Is this some kind of modern art or something with immediate utility?

 

 

Balloon Mattress

 

Take a look at the website at this link: http://balloonbed.com/.  It’s a super-ultralight mattress made of balloons used to make/twist animal balloons.  I didn't believe it at first but it actually has potential as an emergency mattress especially at an airport.  Obviously a distinct niche market that does't sell to customers here in the US but does sell them in Europe.  I looked at their video of blowing up the balloon--they're doing it wrong (need to leave about one to two inches uninflated) and I can do that by mouth thereby saving a few ounces--there's a trick to inflating them (I'm a magician).  So I tried the concept.  It works!  After viewing the website, I couldn't stand it so I bought a pack of what appears to be 260E balloons (they did not carry the better 260Q's) at Kmart just a ten minute walk up the hill.  The ones I already had were over ten years old and popped as I blew them up so if you do this, try to keep newer ones in the kit.  Did not make the sleeve thingee but did tape eight balloons together with painter's tape for the first test.  I'm happy to  report it works for back sleepers and side sleepers.  I had my skeptical daughter lie down on it and she was surprised at the comfort.  Length was about 36 inches and width was about 17 so the sleeves housing would add some width.  You have about two inches depth.  I would go with ten balloons for decent width.  So this mattress would be a torso focused mattress and the entire shebang would weigh perhaps six ounces and fit in your pocket.   If you buy a pack of the 260Qs advertised on Amazon for around $10 per pack of 100, it works out to a $1.00 mattress per night after you make the sleeving thingee.  Putting things in perspective for its ability to hold up to weight, I weigh about 180 and am 67 inches tall.  Along that line, one 260E or 260Q balloon at the foot of a trashbag bivvy and one or two at the head just might work to give some circulation to avoid condensation. So I also tried out using a balloon as an arch for the trash can bivvy and it does work as well.  Didn't put one at the feet end but I'm sure it would work if you used painter's tape to affix it to the bag to ensure it wouldn't move.  Got the link from reading a book on ultralight backpacking.  Yesterday I put ten balloons in a disposable garment bag because it's so light.  Just put them in there--no channels and nothing to hold them together other than the enclosure of the bag.  That's the pic above.  Works great. 

My wife says she won't provide sewing support for such a project--I have too many air mattresses already.  OK, minor setback.  Will just get a yard or so of thin light material, place the first balloon on the far left, roll the material over that, place a second balloon beside the first (wrapped) balloon, roll the wrapped first balloon over the second balloon which is then wrapped, place third balloon beside wrapped first and second wrapped balloons, roll, etc. until sufficient balloons are in place.  Uses much more material which increases weight but also increases comfort and protection of the balloons.  Doesn't need sewing.  Material can be used for alternate purposes until needed for the mattress.  Not light, but flannel would be comfy--perhaps an old flannel robe?  Could use fabric glue to make the sleeves but the best situation would be to get the item from the manufacturer.  I love to support small businesses but they don't sell to the US.    Adapt.  Overcome.  Think out of the box.

Here's a link to an in-depth genuine review of the balloon bed.  Neat stuff.       http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/balloonbed_review.html

 

Ready and waiting to get back to travel

 



Hallstatt Square, Austria

Hellbrunn Palace, Austria

Trip Report – Salzburg area of Austria

Waiting on guest articles to get here.  In the meantime, my version of “what I did on my summer vacation.”  Hope you enjoy it.

I interrupted my solo travel in Germany to join an on-line contact for a two day trip to the Salzburg, Austria, area during the early part of October 2012. She had rented a car for the trip from Munich and had reserved a nice room at a Best Western hotel near the Salzburg train station. I found out too late about her lodging and had to reserve a room nearer the old town portion of Salzburg (no rooms available at the Best Western).  I was greatly impressed by the hospitality and help of the staff where she stayed. We arrived near noon, she checked in, and then we traveled to the nearby Hellbrunn Castle where the tour guide delighted in demonstrating the water system there that squirts water on unsuspecting guests throughout the tour. The gazebo used in the film Sound of Music is also there.

Following that, we traveled to Gollinger Falls which is a treat for any photographer and a workout for those young of heart but not of leg. We returned to her hotel just before dusk and I caught the S-bahn into Salzburg where I eventually found my hotel, the Meiningerhof, located in a shopping center.   Saw lots of younger folks most likely doing Europe after college--seems to be that word is out that the hotel is a good place to stay. Really nice room and good customer service. The only problem I had was finding it as I caught the S-bahn train number S-3 from the main train station to the nearest stop (Gnigl). I found the address which was a somewhat large shopping center. I didn't know the hotel is part of that building and I went into the wrong door. A helpful shop clerk told me the correct route to the correct door.  Interestingly, while checking in, I saw a group of about five young guys I saw earlier at the main station checking in there as well.  They were easy to spot—they all wore dark clothing and one of them was wearing a neon green tutu.  Must have lost a bet or is pledging a fraternity was my guess.  One of them tried chatting up the attractive clerk despite her obviously wearing an engagement ring to no avail.  My assessment of the hotel which has hostel lodging as well is that it is very clean and efficient. The hotel is located about 20 minutes by foot to the old town.  The following day, we left early to go to the Dachstein Ice Cave and the Five Fingers viewing platform on the Salzkammergut mountain. The drive there was like you see in the high performance automobile commercials here in the States with lots of curves, hills, and dips, along with fantastic scenery. The trip up the mountain via gondolas (yep, two stages so two gondolas) was picturesque and nerve-wracking for those with a deep respect for or downright fear of heights. The ice cave tour was very interesting and the guide spoke English and German so we got a great geological education and opportunity to take lots of photos. Some ice there is over 700 years old. We had an option to see an additional cave but we decided to forego it in order to go to the Five Fingers viewing stand.   It is built in such a manner that it projects over a cliff and there is a Plexiglas floor so you can see what is below.  Not for those who have a fear of heights but a great way to safely overcome said fear if one does it anyhow.

