Amy Smith Linton
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Everglades Challenge: Smurf Bags

1/21/2014

12 Comments

 
Picture
As our planned 2014 Everglades Challenge entry, Frankenscot, has been taking shape from a classic Flying Scot sailboat to something a bit more weird-science-y, the project threatens to ooze into every corner of our living space. 

At first, the necessary gear for TwoBeers and Moresailesed formed a small mountain in the living room. 

We moved it between venues and the mountain grew as we added sleeping pads, a solar recharging pack, charts, collapsing water jugs, GPSes, whistles, dry-bags, bug juice, duct tape.

Before long, the stuff formed two mountains, three, and continued to rise. Flashlights, handwarmers, camping cookware, EPIRBs, more dry-bags, mylar blankets, running lights, survival knives.  

It was like an Icelandic volcano spewing water-proofed technical fabric and nifty camping equipment.  In our very own living room! An unnatural miracle!  Weird science!

Picture
But my tolerance for chaos has an outside limit. As Daddo used to say, "You can do things right, honey, or you can do them twice." Or you can do it a half-dozen times, when it comes to organizing a disorderly mountain range of survival gear. 

Bring on the IKEA carry sacks. 

Who knew that FEMA-blue tarp could seem actively cheerful? Who knew that smurf (not amber) is the color of our energy (whoo-ooo)?

Plus -- be still my tight-fisted heart -- they cost 55 cents a piece! Such a value.

Suddenly, the mountain range is tamed. A big blue IKEA bag of sleeping gear! A big blue IKEA bag of electronics and cooking stuff! A big blue IKEA bag for clothing! 

When it comes time to transfer Mondo Cargo Mountain yet again, those big blue IKEA bags have handles, and they resist water. So when settled for a moment on dewy grass while someone runs back upstairs (Gah!) for the key and then wrestles open the cargo doors on the van -- no problem. Water stays on the outside, stuff stays put. At least on my shore-side watch.

How do you move the world? A big lever? Sure -- or take it one bag at a time.

12 Comments
george a.
1/21/2014 06:43:55 am

Hope poor ol' Frankie floats once all that stuff is stowed aboard! We're v. familiar with those blue IKEA bags. They also come in yellow, sort of the merchandiser's version of "I am curious Blue" (and "Yellow").

Reply
Amy
1/21/2014 02:10:10 pm

I hope Frankie continues to float. Full stop!
Don't the yellow ones just get used in-store?
I'm going to tart up some bags with Sharpie markers and give everyone personalized luggage this summer.

Reply
Greg
1/21/2014 09:45:35 am

Having just returned from a 4 day camping trip in the Motorboat, I feel what your saying. Tupperware containers are great also. so was the new 2 burner stove with 16X32 griddle at 35lbs a piece. LOL.

Reply
Amy
1/21/2014 02:11:47 pm

Greg -
Nice -- did you have big breakfasts every morning? The trouble with big Tupperware containers is that with the really big tubs anyway, there's an unfortunate tendency to sit on them.
Sadly, I am here to tell you, they don't actually bear the weight of an adult human and her beer.

Reply
cathmason
1/23/2014 02:39:55 pm

ahhhhhh.....bags.........

Reply
Amy
1/27/2014 11:42:27 pm

...the essence of travel preparation... Full of happy anticipation, even when empty.

Reply
george a.
2/4/2014 10:04:16 am

Another FrankenScott?

http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2014/02/04/photo-wrong/

Reply
Amy
2/5/2014 12:41:40 am

Proving that there is, indeed, more than one way to de-fur a feline.

One of Frankenscot's gang suggested that the vessel would make an appropriate tender.

Reply
george a.
2/5/2014 01:08:13 am

Perhaps "Bride of Frank"...

Reply
Amy
2/5/2014 09:41:20 am

Or Dinghy of Frankenscot.
Evidently the title Bride of Frankenscot has already been assigned...
talk about error message.
Signed,
B/FrankenS

Reply
george a
2/5/2014 09:46:48 am

My Dear BoFS: I'm sure in Jeff's eyes it'll take more than a sleek fiberglass hull and big engines to wrest your title away!

Reply
Amy
2/6/2014 12:15:44 pm

Dear George --
Dang straight!

Reply



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