Dog Days

The neighbor dog keeps sneaking under the fence and enjoying our jungle-like back yard. We found him rolling on a dead mouse. When Paul told him to go home, he looked at him much like our children did when they were teenagers ("Who, me? I don't think so!") and sauntered out on his own time.

I started the morning by taking our mountain of aluminum cans to C&R Pipe to sell. Oh, yeah! 23 cents a pound earned $27 which I rushed to spend on gasoline and a new water filter for our Katadyn pump. Other errands included buying a wedding shower gift at the Country Kitchen (who wouldn't want a monkey veggie peeler?!) and bagels.

When lunchtime rolled around, we discovered that we only had p-nut butter and jelly, so, since we'll be eating that for lunch for the next few months, we took ourselves out. I am slowly regaining the weight I lost so its a good thing we're hiking again.

We packed up our packs to check the weight- without food (6 more pounds) and water (4 more pounds), my AT pack weighs 14 pounds. Not bad for a 3 month hike. It includes a hammock with a large rainfly, a sleeping bag, pad and silk liner, clothes (set of long johns, undies, 4 pr. socks, windbreaker, bandana, warm hat, gloves, mosquito headnet, down parka), cup and spork, headlamp, first aid and personal hygiene supplies, bug dope and sunscreen, small AM/FM radio, maps, small memo pad, Camelbak water container, a 1 liter water bottle and whatever I forgot to mention. Paul will be carrying all that for himself and also the 1 oz. cat stove, pan and fuel and his pack weighs 17 pounds. We are fighting over the water filter- you take it, no, you take it.

We sprayed our outside clothes with premethrin for tick repellent. It can't go on your skin- we have DEET for that.

Ben (our son) and friend EnXi are leaving Perth, Australia as soon as they get a ride north. Good luck to you both and be safe!