Some Preparations

      Last night I gave my bike a bit of a tune up. Degreased the chain and gears and then re-lubricated everything, put a new brake pad on, and did some fine tuning on the derailleur. My Evolutionary Biology professor, Dr. Paul Mack, invited me on a bird-watching trip today at Plymouth Bluff Nature Center, which is about seven miles from my dorm at Mississippi University for Women. It was a perfect opportunity to make sure my adjustments were all in order. Of course, the four and a half hour bird-watching hike was worth the trip by itself. I was able to see some Southern wildlife I hadn’t seen yet. Saw quite a number of birds (of course), but also a skink, a fat, lazy nutria, and the biggest mud slider turtle I have ever seen. I still have yet to see a gator, but I am going to be in the South a while yet.

I recently ordered a few supplies for my upcoming expedition. While I have a small backpacking tent, I decided to upgrade to a larger 8’x9’ Boulder Creek tent because I figured it would be a good idea to have a place big enough I could stash my bike in it. I also ordered a steel frame bicycling cargo trailer, capable of holding and hauling 88lbs of gear. Another item I ordered, something so luxurious that I am almost ashamed of myself for buying it, is an 85”x40” Teton Sports Outfitter XXL Cot. No sleeping on the cold hard ground for this guy!

If I planned correctly, I should have the majority of the aforementioned supplies arrive by this weekend. Since this coincides with an overnight camping trip that I am planning with a friend, it will be a fortuitous opportunity to field test it all. Hopefully, this will leave me enough time to both return any defective items/components and receive replacements.

As for my friend, Lulu, I get to take her on her first ever camping trip. She is an international student from China, and according to her, camping in their versions of state parks require special permits that can take months to acquire. I've never had the opportunity to introduce someone to this experience before. Perhaps I will be able to dazzle her with my wizardly woodsmen skills, or maybe I will try too hard to be impressive and set the tent on fire. Hope I don't scare her away from the outdoors!