.

Internet - emails

Like phone calls, there are reported to be a number of internet cafes along the way.  I will probably stop in and, if the price is right, make an occasional email dispatch.  We will see.  Kathy doesn't do email but if I sent it to one of the girls, they could easily take it for her.

 

  

   

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