Following an invigorating and physically exhaustive time on the mountain, we traveled to picturesque Hallstatt to enjoy the centuries old town until almost dusk. Tired, enthusiastic, but out of time, we traveled back to Salzburg. We had a look at old town Salzburg the following drizzly morning but had to leave for Germany in the afternoon in order to meet travel schedules. Will return when I have more time.  Great trip!

Five Fingers viewing platform, Dachstein

Inside church in Salzburg

Gazebo from Sound of Music

Gastehaus Maria in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Dining room at Gastehaus Maria

 

Bed and Breakfast Recommendation – Gastehaus Maria in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Consolidated and added to from my TripAdvisor and Independenttraveler .com write-ups

Just one word:  Excellent.  Excellent customer service, excellent breakfast with lots of variety and great coffee, nice location (near a nice walking trail to the Plateauweg that leads to the Alm Hutte Restaurant), less than thirty minutes walk to/from the train station.  I’ve been to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GAP) in 2010 and 2011 and stayed at the US military recreation center called Edelweiss Lodge and Resort there.   In 2012, I wanted to stay on the German economy and see what the hubbub about bed & breakfasts is all about. I stayed for about a week at Gastehaus Maria located on Zoeppritzstrasse in the Garmisch portion of GAP.  I was pleasantly surprised at the excellent accommodation (I got a single room), the abundant breakfast (included in the lodging fee), and great customer service provided by Manuela Thier and her husband.  Mrs. Their has training and experience as a cook so you know the food is tasty.  They spoke enough English to answer my questions and make recommendations that made my visit memorable. Manuela gave me a visitor pass for free bus transportation and discounts at local venues.   While there, I met mostly English speaking guests in the dining room although I dutifully greeted each new guest in German until I found out they were fellow Americans.  Only one was a military member.  She was assigned in Italy but previously attended a course at the Marshall Center near Edelweiss Lodge.  She was so impressed with GAP, and with Gastehaus Maria in particular, she made it a point to bring her visiting parents on vacation from the US and her husband there for a mini-vacation.  A sight I want to show my friends, if we can find a way to get back to GAP, is what I call the “critter-drive” which occurs near the end of the lane.  Depending on season, a herd of sheep or cattle are driven from a house nearby to pasture up the mountain in the morning and return near dusk.  The critters are housed in a portion of a building one side of which is for critters and the other side is a nice clean home.  I could never get my timing right to take photos though.  One thing I appreciate about the owners and staff there is that they help if you ask.  Otherwise they leave you to your to your own pursuits.

The gastehaus is less than five minutes from a path leading up the mountain to the Kramerplateauweg where the land levels out a bit. A little picturesque church sits by the path there and provides a nice subject for photography with GAP in the background. If you take the left pathway from the church, you’ll eventually end up near the Alm Hutte Restaurant where they serve just about the best Windbeutels (plate-sized fancy cream puffs) in Bavaria. Or, you can walk from the gastehaus for about a half hour to Riesersee, a nice little lake with a large restaurant near a hotel on one end and a path leading to a former Olympic bobsledding run (and museum).

Speaking of restaurants, I recommend the La Mamma Italian Restaurant on Zugspitzstrasse less than five minutes walk from the gastehaus. Order a Helles beer and the Pizza Regina for a tasty and filling meal. If you prefer a Bavarian meal, walk into the old town area (less than fifteen minutes walk) to zum Wildschutz Restaurant on Bankgasse for authentic cuisine and the best Apfelstruedel in Germany. A word of caution, the restaurant is so popular, they don’t need to accept credit cards so they don’t—cash only there but well worth it. On the way to zum Wildschutz, you‘ll see Bistro-Mukkefuck Cafe, a place you absolutely must go to just because of the name (be sure to take a photo—no one will believe you). The food is good and I believe it to be a hangout for ex-pats as all I heard in the dining room was British and American English.

There is a tandem paragliding hut near the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort—costs about $120 altogether. A bit nerve-wracking but something one should do at least once in a lifetime. Most of my time in GAP was spent walking and enjoying the area—didn’t cost me a dime. I did pay to go to one place, though, which I want to alert potential travelers to in order to make the experience better than I had. Partnach Gorge is on all the travel brochures. It’s an awesome and naturally wild place. There is a constant flow of folks traveling through it when it is open (can be closed due to conditions). My advice is to wear shoes that won’t slip on wet surfaces, a hat with one of those clip-on LED flashlights, and a rain jacket. Don’t take a backpack—there’s not much room on the path if you decide to turn. Visitors to the gorge should know ahead of time that the path is narrow and wet with sheer drops far into the raging waters below. A two strand metal fence separates the visitor and the drop-off. There are sections of the trail going through cave-like structures for some twenty yards or so without any lighting whatsoever. Folks keep moving and water drips on your head. Complicating it all is the fact that traffic is two-way. The sight and sound of the raging water can be unnerving.

Lots in GAP to see and do. I recommend walking (it’s free!) in order to soak up the ambiance and work up an appetite for some great food.  And Gastehaus Maria is the place to stay.

 

Bistro-Mukkefuck Cafe

Yours Truly enjoying a great breakfast and coffee.

Taking a break for the weekend.  Reader Kurt had a good suggestion:  "Post your favorite ramble or adventure."  You can post here in comments or I will feature it as a guest post.  It's difficult to learn various things if only one person does the talking, eh?

