February 4th: Reflections on Packing, RIP Blanco
Day 114
After spending the last 3 weeks living at Jira Homestay, our equipment is scattered about in every corner of our bungalow. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that all of the crap will fit into our bags, which makes me worry that maybe I’ve packed too much. Packing is always a difficult game, because you can always do with less. Surprisingly we have used everything that we came with. Out of 3 months, we have spent 1 month total in the tent. We use our MSR stove on a daily basis and cook at least one meal per day. We have had temperatures as low as 9, and have used our gloves and hats, and have had torrential rains where we’ve needed our rain gear. I’ve used extra parts to repair our trikes and maintained our stove. All things considered we have packed well. Although I may curse my baggage going up hills, I’m thankful that we’ve been prepared.
In the coming months we can lower our baggage weight since we won’t need climbing gear from the time that we leave Thailand until we arrive in Townsville Australia, or roughly the next 6 months. We are going to try to mail our rope, and quick-draws, Gri-Gri, and assorted carabiners ahead and we will retire our 4-year-old harnesses. This will save us about 8 kilograms or 17.6 pounds. I may also consider sending some winter clothing ahead.
While I was cleaning our stove I was reminded of something Cher said, that there are few things that we pass on to future generations nowadays. However, if more things were made like bicycles and camping equipment, we would have more to pass on, at least until they can afford the titanium stove and cook-ware. We spend a lot of time maintaining and mending the things that we rely on to take care of us and it is deeply satisfying. I hope that we don’t forget this when we return to our workaday lives.
On a final note, we learned a sad news today, Blanco died last night. We don’t know how and can only guess but we like to believe that the end to her wild, untamable, willful life was met while carelessly flying after some prey. Blanco was bold, and carefree, and sweet and loving and she lived more in her brief two years than a household dog lives in a lifetime. May we all be so bold.
