Wow.

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Down after 21:15.  How much after I can't know.  Short term memory had already gone to bed.  I think I wrote that time?  So it got stuck, somewhere.  I was waiting for the double barreled nose bleed to stop.  It never did.  Eventually I just went to bed with tissue blocking the bleeding.  Shortly or longly after that time I can't know.

I woke earlier in the night, if I can't be sure exactly when, if not too much earlier, then woke solidly at 02:30.  But I was hoping for more sleep, still hazy, if well awake too.  I dozed, in and out, and woke just now at about 05:00.  Dressed, at least moderately.  Just my sleeping clothes yesterday, couldn't gear up and out.  Pushed that this morning.  Had a package I knew about yesterday, on the porch, but wasn't willing to get it as I was clothed.  Got it.

A two liter USGI canteen with case.  Flexible, plastic.  It'll probably drip, when capped and inverted, or sloshing.  But, it is a good thing, especially for heavy drinkers.  I actually ordered two, got one.  So... I ordered another one.  I have yet another one, which is fine.  I drink a liter an hour, at this time.  I may start filling and using them, two with just water, one with a mix of water and electrolytes.

I am hoping to get out on some trail, before long.  Just day hikes, to start.  I think there is still too much snow on some of the places I want to go.  And, it is going to be brutal, even before it gets hot.  A small, light, daypack, with three days food and as much water as I can carry, light duty raingear, a camping towel, bandana, and extra socks just in case.  Maybe mole skin, a few bandaids, and triple antibiotic salve.  I bought a group of individual packages of that latter.  Tubes become a total waste.

Initially, the hope is just to find my feet, gain some endurance, learn to pack and go light, learn some small skills and abilities out there, and then begin planning for single night and then extended stays.  Keeping it very simple, very easy, lower altitude, short hikes.  Oh, and my trekking poles.  They look stupid, but I hear, especially for us older barrs... they can be handy.

I am hoping, today, to get a shower in.  Then set up dishes and maybe a load of laundry.  It's a chores day, so that too.  I have the empty waterers filling, should get those done.  As well, I am hoping to finally get my pack ready.  I have a huge pack, but I need to break that out, and down, to just one of the "rocket" packs.  I have a massive main compartment, plus two little, side, packs.  Each can be used independently, or together.  Very modular.  Initially, all I think I need is one rocket pack, the harness of that (or those, it works in either configuration).  

Food, maybe a tarp for shade if I want a rest, snacks, a hanky and/or camp towel, waterproof frogs or such, some light medical, and otherwise as light as possible.  I'll try to keep it, say, ten pounds or less, and with food if possible.  Water, though, will be a heavier need.  And, I will need a lot of water.  Probably be chugging it?  Maybe.  Six liters should be enough, and maybe enough to moisten the bandana, and wipe clean, from time to time.

Holy cow, boys and girls!  It's 28 out there!  What... day is it?  May 20th?  Really?  Wow!  That is cold, below freezing!  It is 64 in this front room, 67 in the main... if the lamp may be heating that reading a bit?  The kitchen is reading between 70 and 72, with those old chemical bubble thermometers.  Not sure how accurate they are?  Anyway...  Yes, the furnace is off.

Oh, I have been being careful with my doors, and various locks.  I still find the back door unlocked, from time to time... the key lock.  But they can't get past the mechanical hook security locks... four of them.  I have found one nearly undone, so now make sure, especially when going to bed, to lock all of them.  The other doors, so far, seem immune to entry.  It's about once a month when I find that the back door has been unlocked, the deadbolt and handle lock, with a key.  But they weren't able to get past the other locks.

I think they still, sometimes, when available and I am gone, find a way into the house.  things still get disappeared.  Not as much, not as often, but... yeah.  Not exactly sure how they do it.  But must be too noisy to risk while I am here.  Or take too long, and/or be too exposed, to risk while I am here?  I can't be sure.  But, yea, I have cut down on it.  A lot.

Iowa was just as bad.  Even my mother, when she lived alone, knew people were breaking into her house, for God only knows why.  Yea, it's a... dangerous world, these days.  If they break in, they can't be held to any right accounts.  And murdering inhabitants, if caught, is not beyond the pale.  Actually, the idea is an expectation.  I've seen someone cruising, lately.  Probably been doing it for years, I'm just not outside all that often.  Never can be sure, if there is a probability based on profiles.  Definitely.  Then again, at this point, with so many young men staying at home, with their parents?  Yea...  More so those who aren't working?  If there are any of those.  I just don't know, for certain.

I'm probably going to do a chia breakfast, for ease.  I'd like to get to eggs and bacon, but I'm not up to cooking this morning.  I have one more chicken left.  But the pans need washed, which is in the queue.  So... maybe a late egg breakfast for lunch?  Supper?  Or that last piece of chicken.  All the pork roast is consumed, it was small... but delicious.  I still have gravy!  I might try some of that, today, with the chicken and veggies.  I would hate to waste the pork gravy, though too, I'd still like to try to salvage the chicken gravy.  It tasted good, just too heavy.  Maybe just thinning it, in with the veggie steam water?  I'll... try.

Well, it's all just theory.  From gravy, to getting the pack together, to setting up the hammock and tarp for practice sleeping, setting up, and breaking down, the sleep area each morning.  But... it...  We will see.  Later.