Couch Surfing Kit Bagged and Ready to Go

 

 Couch-surfing Comfort Sleep Kit

 

Yes, I’m a bit of a gearhead and not ashamed to admit I like my comfort as I age.  If you read my post about lodging on April 1st, 2013, you read about alternative lodging like Couch Surfing and Global Freeloading.  I put together (and have used) a sleeping kit rivaling my bed at home (possibly even more comfortable).  It’s quite expensive (buy like I do when the item turns up on sale if you can) but, believe me, boy is it comfortable!  The whole kit would equal the cost of about three nights in a three-star German hotel.  My philosophy about crashing at someone’s home is that I should be grateful I have a roof to sleep under and a bathroom.  Consequently, I want to impose on  my host as little as possible so I bring my own bedroom with me.  I have used this when visiting relatives but it has more promise than just using it on overnight or weekend visits here in the USA.  The entire kit weighs only 12.6 pounds (or less, depending what items you put in it), has a bed with mattress, chair, pillow, bedside table, light blanket or down comforter depending on temperature, and a bag to put it all in.  I could add a silk sleeping bag liner if I wanted.  I can only rationalize taking this kit with me overseas if I planned on a month-long trip and almost every place I stay is free lodging because my goal is one carry-on bag.  This kit would have to be checked baggage most likely.  Yes, it should meet carry-on requirements if you’re allowed to bring two carry-on sized bags aboard but I would be ready to check it if necessary.  You would also have to carry two bags with you when traveling by train or whatever.  I toyed with the idea of adding some Fozzil dishes and a cook pot weighing about half a pound but the way I see it, you’re spending nothing on lodging so you can afford to take your host out for a meal or two and you can buy your meals or some sandwiches to gnaw on otherwise.  For my budget, I went high on the hog on this one.  Start out with the bag.  It’s an Eagle Creek packable duffel which weighs only eight ounces.  Inside it is the bed, a Thermarest Luxurylite Mesh Cot at 3 pounds and 12 ounces, 26 inches wide, and 72 inches long (get the 26 inches wide—the extra cost is worth it).  I feel compelled to say a few words about this cot.  It is mesh so it is cool in the summer.  It'll hold about 325 pounds.  I weigh about 180 and it doesn't bottom out.  I can sleep on my side and never touch the ground.  If you knew me, you would say "wow!" when I admit that it's almost as comfortable as sleeping in my hammock.  The pillow is a Cocoon ultralight air core pillow which weighs about four ounces.  The mattress pad is a Thermarest  Basecamp sleeping pad  measuring 20 inches wide by 72 inches long, is two inches thick, and weighs in at two pounds and nine ounces.  For car camping, we use a Thermarest Trail Pro which is 25 inches across and 72 inches long (2 inches thick).  It's just too big for the Eagle Creek bag so it doesn't get to go overseas even though it fits the cot perfectly.  Also in the kit is a Thermarest Trekker Chair into which the pad fits to make a really comfortable chair.   The chair, sans pad, weighs in at about three quarters of a pound.   Besides a silk sleeping bag liner (silk is the way to go on a liner and I highly recommend this company),  I have the option of a super warm down Thermarest Ventra Down Comforter (made by Thermarest so it fits) weighing in at 2.5 pounds or a Coolmax travel blanket weighing in at about ten ounces.  My bedside backpacking table (which can also be used for one or two person picnics) is a GSI Outdoors MicroTable weighing in at one and a half pounds.  Photos below.  The doggie is Sassy the Wander Dog who is too old for travel now but is an expert on comfort.  It was a job getting her off the down comforter so I could take the pic.

Left to right:  Ventra Down Comforter folded in half length-wise, Luxurylite Mesh Cot, and Micro-table.  Resting on the cot are a Cocoon air-core pillow, a Thermarest Basecamp inflatable pad, a Cocoon Coolmax blanket folded in half length-wise and a bit under to make it fit enough for the photo.  The Trekker Chair is on the blanket.

 

View of the Trekker chair behind the micro-table beside the cot with the Cocoon pillow and Ventra comforter on it.  The Coolmax blanket is in its bag sitting on the table.  Sassy is unhappy she had to move off the comfortable sleeping area.

Almost as comfortable as this.

 

Space A Travel Comfort Sleep Kit

Yes, I’m a bit of a gearhead and not ashamed to admit I like my comfort as I age.  For those who don’t know about military Space A travel, I have a post on that very subject dated April 9, 2013.  Sometimes, you will be able to hop an aircraft with sufficient room to spread out a bit or even sleep on the floor which is kinda nice on a long overseas flight.  This kit is designed with that in mind.  Although my Space A travel sleep comfort kit was put together primarily for Space A travel, it could just as easily work for commercial travel where you think a long delay could occur.  Like, oh, the possibility of a blizzard or some other weather related delay could cause you to have to stay at an airport overnight or longer.  Or, it could be used for an overnight visit at a friend’s house or stay at the bedside of a relative at a hospital if rules allow.  The entire kit (in dry bag) weighs 3.6 pounds and fits nicely on the top of my travel backpack.  Dimensions of the dry bag I’m using purchased at the camping section in Walmart measures 14 inches in length and 7 inches in diameter when packed.  So what’s in there?  The biggest comfort item is a Thermarest Trekker Large Torso inflatable pad (comes in its own bag, measures 25 by 45 inches inflated and weighs about a pound).  It’s kinda spendy but I waited a bit and managed to buy it (like most gear I get) on sale.  In hind sight, I should have spent the extra $20 and got the full length large one.  This one is fine for torso coverage and does really well keeping me from the floor but my legs extend a bit beyond the end of the pad and I just prefer to get the full-out comfort the full size would provide.  Other contents include a silk sleeping bag liner (silk is the way to go on a liner), a Byer Traveller Hammock at around ten ounces with substituted bright orange cordage for low light conditions in case I'm allowed to hang instead (hospital is not going to let you hang, of course), a Cocoon ultralight air core pillow (also spendy but packs small and weighs about 4 ounces).   Also in the bag are foam earplugs that came with the sleep mask below but I will replace with the better Alpine Sleepsoft earplugs I have when traveling.  The neat travel case they're in will have to go--I'll put them in a tiny ziploc type baggie instead for space and weight savings.  I also have a Dream Essentials Sweet Dreams Contoured Sleep Mask.  It looks pretty weird but is very comfortable.   I also carry two large black plastic trash bags which can be used as an emergency bivvy (see April 12, 2013 post).  However, I modified one of them by cutting a very small slit in one of the bottom corners and taping a three inch length of 5/8 inch clear plastic tubing to it.  This serves as a homemade version of an Instaflator which I purchased (and recommend).  Here’s their site   http://themillair.com/  which includes a video demonstration of the commercially made one.  I use this instead of blowing up the air mattress by mouth—a lot easier, no moisture in the pad from breath, and I like pack contents to be dual use if possible.  By the way, I made a much smaller version from a bread bag and the 5/8 inch clear tubing to inflate the Cocoon pillow.  More gearhead stuff tomorrow unless an expected guest article comes in.  Too bad I don’t get paid to promote these products, eh?

