Sleeping bag

[PamNY]

If you have time, I'd love to hear a trip report. As much detail as you can provide will be great! I love camping but haven't done bike touring yet.

You can make fire starters with dryer lint and wax, though I don't know that these would be lighter/easier to carry than lighter fluid. If you want to try it, fill the indentations in a cardboard egg carton with dryer lint and pour melted wax over them. Cut them apart and use 1-2 per fire. Just light the cardboard part and away you go.

Have a great time!

Pam

[Cataboo]

It may be too late, but if you need firestarters ... go to goinggear.com, he has a ton of good firestarters for reasonable prices (not to mention lights & carabiners, and the like). He does have a lot of videos up on youtube about how to start fires with the various things he does sell. He tends to ship priority mail & if you let him know you need it quick, he'll get it out quick.

An alternative on the dryer lint & wax is dryer lint with petroleum jelly... If you go on goingprepared.com in the forums, there's something on how to make it. (The guy that runs goinggear runs it, so you can PM him on there if you have questions)

If you want something simple & small to cook in, you can make a pepsi can stove:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage-can_stove

As for food to bring... I tend to bring cliff bars & cliff shot bloks. I don't particularly like either, but they're great when I'm hungry and have been being active.

When I'm camping, I tend to just go to the grocery and get the dry bag of pasta or rice that you just add water & cook for 5-10 mins.

Couscous is very easy to cook and lightweight.

I tend to bring a little bag of spices to add - black peppercorns, coriander or cumin seeds, some dry sundried tomatos, chipolte peppers, things like that.

[Melalvai]

I hadn't thought of fire starters. I bet I can find some locally.

Knowing that I get the most enjoyment out of planning a thing, I have already started a journal: Rachel's Epic Bicycle Adventure.

My husband will post updates after I call in every night, and when I get back I'll post the details & pictures.

[uforgot]

I just saw this thread! Have a great time and I'm looking forward to reading about the journey. I hope the crazy Missouri May weather is nice for you.

[sfa]

I'm so excited for you! I love living vicariously through other people's adventures.

It sounds like you're well prepared. I'd go with the propane stove rather than fires. Some campgrounds have fire restrictions, and a propane stove is just more reliable and convenient. After a long day of riding, the last thing I'd want to do is run around getting firewood. Besides, you'll probably lose a couple of pounds in the first couple of days of riding and that'll make up for the extra weight of the propane!

But if you really want to be hardcore, I took a class once in firestarting using flint, steel and charred linen. It doesn't get much more lightweight than that. I don't think I'd ever want to rely on it, though.

Good luck! I can't wait to hear your daily reports!

Sarah

[Melalvai]

Claudia,
I saw on another thread you mentioned you stay in KOAs. There isn't one on my route, I'm staying in 2 state parks, the AOK in St Joe, and a campground on the Wabash Trace when I get to Iowa. Do you have any experience with the St Joe AOK? Is it a decent campground?

[Tuckervill]

Are you going to be on the Katy Trail? I use bikekatytrail.com, but I can't get it to load right now. There used to be cyclists reviews on there of all the campgrounds.

Karen

[uforgot]

Nope, I've never been there. I found the website and it looks nice. You'll have to post a review. What roads are you taking to St. Joe?

[Melalvai]

Are you going to be on the Katy Trail? I use bikekatytrail.com, but I can't get it to load right now. There used to be cyclists reviews on there of all the campgrounds.

Yeah, the Katy Trail comments are often a good read. I'll be on the Katy until Boonville, then I head north.

Claudia, I just pm'd you re my route.

[Melalvai]

Yesterday afternoon I got a message from a university I've applied to. They want me to come for an interview. On the phone interview last week, I mentioned the dates of my bike trip in case they needed to contact me during that time. Knowing that I'd be gone on that trip, they asked if I could come for the interview THIS WEEK. They want me there Wed night and have me booked with meetings until Friday at noon. The university is 4 hours away.

I'd chosen Saturday as my departure date so that I'd have time to grade papers Thurs & Fri.

Guess I'll forego sleeping instead. I wasn't going to be well rested for the start of the Epic Adventure anyway. I know I'll be too nervous & excited to sleep!

[Tri Girl]

That's great about the interview, but does that mean the epic adventure is off?

[Melalvai]

That's great about the interview, but does that mean the epic adventure is off?

No. It means sleeping is off so I can grade papers. :/
Plus my nerves are so keyed up right now, between the interview & the imminent Epic Adventure, I can't sleep anyway.

[Melalvai]

Oh, based on all the feedback I went with the propane stove. I'll let you know how it worked.

[Tri Girl]

Sleep, shmeep. I teach 104 students, so I can empathize with you on that one.
Good luck with your interview and really good luck on the epic adventure!!!

[Tuckervill]

You can sleep in your old age.

Karen