Counting down to departure day

With less than a week before we start our Island Traverse, we have had several firsts … Our first food cache went off with our son Justin yesterday (thanks Justin Dyer!); we did a trial pack of all our gear then donned our packs and climbed the Badgers, checking out our Day 3 route to Mt Roland in the process, and we tried out our ultra-light trekking umbrellas in the back garden. Tim’s research is coming up with heaps of innovations, so we will be trialing quite a few new ideas over the next couple of months.

Each stage of a journey has its unique joys and challenges. I have laughed that maybe 95% of the enjoyment of this trip will be in the anticipation, and the other 5% in the first half day, before the realisation of what we are embarking on really hits. I do think we will love the whole adventure, but I am certainly loving the preparation phase. It is great fun sharing the planning with friends and family members, getting fitter (especially at Railton Parkrun), checking out routes we will be following, and gaining new skills. Tim has taught himself to use my grandmother’s sewing machine to create and repair things we will need. He is presently making a rain skirt for me out of an old tent – lighter than overpants, far cheaper and more comfortable to wear due to better air circulation. He will be making his next, I reckon photos will be a must.

We have been dehydrating all our food and have a large box full of dehydrated sausages, curries, rice, mushrooms, soups, and our piece de resistance, dehydrated eggs. After countless failed attempts to take dried eggs bushwalking in the past, we have found a recipe making them taste nearly as good as fresh eggs. The key is starting with good ones, and we have used at least 6 dozen Mount Roland eggs so far. Our tiny packets of 4 eggs weigh a mere 50 g each – just add milk powder, water, salt, pepper and herbs and maybe some crushed dehydrated rocket or basil (in the dehydrator as I write). My fav job is using the vacuum sealer. I have had plenty of practice by now!

I haven’t had this much fun in years. Working together on all stages of the planning and preparation has been awesome. And we haven’t even left home yet…