Contents of green dry bag (left top to right bottom):  microfleece blanket, Thermarest Trekker inflatable pad, silk sleeping bag liner, Cocoon pillow, trash bag, trash bag, sleep mask kit.

Left to right:  silk sleeping bag liner, hammock, microfleece blanket.  Trash bags, sleep mask kit, and dry bag are on the blanket.  Blanket is on the Thermarest pad and the Cocoon pillow is also on the pad.

Mark and I went to East Fairmont High School together way back in the early 70’s.  We reconnected when I returned to my beloved West Virginia.  He and his wife live in Kanawha County, WV, and do their fair share of local/regional travel in addition to trips “way south of here.”  They have stayed at bed and breakfasts in addition to park lodges.  I thought it would be interesting to ask them both the same question to see what their responses would be plus I figure we might just get double information on some questions.  Mark is in his late 50’s and Kelly is a relative young’un (hasn’t hit the magic ”five oh” yet).  A couple questions were asked that pertained only to one or the other of them.  Please welcome our guests Mark and Kelly and let’s pick their brains!

Mark and Kelly:
Thanks for this interview. You have regional travel experience here in Wild, Wonderful WV and other nearby states.  You also have insights as regular customers of bed & breakfasts that will be very helpful to travelers here at the Wanderlust blog. I get a two-fer with this interview as I get both male and female perspectives. Whoever can best answer the question, just jump in there and answer or both of ya’ll answer (remember, I’m looking for male and female insights). 

Q: How many years have you been traveling?
Kelly:  5 years
Mark:  I have been traveling for fun for many years.  I would guess 10 years or better.

Q: What motivates you to travel?
Kelly: Love seeing new places
Mark:  It’s in my blood, to see what’s around the next curve in the road or to see something that I have read about. I like history and the countryside so I am always open to anything that involves travel.

Q: Where have you traveled?
Kelly: Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. Martin, St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia, Cayman Islands, Washington DC, Cumberland MD, Hocking Hills Ohio, Lewisburg, Florida ,Oklahoma, Stonewall Jackson Resort, Twin Falls Resort
Mark:  In WV, I have gone to almost all of its state parks and national forests. I really like Twin Falls because it’s close to Charleston, about 1 and 1/2 hours. Nice rooms in the lodge and indoor and spa; the food is very good and inexpensive. Stonewall resort is also a favorite and is located close to Weston. It’s modern, clean indoor pool and full spa. Also a lot to do in this area if you like fishing, hunting, golf and wine-tasting.  Also we like Hocking Hills, Ohio....renting romantic cabins with hot tubs. In Cumberland, MD , we like the bed and breakfasts in the historical section, very interesting history pertaining to West Virginia and the Morgan/George Washington families .

Q: How long is the typical travel period?
Kelly: Usually a week
Mark:  These trips are usually 3 or 4 day weekend excursions for us. Kelly and I always try to combine fun and romance ; as we have very few weekends together.

Q: Where would you travel to again and why?
Kelly:  Love Hawaii--love the flowers and the weather and such a pretty place.
Mark:  We definitely like The Hocking Hills, they are a true getaway; Very romantic and away from the rat race of the city. If you want to shop for antiques and Amish things, that's the place to be. We always get a cabin with hot tub and a fire pit.

Q: Any honorable mentions on great places to go?
Kelly:  Twin Falls resort is a great little weekend getaway
Mark:  We have found some good travel/ get-a-ways, in the Lewisburg, WV, area . The very historical Gen. Lewis Inn is a good place to stay and the small town is full of antique shops. In the area is the Greenbrier Resort and many caves/historical places to visit. The Greenbrier River is beautiful in the spring thru fall. In August, the State Fair is there and the Greenbrier Golf Classic happens in July?  The bed and breakfast we stayed in at Cumberland was Bruce House Inn. It was very nice but a little pricey; good location in the Historic Section of the city. Very beautiful, very secure no worries about your stuff being stolen and very friendly staff.  The breakfast was great. Another good place we stayed at was The Cheat River Inn--The place to be if you like Trout Fishing, Hiking, and being outdoors. Most B&B allow for easy comings and goings once you have checked in and are experts about the attractions in the area. They also know the best restaurants, and the easiest way to get to your points of interest, use them.

Q: Where would you take your best friend?
Kelly:  Well if I could afford it, to Hawaii
Mark:  I would go to the Caribbean.   Really like Jamaica and want to see more. Also, you must be CAREFUL, it can be dangerous and 2 guys are safer than 1 guy and a gal. The country is very beautiful and would like to go back into the mountains.

Q: Where would you never to travel to again and why?
Kelly:  Probably Cayman Islands--not a lot to do
Mark:  Key West....way overrated. Not much to see and it’s full of Drugs.

Q: Do you travel with others?
Kelly: Just my husband
Mark:  It’s more fun for me to travel with others; but too many people can create problems. I keep to myself and wife when traveling long distances or long times; but the right people and you can have the best time of your life.

Q: What about security?
Kelly:  Try to keep up to date watching news
Mark:  I just use common sense.  If I would not do it here, I sure am not going to do it over there. If there are political problems in the area, think twice.  Protect your cash, use a money belt. Call your credit card company to let them know you are traveling out of your area.

Q: What do you pack for a typical trip?
Kelly: Just clothes and necessities and always a camera

Q: Any tips for newbies?
Kelly:  Do a lot of research where you are going
Mark:  Keep a contact at home who knows your agenda and can communicate with you/watch your home. Again call credit card companies. TAKE SOME GUIDED TOURS.

