Gearing Up

Miles Clocked: 0.0
Gallons Burned: 0.0
I just purchased a box of military surplus MREs (meals ready-to-eat) from my local army navy surplus store. Now I have 7 days of heated emergency rations in the event I get stuck in a blizzard/zombie invasion. I, being a total nerd for these sorts of things, did a little research and found out about the history of military foods stuffs from the Civil War forward. About 1.7 million became ill and 45,000 men died from tainted food in the Civil War. The Department of War (later "defense") has been working on this issue ever since.

Anyways the modern MREs I've got will still be edible for the next 7 years, so I'm all set.

For those who are interested here's the menu:

(No dreaded ham omlets)
Here is the US government's official MRE site for further study:
http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/rations/programs/mre/mreabt.asp

The Car...

Miles Clocked: 0.0
Gallons Burned: 0.0
This is it. I guess with the car in the shop and my trusty mechanic going over her stem to stern the trip is starting to hit me as a reality. I am going to do this.
Feels good to type that.

Replacing the timing belt, flushing the radiator, possibly replacing the alternator, fixing the AC blower, and then she'll be ready to roll.
I'm excited.

Gear for the Road

This a list of the gear I'll be taking. Does anyone have any suggestions for additions/subtractions from my gunna [Late Latin "gunna", leather traveling garment, term for all one's worldly goods]?

Net book computer
GPS unit: Magellan Maestro
Power Inverter (1200 Watt 12 Volt DC to 110 Volt AC)
DC in-car refrigeration unit
Propane cook stove
2 man tent
12 emergency rations (Military MREs)
Costco of hand warmers
ThermaCare Heat Wraps
-25F bedroll
Cameras
Books

My Blog's Purpose

I'm Taking a 12,000 mile road trip across the United States....in January.
Now for no reason at all a random poem:

Leavin' from Seattle's Emerald green,
Drivin' coast's curves to Diego's shore.
Questin' from warmth of West to heat of East,
Crusin' Florida's Keys,
Jinglin' beaches Northbound thru' Capital and Appletal.
Rollin' into tundra's crown, so Maine,
Feelin' the brutal wind of Cago-town,
Endurin' the dark towering Rockies so cold.
Back to my wet town of olde.

Don't know where that came from.
Anyway, I'm leaving Seattle on January 4th, do the loop, and be back to Seattle late in February.
This blog will be the best place to keep tabs on me as I progress. My best pictures will be posted here. Almost-daily updates will be made as WiFi opportunities emerge.
Also Facebook is the place I'll be posting all the pictures.

Check out my links to see the trip's map.

Keep checking back...