Gearing Up

All loaded up and ready to go!

There is something seductive about getting ready for a trip.
It calls. 
  It whispers. 
     It promises. 
You think about it day and night. 
You prepare for it like you might for a first date; assessing your plans, your clothes, your gear.
You do the research, discuss it with your friends, and then, finally, it's time to go.
• • •  
There is the promise of adventure and seeing new things, looking forward (not back), and dealing with challenges along the way.
I'm cashing in my eco-chits of the past several years of living without a car (and before that a circa 1990 car), and have purchased a <gasp> new 2015 Toyota 4Runner that I can live in and out of for the next couple of years. With its reputation for dependability and toughness, I'm trusting that it will get me in and out of all the places I want to go. 
Yes, there is a plan, and its name is "North to Alaska."
Note: While I'm mindful of the fact that this vehicle does not get good mileage, on the other hand, I will not be a big consumer of electricity, heat or water during this time, so I'm giving myself a few credits on the "mileage" score.
• • •
ON GEAR: I retained very little gear from The Great Purge. What I did retain is tested and known. I wanted to be ready for anything. Thus, this is some of the specialized equipment that I'm taking with me:
Old gear:

• Specialized "Hard Rock" mountain bike (2005). Ok, so this was really Casey's bike. It's 20 years old and doesn't fit me perfectly, but I know it well. Because the bike will be exposed to the elements most of this first trip, I didn't want to get something new. It will provide me with local transportation and a way to see scenery close up."Rails to Trails" here I come! 
• Dolphin "Easy Rider" kayak (1976). The most frustrating kayak ever, possessed of a mind of its own as to what direction it wants to take. It's taught me to use a feather-light paddling technique. But it will mean I can get out on a lake and get close up and personal with biting flies or sneak up on waterfowl as long as I'm not cursing the kayak, inaccurately named "Serenity" after Whedon's "Firefly".
• Granite Gear "Vapor Trail Ki" backpack (2005). This pack has traveled with me over 1000 miles on the PCT, TRT and other shorter trips. It's starting to show wear, but is a great pack. Eventually, I'll reluctantly get something new that's lighter and hopefully a little stronger, but until then...
• Cobb grill (2009). Had this awhile, have baked pizza, chicken, kebabs, you name it. Love this small grill/stove/oven that is VERY efficient on charcoal.

New gear: If I got something new, it had to serve at least two purposes...

• Yeti Tundra 45 cooler. They claim it's the best. It had better be. It will be used not only as an icebox, but also as a bench/seat and a stable platform so I can get the bike on the roof rack easily.
• Burley "Travoy" bike trailer. This will be used for bike camping, kayak transport, and any big shopping trips. It's really cool. 
• MSR DragonFly stove. For those times when I don't want to wait to heat charcoal in the Cobb grill. I had an MSR Whisperlite that was used until the supports fell apart; I'm sure this one will be great for camp cooking.
• Marmot "Precip" rain jacket. Resisted this for a long time (having used a silnylon poncho for rain gear, ground cloth & tarp), but the rain pants I got for the Washington PCT hike last summer were outstanding, and this will be nice as a lightweight shell, and wind protection as well as rain. Besides, I'm camping, not backpacking!

More than eager to go.

--Pika