It all started innocently enough. I was asking Jake how many clothes pins we should bring (to go along with our clothesline - for the anticipated frequent clothes-washing on the road). In responding at all, he was allowing for the fact that we might have to do laundry a couple of times during our eleven-week trip. He said, "we shouldn't bring clothespins, we'll simply make new ones every time we need them." He went on to explain that we would split twigs and shape them into the appropriate size and shape to hold our wet clothes aloft (no doubt on a rope that we just braided from roadside weeds). Now, I consider myself somewhat of an outdoorsman. I can make a decent fire, and build a shelter if the need arises. But I was beginning to get the feeling that Jake's and my views of what to bring on this trip were taking us in different directions.
We put this to the test by arranging clothing and equipment on a blanket that we thought we would each need for our unsupported journey. Remember that we are planning on camping three nights out of four and preparing most of our own meals. The picture below tells the story. Guess which of the gear and clothing are things that I thought we should bring - and which were Jake's. Notice the bright clothing on the left (better for avoiding those unfortunate clashes with tractor-trailers and texting teenagers)? Look also at the array of cooking pots and equipment for heating and eating food that seems to be conspicuously absent from my son's side of the blanket ("why would we need more than one pot or bowl? - or better yet, why would we need to heat anything at all?").
I think you get the idea. My hope is that my decades of wisdom ("yes, we should carry more than bandaids in case one of us falls 2000 feet to a rocky canyon floor") will combine with his youthful optimism and pragmatism ("no dad, we don't need to bring extra food and dishes in case we want to ask the people camping next us over for dinner") to strike the right balance in packing for the trip. I'm sure I will leave behind some of my treasures (like the complete works of Herman Hesse), while Jake will add a thing or two to his pile (like a toothbrush!). But, I promise if, on a cold night, he covets an extra fleece sweatshirt that I brought that he thought was frivolous and unnecessary. that I will try not to let his teeth chattering bother me as I fall asleep using it as my pillow.
Here are what may be some of the last photos of Jake and I unfettered and unencumbered by all those frivolous extravagances such as clothing, panniers, sleeping bags, etc.
P.S. Still having issues with PayPal. Don't fret, it just gives your money a chance to earn more in one of those high-interest accounts you have it stashed in - ultimately yielding us a bigger donation!
Feel free to comment regarding out trip, including support for our efforts - or - to try and talk us out of this foolishness - please!
- Rob & Jake
