Category: Expedition

Always good to practice what you preach

by loveyourbigmuddy expedition, posted in Expedition

Washington riverside education experience

Okay.  So, part of my expedition mission is to empower kids.  To persuade them that they can achieve goals that, at first glance, may not seem possible.  Ideally, they will learn how to put on an “I can do it” attitude despite circumstances that may cause them to want to give up.  They will look adversity in the eye and find solutions to keep moving forward.  Yes, that is my goal.  Of course, I need to practice what I preach, right?

Rio Oso – River Bear

Today, the challenge of this expedition reached a new dimension.  I know, already?  So, I just found out that my dog has a torn ACL in his right knee.  This calls for surgery that is rarely done for less than $1800.  How do I know?  He had his left ACL repaired last January.  After meds are prescribed, the procedure costs over $2000.  My poor Rio Oso.  And, woe is me.

Just so happens today is also my last full regular day in the University of Missouri Sustainability Office.  I will be starting my student teaching internship on Monday.  I decided, quite easily, that I would not work and student teach at the same time.  I want to give 100% to my students.  I want to devote my whole self to motivating them to love learning.

This is a non-paying internship.  However, generous scholarships from the College of Ed and student loan will pull me through the semester, and for that I am grateful.  My plan is to work part time from January through March, while earnestly pursuing a teaching job for the next school year, after which I will devote 100% to my expedition.  Of course, I will be contacting potential sponsors, pouring over maps, networking, cultivating my goals, and mapping out my course from here on out, as much as I can manage.

I decided to share the planning of this expedition on this blog.  Normally, I don’t care to seem complainy (I know, not a word, right?  I like it, though.) in public, but this will undoubtedly be the first of many challenges along the way.  I really do want to practice what I preach.  So, there you have it.  Let’s keep on movin’ on.  Solution-minded-always!

Oh, and any fundraising suggestions are very welcome.

Live fast ~ paddle slow

See you on the river (syotr)

Gear & Sponsorship Considerations

by loveyourbigmuddy expedition, posted in Expedition, Planning

Dave Miller’s book, The Complete Paddler, offers detailed planning information, which relieves me of unnecessary anxiety.  I am currently absorbed in the section entitled:  Clothing, Gear, Hardware, Water, Food, and Shelter.  Yep, that about covers my interests right now because I need to know what I need in order to compose and mail off my sponsorship requests.

Although I just purchased a sea kayak recently, I have my heart set on the Eddyline Shasta.  Andy Bugh paddled a Shasta on his Expedition4Educationtrek of the same route (all the way to the Gulf), and loved it.  Bob Bellingham is currently on the river in the same boat, and likes it as well.  Sea kayaks have a smaller cockpit and are quite confining.

Andy Bugh & his Shasta kayak
Expedition4Education – 2011

The Shasta is a tandem kayak that can be adapted to a single seat, converting the boat into a more spacious craft for a three month solo journey.  Eddyline is a family run outfit in Seattle.  They recycle their scrap plastic!  I am hoping they respond to my request.  In the meantime, I will need to mail many more letters to kayak companies who offer a similar design.

Aside from the clothing, i.e., paddling jacket, pants, shorts, sandals, hats, shirts, and under wear, etc., Dave offers a list of gear that is extensive, but essential.  From his list I will be able to direct my letters to specific potential sponsors requesting needed items for the expedition.  The list is long, but kind of interesting to look at, at least for me.

Camp gear:

  • Tent
  • Plastic tarp for use as inside tent liner
  • Bivy bag (optional)
  • Extra nylon parachute cord and tent stakes
  • Small tube of seam sealer
  • Sleeping bag
  • Lightweight fleece bag (to be used as a liner or alone on warm nights)
  • Self-inflating pad with repair kit
  • Stove fuel
  • Fuel bottles
  • Cook kit: nesting pots
  • Large spoon
  • Large pocketknife
  • Biodegradable soap
  • Flashlight with extra batteries
  • Water purifier with extra filters
  • Small plastic shovel or toilet trowel
  • Small pruning shears or small machete
  • Clothespins and line
  • Water bags and bottles
  • Collapsible water bucket
  • Backpacker’s towel
  • Seasonings, pump-spray margarine, and small bottle of olive oil
  • Backpacker’s freeze-dried fare
  • Bag meats: tuna, chicken, salmon
  • Energy snacks, breakfast bars
  • Powdered drink mix coffee and/or tea, powdered milk/creamer/sweetener
  • Plastic tub of baby hand-wipes, toilet paper
  • Bathroom bags for areas where paddlers must manage their own waste

Miscellaneous Gear

  • Glasses (two pair), reading
  • Sunglasses (two pair)
  • Eyeglasses strap (
  • Map case for kayak deck
  • Waterproof watch with alarm
  • GPS unit with spare batteries
  • Marine band two-way radio with NOAA weather band (waterproof)
  • Dog tags with name, address, phone number, and blood type
  • Camera (water resistant/proof)
  • First-aid kit, snakebite kit
  • I am adding “bear spray”
  • Medications: antibiotics, ear drops, and eye drops
  • Cell phone in small dry box with charging equipment
  • I am adding “thin film solar panels”
  • Medium-sized dry box for odds and ends
  • Assortment of small and medium carabiner clips
  • Binoculars
  • Duct tape, tube of Goop, tube of marine hand-moldable epoxy, multipurpose tool
  • Dry bags for deck: light solid color, one with backpack straps
  • Small stainless steel thermos
  • Fishing pole and real, tackle including a small lure assortment, salt minnows
  • Extra lighters/fire starters
  • Life vest with compass, survival gear, small boat horn
  • Kayak with all the essentials: bilge pump, paddle float, sponge, bailer, throw line bag, flotation bags, and extra rope, bike cable and lock with extra keys.

Are you overwhelmed yet?  Yes, I will need a bigger boat.  🙂