Q: Mark, I understand you do a lot of travel photography—care to share about it?
Mark:  KNOW YOUR CAMERA!!!!   And don't be afraid to take a lot of shots. Practice on scenery with a big lens and indoors with low light/flash.

Q: Kelly, any special travel related hobbies?
Kelly: I do a lot of collecting souvenirs--always collect a Christmas ornament always to remind me of where we have been.

Q: What is your best travel story ever?
Mark:  Worst travel story... We rode the train from Anchorage, AK, to Denali National Park. We were in Holland-America rail car, and had a very good view of the countryside for 5 to 6 hours. Also below us was the dining area and it must have been defective because we listened to BOWLING BALLS bashing against the wall the entire trip!!!! The next time on the train the car was taken out of service and replaced by a car from the Princes line.

Q: Would you be willing to answer more questions in the future?
Kelly: Yes I would be willing to answer more questions
Mark:  Sure, would be glad to help.

Q: Is there anything I didn't ask you feel I should've asked?
Kelly:  No, I think you covered it all
Mark:  Maybe tips on copies of passport and someone at home with them/ birth certificate. WV has the best affordable lodges in the Nation and most are under used. Great Value.

Bernard Solar Panel Cooker

Part 4 of 4 

 Bernard Solar Panel Cooker  - A neat little device for solar cooking can be made from trash or made up for longer use with plastic mirrors, a couple sticks (pencils), a black pot, some small flat rocks or sticks, and an oven bag.   A pic of one I made for backpacking use is above.  I just put a beverage can there as an example--use a darkened pot or can.  At the bottom of this article is what it looks like packed up and there is another pic of it folded out without pot.  The pot should be flat black.  A sooty pot or beverage can will fit the bill.  Even a can with a dark sock on it would work—just not as well.  Flat dark color is what you want.  Shiny dark will reflect some light away and you want the pot to absorb as much heat as possible so it can transfer heat to whatever it is you’re cooking.  You need to put the pot into an oven bag and blow some air into the bag before sealing.  Place the bag and pot on some kind of trivet.  A couple rocks or small sticks will do—you just need to keep the pot off the bottom mirror.  The reason for the bag is to act as an insulator and to keep breezes from cooling the pot.  An oven bag is ideal but you could use whatever clear bag you can find—the thicker the better.  Theoretically this cooker will get things hot but you can’t bake a cake in one.  I have, however, baked a biscuit (I believe Brits call them “scones”) in mine on a really hot sunny day.  I know what you’re thinking:  “how often can you scrounge nice shiny plastic mirrors from the trash?”  Well, not nice shiny plastic mirrors but a reasonable substitute is only as far as the nearest trash container or two.  First, look at the dimensions at the link for the Bernard Solar Panel Cooker for an idea of the size of the items you need.  Then, scrounge some cardboard and a few potato chip bags with the shiny mylar interiors.  Open up the bags.  Now you have your mirrors.  Cut the cardboard into the appropriate size and attach the mylar shiny side out onto the cardboard by cutting some slits in the mylar and putting the tips of the cardboard through them.  Place the cooker in a manner that the three mirrors at the top of the “T” shaped cooker (“T” shape when it’s flat and not upright) face the sun and adjust the end piece (bottom of the “T”) to get as much light reflected on the pot as possible.  Use sticks to keep the mirrors in place.  Readjust periodically to keep the most sunlight on the cooker.  You can use this to heat up any food you find or purchase.  Or you can use it to heat up water in which you’re dissolving, say, a chocolate bar for poor man’s hot chocolate.  Keep in mind that a solar cooker uses sunlight as the fuel so you can (and I have) cooked using solar on very cold, but bright, sunlit days.  If you can find a windshield sun screen made of Reflectix, you can make a solar funnel cooker.  You don’t really need to do the glue thing, just suspend or place your pot at the bottom of the cooker with the plastic bag (oven bag is best but remember you’re scrounging from the trash).  One advantage of solar cooking is that you will not cause yourself undue trouble by starting a fire in the city—authorities discourage that sort of thing.  Try solar cooking out.  It’d be a great school project for your kid or for the kid you happen to be but won’t admit it.  Keep it in mind for emergency use.

Food – Hopefully soup kitchens will be set up if there is a city-wide emergency.  If not, try houses of worship first.  Then try to make a bargain with a restaurant owner to do menial labor for a meal or two.  I am a Type II diabetic so I keep emergency food around all the time—pocket or pack.  One emergency item that won’t melt is the Datrex Emergency Food Bar.  Typically you have to buy a pack with at least eighteen bars in it.  Each bar is individually wrapped and is about two hundred calories.  They keep well (don’t melt) so I carry some in my vest/pack.  I’m also fond of Clif and other protein bars which don’t take up much room.  Most folks can go a few weeks without food but we diabetics must have something each day.  If you can’t get a restaurant manager to hire you, try begging for a piece of bread or something.  You can also do like a hobo during the Depression and knock on doors offering to do yard work for a meal.  Try to look your best so the first impression is probably that you're trustworthy.  If that doesn’t work, try dumpster diving.  There is a community of dumpster divers in Berlin, for example, who keep connected via social media with updates on locations of food just thrown out that they go out and retrieve.  They don’t buy any food at all out of principle.  Yes, it would work but be cautious on that because there may be a reason something was discarded.  Check the food carefully or cook it more in your solar panel cooker.

Miscellaneous Thoughts on Emergency Urban Survival - You’re going to have lots of hours to while away the time so you will have time to do these things.  I wrote this series on emergency urban survival not to scare folks but to plant in their minds something to fall back upon should an emergency arise during travel.  If there is an emergency, you don’t have to despair, lie around, and cry “woe is me.”   Get busy and improve your situation.  Keep in mind, it’s only temporary and things will get better.  Now, back to regular posts.

 

My backpack solar panel cooker. Water bottle is just for size comparison.

My backpack solar panel cooker without the pot or oven bag.

