Monday 19 May 2008

Forward Planning?

Sometimes I surprise even myself. I've been mentally inventorying everything I'll need for this weekend but there were a couple of things that I didn't exactly know where they were. I knew roughly but "roughly" was the big pile of gear up in the loft.

I knew the Laserlite was tucked in at the bottom of my gear cupboard and I could feel the poles in the bag but of the pegs there was no sign. "Must be in the loft", I thought. "Balls!", I thought again.

So up I went. Tucked in at the side of the pile were 3 big storage boxes. The top one contained 2 Pro Action Tiger Paws. No pegs in there.

The middle box sounded more promising. It rattled for one thing. Opening the lid, it was a bit like the end of Raiders Of The Lost Ark; it was like peering into a wee bit of Heaven but without the scary ghosties. The pegs were there. All of them. Carbon, Titan and Alu. So was the MSR Titan Kettle, the Vargo Jet Ti, folding titan spork, gas, fire steel and indeed everything I needed for the upcoming (and perfectly legal) adventure. Such organisation. I can scarcely believe it was me that did it. The grin near split my face in twa.

10 comments:

AktoMan said...

LOL - for gear cupboard, read "box room, and scattered through rest of flat". By coincidence, I was thinking of getting some of those big transparent plastic storage boxes and seeing about tidying up. Maybe even selling unused kit!!!! Shock, horror.

Big Kev said...

I really, really need to sell off my surplus kit. Less choice = Quicker Prep Time.

Those boxes were worth every penny of the £1.50 I spent on them btw :o)

Anonymous said...

Alright!

I love getting the kit together, planning, getting psyched. Every single time, I hope the joy of it never wears off. I was right there in your attic for a minute!

I hope you have a fantastic time.

AktoMan said...

Great minds think alike, eh?

Ah well, looks like I've a trip out again this weekend. LondonBP is looping from Blair Atholl to Aviemore, so (after a trip to the dentist on Saturday), I'll be nipping out to White Bridge again and then up to Corrour Bothy. I'll just tab it back to Derry Lodge and south on Sunday, whilst George tackles the Lairig Ghru.

And I too am doing the mental inventory thang. Well pleased that I stripped and cleaned kit last night, drying the Akto on bungee cord hooked above the bath.

Big Kev said...

Ptc, I love the prep'. The "getting my game-face on". I'm sure I'll forget something but WTF?, the basics are covered.

Duncan, I should be walking out as you're walking in. Watch out for a lanky goon with a big smile on his coupon :o)

AktoMan said...

Kev - I should be with George (talk about a Tower of Babel!).

Just listen for the Londoner going "pardon?" and the Scot going "what?" ;-)

As to packing - I put stuff on the bed, make sure I've everything I need. If I've forgotten something, then it wasn't important enough in the first place (eg power recharger).

Big Kev said...

I'll have my "Wotcha?"'s at the ready :o)

Packing-wise, I try and visualise what I'll sleeping in, eating/cooking with, wearing etc. And then, yes, chuck it on the bed and then pack/re-pack until it fits.

Londonbackpacker said...

Pardon?




:-D

Big Kev said...

Whit?


:o)

AktoMan said...

are we there yet?
are we there yet?
are we there yet?
are we there yet?
are we there yet?
are we there yet?
are we there yet?

;->