The Substitute Substitute

Erin called because she needed a substitute for egg in her zucchini bread. Her computer was "gone" so she called her mom- an age old tradition. Upon further questioning, she doesn't usually use eggs, so she really wanted a substitute for her egg substitute. Paul suggested that it was egg. But I looked it up for her and discovered that she could use 1/2 banana, 1/4 cup of applesauce or 1/4 cup of silken tofu blended with the other wet ingredients. Good call.

I am writing this blog to allay my travel frustrations. I was supposed to fly to Hoonah this morning. I got up at 4:45 am along with my reluctant chauffeur and we headed to the airport. By 5:30 am, I was sent home until "no later than 7:30 so we can leave right away" due to mechanical problems and waiting for a part. At 7:30, I was back in a line to rebook since my original flight was leaving at 8:30, but Juneau was no longer on the destination list. The helpful agent had automatically rebooked me to go to Anchorage on that flight to spend 4 hours in the airport waiting for the earliest Juneau flight- the one that takes 4 hours and stops in Cordova and Yakutat. No thanks...I'd miss the latest flight (3 pm) to Hoonah anyway.

So, I spent the day at home, going to Lulu's for cinnamon rolls and reading the paper, walking 3 miles in the Big Dipper, prepping for tomorrow's work, emailing and blogging. Now, I'm back at the airport (4:25 pm) starting the wait again. The flight is only 51 minutes late this time, if I can believe the display. Then I'll overnight at the Extended Stay Hotel in Juneau and take the 7:50 flight to Hoonah. The inservice is supposed to start at 8, but if I get there on time, it'll start at 8:30. Off and running.

On a cheerier note, some people have been asking me about my light pack, now on its way to Georgia. Here is what is in a 24# pack: (* means shared gear)

Pinnacle backpack
compactor bag
reflective blanket
hennesey hammock
hex tarp
6 stakes
Marmot sleeping bag
closed cell foam pad 3/4 length
Yak trakkers
OR short gaiters
rubber outer gloves
cheap inner gloves
neck gaiter
Precip raincoat
black rainpants
OR windstopper hat
Ex Officio undies
Zip-T shirt
down jacket
2 pair of long john tops and bottoms
crocs
sealskinz socks
sunglasses
reading glasses
3 pr. wool socks
*Sea to Summit bag with 1/2 food (about 5#s)
titanium cup
spork
Petzl headlamp
*2-1 L water bottle (empty right now)
*Steripen and extra batteries
*camera and charger
*iPhone and charger
*USB card reader
pack cover
*maps
*Appalachian Pages- GA to TN
*first aid kit- dayquil, nyquil, bandaids, quik clot, lanacaine, neosporin, alcohol wipes, immodium,
*hygiene bag- toothbrush, comb, toothpaste, sunscreen, bag balm, hand sanitizer, camp soap, towel, chapstick, bug dope

Not included in the weight because I'm wearing/carrying: Leki poles, bandana, Dryflylite shirt, zip off pants, undies

Here are shared items in Paul's pack:
toilet paper, weather radio, stove, fuel, pot with lid, rope, pot cozy, other half of the food, another water bottle

Yet to add: book and/or journal and pencil

I decided that hiking the AT is similar in many ways to commercial family troll fishing. Both are the best on good days and horrible on bad days, everyday brings new adventures, the weather is the decider, there are risks and rewards that vary based on your decisions, both require long hours and a dedication to purpose, neither pay very well and both can be the culmination of dreams.

Congratulations En Xi on selecting the film that won the Reader's Choice vote on McDonald/Mercer/Crouch/Yeh Family Film Festival. The Darjeeling Express garnered 6 out of 17 of the votes, better than 33%. The Academy Awards of Family Film Festivals, the Jethro, is on its way. If the box smells when you get the prize, just put it right into the trash and I'll ship you another one.