 

SODIS water treatment

Part 3 of 4
Emergency Water – Following shelter on the priority list of survival is water.  There is something called the “rule of threes” talked about in the preparedness community.  It goes something like this:  you can go without air for three minutes; you can go without water for three days; and you can go without food for three weeks.  Let’s talk about water.  In the situation where your lodging is gone but the city infrastructure is just fine, you should have access to clean drinking water without much problem due to numerous public fountains and tap water.  You’ll need a bottle for the water and those can be easily scrounged from trash and washed if you cannot afford purchasing a bottle of water.  If you have the funds, buy just the initial bottle of water—you can refill it from the public sources.  But what if you think the city water system has been somehow compromised?  Should that be the case, the city probably will have public distribution sites and your only concern is having enough containers to fill.  Depending on which source you read, plan on a minimum of two gallons per person per day.  You can, of course, make water you gather from a spring or capture from rainfall safe by a few methods:  SODIS, filtering, and boiling to name a few.  SODIS is probably the easiest method.  All you need is that plastic water bottle you kept from your purchase at the store or picked out of the trash.  Remove the label.  Two bottles is better than one in this circumstance.  Cut the top one third off one bottle—that makes a funnel and cup of sorts.  Place a clean cloth (sock or bandana will do) in the funnel part and mate that as best you can with the uncut bottle.  Dip the cup portion of the cut bottle into your water source and pour the water into the filter funnel.  What you’re doing is filtering out the particulate.  Once your uncut bottle is filled, cap it and set it on its side on a light colored surface in the sun.  Let it sit there all day.  The ultraviolet rays of the sun do the water treatment for you.  Do multiple bottles at the same time.  Use the treated water of one of the bottles to wash off the threads of the other bottles tops and wipe them clean.  Repeat as necessary.  A picture of a SODIS setup is at the top of this article.  A last minute filtering method uses the exact same equipment as above in case there isn’t sufficient sun.  It’s not as safe as SODIS but can be used as a last ditch effort and is definitely better than drinking untreated water straight from the source.  On top of the cloth filter in the funnel, place a layer of crushed charcoal (can get it from campfire debris) topped by a layer of sand.  Water is slowly poured from the cup into the filter which is mated with the bottle.  Boiling water is what most experts say is the best way to purify water.  You’re going to need a pot for this (although I will detail an alternate method below).  So, scrounge a big beer or soda can from the trash.  Fosters beer cans are the choice of a lot of ultralight campers and pages upon pages have been written about how to make them into ultralight cooksets.  For our purposes, carefully cut off the top portion of the can and somehow smooth off the sharp edge, perhaps by grinding it with a stone.  Fill it with water, place it on your heat source, and let the water boil.  I prefer solar as a heat source (I’m a Leave No Tracer) and I have provided a couple pics of my Bernard Solar Panel Cooker which deserves its own paragraph (tomorrow).  One method of campfire heating that I’m fond of is the Dakota Fire Hole.  Click on the word Dakota for a link to a pretty good description of it. This method calls very little attention to you as it's almost invisible unless you're really close.  In essence, you dig a hole about eight inches in diameter about ten inches deep.  Try to dig it where you don’t expect any roots.  Roots will make the digging more difficult and, more importantly, you don’t want the roots to smolder which could lead to fires in the surrounding area after you fill the hole back in.  About a foot away from the hole, make a two inch diameter diagonal shaft-like tunnel leading into the hole.  This tunnel provides air to the fire.  Get some dry tinder and sticks (if the ground is wet, look for your sticks in old trees that have yet to fall down) and start your fire in the hole.  There are numerous methods of starting a fire and I can talk about it in later posts if you want, but hopefully you have a lighter handy or can scrounge one discarded because it no longer has any butane in it.  The spark wheel probably still works so all you have to do is catch the tinder on fire with sparks from that.  Also, you can use a Ziploc baggie with some water in it to make an expedient magnifying lens to start a fire which you will push into the hole.  Feed the fire periodically with bigger sticks to keep the fire going.  By the way, the can is going to get blackened with soot when you use a campfire type source of heating.  The soot is actually advantageous as you’ll see in the upcoming post about the solar panel cooker. Yes, your hands will get sooty.  You should be able to clean them.  Just don’t forget and wipe your face after handling the pot but before cleaning your hands.  Let’s take things a step further and assume you are unable to find even a discarded beverage can.  You can still boil water.  Let’s assume you still are using the Dakota but a regular camp fire will work.   Or, you may have used your beverage can as a stove by cutting off the top and punching holes near the bottom to let air in (fire is made in the bottom of the can).  Dig a six inch diameter hole about six inches deep near your Dakota.  Line it with some newspaper  or a bandana/handkerchief or T-shirt.  Heat up stones (not from near the water source if it is a creek or river—those may explode from steam build-up inside the stone).  The stones are transferred by using sticks as tongs from the fire to the smaller hole when you believe they are super hot.  Just prior to transferring the stones, transfer your water to be boiled into the hole using whatever method you can, even cupping your hands.  Transfer the heated stones to the water.  The heat from the stones is transferred to the water which will cause it to boil.  All you need to do now is to get the boiled water to your lips.  I’ll leave that to you.  I’m sure you’ll think of something.    I’ll get to the Bernard solar panel cooker, food, and miscellaneous thoughts tomorrow.  Here’s an article I wrote a few years back.  Tongue-in-cheek, but it actually has a purpose.  Sorry, no pic on that.  Hope you enjoy it.

