The Expedition Is Packed And Ready To Depart!

No, we are not going either to the North or the South Pole. Neither men nor dogs (nor llamas, nor elephants, nor oxen) need pull sledges laden with tons of gear and supplies for our nine-day trip to Southern Oregon --- it just looks like it when you gaze upon the pile of stuff that Dick is supposed to cram into the car tomorrow morning.

When we go to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, and anywhere else that requires travel by air, we manage (most of the time) to get by with two carry-on size rolling suitcases and two much smaller carry-on bags. But a trip to Southern Oregon, no matter what time of year during which it occurs, seems to require us to bring along the kitchen sink and all of the plumbing tools necessary to install it at each stop along the way. So, we have a usual two rolling bags, plus two hanger bags, plus our two smaller carry-on bags, plus a big duffel bag we call the "Oregon Bag" stuffed full of parkas, rain jackets, gloves, wool hats, fleece tops, rain pants, umbrellas, long-underwear, and similar gear for cold and foul weather. (We're dragging all of this along despite that fact that the National Weather Service has, for the moment, canceled the threat of rain in Ashland and is not forecasting any precipitation at any time during our trip). Add to that list a camera, two pair of binoculars, books to read, maps, brochures, and other travel information, a small folding ice chest, hiking books, hiking poles, and to quote Yul Brynner in "The King & I", "Etc., etc., etc."

Maybe we should just buy a couple of steamer trunks. Hopefully we won't need to rent a U-Haul trailer to tow behind the car.