 Making Do - - Bras as Cooking Utensils – The below is mostly theory in that I haven't personally attempted these suggestions mainly because I know my wife will not donate a bra for experimentation.  Those who know me would categorize me as "unconventional" (they say "he ain't right" (sic) even in my presence) so my apologies in advance to those who don't see this post as of value.  Recent musings on the utility of items on one's person when no other tools are available led me to conclude there are strategies for using a bra for cooking.   Obviously bras donated by a buxom lady have greater capacity than those of less proportion.  While on the subject of specifications, I'm speaking of those bras composed mainly of cotton instead of those of frilly, padded, or synthetic material. Save that kind for use as silly hats at your next club meeting or use them as unusual tool belts (with neat pouches for nails, etc.). Picture this:  you and your significant other are watching nature's light show (an electrical storm far off and moving your way) while discussing what disaster preparedness actions to take should it come your way.   Stretched between your lawn chairs is a double barreled slingshot also known as a bra (duct taped to the chair arms of course) with Cheetos in one cup and trail mix in the other.  Or chips and dip.  Or M&Ms and gummy bears.  You get the picture.  Too silly?  OK, how 'bout using the cups as strainers for water going into coffee pots for purification?  Got your interest?  Well, then, my greatest bra cooking utensil idea to date:  cooking pots.  Huh?  Some folks are aware you don't have to have a pot to boil water.  You dig a depression in the ground, line it with cloth (such as a handkerchief) and put your water in there.  Then you place hot rocks (heated in your campfire which you started using pocket and belly button lint as tinder) in the holes.  The heat is transferred from the rock to the water thereby heating (boiling) the water.  My proposal is to use the bra cups instead.  You can whittle chopsticks out of any wood nearby (do learn to use chopsticks so you can enjoy individual flavors of the foods you eat).  So now you can tell your grandchildren that during the hurricane/tornado/earthquake/civil disturbance of the year XX, you and grandpa/grandma used a bra to have a nice hot meal of stew made of foraged food in matching pots near a romantic campfire while watching Mother Nature do her thing.  Obviously you could just use a couple handkerchiefs, but what kind of a boring story is that?  Should anyone try this, please report it as I'm sure it would work and I need validation for motivation.  It's hard to get bra donations and someone might take me away to the looney bin for sure if I'm observed trying this out.  Bottom line:  think unconventionally when trying to overcome problems--you'd be surprised at the innovations you come up with.

Taking the weekend off.  Hopefully the guest articles will be ready for the coming week.  My stats are really low.  Please ask your friends to take a look.

Emergency trash bag bivvy with umbrella

Part 2 of 4
Urban survival, Emergency Shelters, Palmer Furnace, Trash bag bivvy – So the decision is to make do with an emergency shelter.  Let’s do some trash pickin’.  First thing that comes to mind for many folks is the classic “sleep in a box.”  I don’t really have much to say about that choice.  It’s an already constructed shelter that most likely will hold up to the elements, weather-wise.  It could be improved by putting a garbage bag over it to repel rain and snow.  It’s not very portable and it’s not even close to invisible so it will attract undue attention.  My preference is very light-weight, you can carry it in your pocket, and it’s also easily scrounged:  a big or a couple big trash bags.  Three is even better.  Cut one open and you have the makings for a tarp shelter.  You can use dental floss for cordage in securing it to whatever you’re attaching it to.  Even better, in my opinion, is to use it for a waterproof bivvy which, if you’re trying to picture it, is used like a super light sleeping bag.  Some would say it resembles a body bag.  Most likely, you will need two as I’ve never encountered a trash bag large enough that I can just completely slip into it and I’m done.  Most likely you will need to have that extra second bag of which you will cut open the bottom and slide it like a sleeve onto the intact bag and adjust so it does fit.  If you have a small umbrella, you can use just the one bag and place the open umbrella at the head of the bag to cover the part of you not covered by the bag.  Stake the umbrella to the ground with a couple sticks or something.  It's going to be an extremely uncomfortable night.   If you’ve made the two-bag bivvy, you can place the umbrella at the head of the bag and open it such that it holds the bag open while still protecting you from the elements.  The advantage of the umbrella technique is that you reduce the amount of condensation due to better airflow.   I mentioned in an earlier post that my grandfather was a hobo during the Great Depression.  One of the things he told me was to scrounge newspapers for insulation and for cover.  Newspapers are easy to scrounge out of garbage cans or left discarded at public places.  Get as many as you feel comfortable carrying.  My grandfather advised wadding up the newspaper and stuffing it inside your clothing.  Primarily that tactic will provide some insulation but it also gives a wee bit cushioning from whatever hard surface you may be trying to sleep on.  They didn’t have plastic trash bags back in those days so I’ve improved some on that technique.  First, you want insulation from the ground.   Otherwise, you’re gonna get bone cold.  Here’s where the third trash bag comes in.  Wad up newspaper pages and stuff them into the third bag.  Wad up a bunch ‘cause you’re gonna use that bag as a mattress to provide a relative degree of comfort but more importantly to insulate you from the ground.  When it’s filled to a thickness you feel comfortable with, tie it off (don’t seal it ‘cause you want it to flatten out in the form of a mattress), and place it in your bivvy or under your tarp.  I recommend you place a couple pages of newspaper on top of your mattress to prevent “swamp butt” while you’re sleeping.  Swamp butt occurs due to condensation between your body and the plastic mattress which means you’ll wake up damp and uncomfortable.  Obviously, if you can’t find any newspapers, you can stuff your mattress with leaves or such to get that insulation and comfort.  If you were in a more natural environment like out in the boonies, you would most likely not find newspapers and have to use the natural materials anyhow.   Even with this setup, it's going to be an uncomfortable night but better than sleeping uninsulated from the ground.  When you break camp in the morning, you just fold up your bivvy and take it with you.  You will have to make a decision on the mattress:  hide it for later retrieval, empty it in anticipation of finding more newspapers during the day, or just staying in the bivvy all day which I don’t recommend due to security concerns and you need to get out there and scrounge up some food and determine if your situation has changed. 

Still on the subject of emergency shelters, I would like to address two additional areas.  The first one is site selection.  You want to select a location that provides some security and that you can exploit its features to increase the effectiveness of your shelter.  Whilst roaming around during the day, you want to be on the lookout for suitable sleeping places.  Gather some intel and watch the homeless folks.  Check out their routines and evaluate why they have decided to be at that location at that time i.e. what are the advantages they are exploiting.  Today, if you go out and about, look at what the homeless wear, carry, and where they are at.  There is a reason they are where they are at that time of day, what they carry, and how they are dressed.  Once attuned to the homeless, you can put yourself in their place and suddenly you will see opportunities and strategies.  When I walk in cities now, I usually spot the homeless encampments.  The encampments are typically just out of sight, take advantage of natural structures, and there are typically a few paths leading in to the camp.  In bigger cities, I’ve noticed alleyways and doorways as temporary shelters.  The one sign I see from most of them is trash strewn nearby.  Personally, I consider the trash strewn about as a security concern because it advertises the place.  But then I’m a Leave No Trace camper and I just can’t abide trash strewn all over the place.  My bivouac would be clean and not draw attention.  Security-wise, you want folks to not know you’re there—to be invisible.  To that end, hold off on bedding down for the night until dusk and break camp at dawn.  If you find that someone has already taken your location, go to a backup location.  You don’t need the confrontation.  Keep in mind you’re simply making do until the situation that made you temporarily homeless clears up.  Site selection should also take advantage of features in the area such as a windbreak, roof, or stone/brick wall facing south (the south facing masonry will absorb the solar heating during the day and radiate it out during the night).  I was doing some work in Alexandria, VA, a few years ago and walked past a Lowe’s or Home Depot (don’t remember which) and noticed garden sheds for sale at one edge of the parking lot.  I thought to myself one of those would be a great sleeping spot.  It snowed overnight.  I walked past the sheds on the way to the local McD’s restaurant and noticed a pair for what appeared to be female footprints in the snow leading from (not to) one of those sheds.  She had been taking advantage of the features of the shed—a roof over the head, walls to block wind, private, and nearby to a source of food.  She probably had a sleeping bag to provide warmth.  Speaking of keeping warm, your travel partner provides warmth as well.  Sleep back to back or spoon if you’re tarping it.  I don’t think your trash bag bivvy will be big enough for two.  Who knows?  Might be worth a try.  Another method to keep warm at night, other than stuffing newspapers in your clothing and use of that emergency space blanket in your first aid kit, is to use a modification of what some call the “Palmer Furnace.”  The classic Palmer Furnace is where you sit on some insulation cushioning you from the ground cross-legged with a blanket or poncho over you.  A lit candle is placed by your feet in such a manner that it won’t cause the blanket/poncho to catch fire.   Within minutes, you will be so warm you will want to remove the covering.  I prefer a candle lantern for this purpose as it’s safe and the candle typically lasts all night.  I doubt you will be able to find a candle lantern in the trash but you will be able to buy one of those religious candles in a glass (my title, don’t know the official one).  They last a long, long time and are typically also found in cemeteries in Europe.  Whether you go to a cemetery and happen to get one or two depends on your situation and morals.  Survival sometimes alters your morals thresholds.  Anyhow, the modified Palmer Furnace is to simply place the lit candle in your bivvy or box or tarp area in such a manner that it will not catch the structure on fire, be knocked over (reason for the glass candle holder being a good choice), or being blown out by the wind.  Obviously there are other options for a do it yourself shelter but these are my thoughts on the subject.  Game this in your mind and even test construction on your solution ahead of time.  Think scroungeable from trash sources.  And, really, watch the homeless now.  Learn from them.  It could be a matter of life and death or at least safety and comfort.  Before I leave this area, a personal security tip of an improvised protection device you can keep with you in your shelter:  place a rock in a sock and keep it nearby.  If a confrontation occurs that you cannot back away from and you must protect yourself, use the “sock and a rock” by swinging at the head of your adversary or flicking it (like you flick towels in the locker room) at your assailant’s face.  Once he’s down, leave quickly.  Next up:  water, food, miscellaneous thoughts on the “what if” subject.  Then back to more happy things.

Abandoned one-person homeless camp with trash

What if?

Part 1 of 4 

What if – Experienced hikers carry something called “the ten essentials” on hikes regardless of duration albeit an afternoon or a month.  These items are also good to carry with you when traveling.  I carry them in my day bag when out touring whatever location I’m checking out.  They can also easily fit in my Scottevest now that I have one.  Rather than list all specific items, I’ll list categories instead:  Map and compass; pocket knife or multi-tool (Swiss army knife or Leatherman, for example); first aid kit to include powdered rehydration mix such as EmergenC and a “space blanket;” weather-appropriate clothing such as a jacket, rain gear, cold weather clothing, extra underwear just in case, etc.), water; some food snacks; fire-starting items such as a lighter and some matches; communication equipment such as cell phone.  I also carry a few big garbage bags and some cordage (like dental floss).  More on that later.  Add to that a money belt to carry passport, credit card(s), and cash--money belt on your person, not in the pack.  All that stuff takes up minimal room in a day pack and is relatively lightweight.  Why would I start out my post with such a list?  Yes, you can use some or all of that stuff while wandering around during the day.  It will be cheaper than buying lunch or standing in line to buy lunch.  You’ll have something to drink immediately when you want it.  You can pull out your rain jacket/poncho when it rains to avoid getting soaking wet.   Another reason for carrying that stuff is in a more sobering realm.  I’m an emergency preparedness person and worked in an operations realm when in the military.  I always consider “what if?” when traveling.

So let’s consider “what if?” could happen during your travels.  It has happened to folks during travel in the past and will in the future.  It’s easier to react positively in the face of disaster if you have gamed it in your mind ahead of time.  Let’s consider a scenario.  Here’s one I think could happen.  Tailor it to your own situation that you could foresee.  The scenario is that for some unforeseen reason, you are not able to get into the lodging you were staying at.  Maybe it burned to the ground.  Less possible but let’s consider it:  Complicating this personal challenge, officials of the city in which you’re staying suddenly curtail any travel into or out of the city.  So you are left with whatever you have on your person or in your day pack.  See why you should have those essentials?  Hopefully you are wearing your money belt with passport, credit cards, and money.  I never leave my digs without them safely tucked away in the hidden money belt.  There is some disparity in the preparedness community as to the top priority for survival.  My vote (and the vote of lots of others) is shelter followed by security.  If you can’t get out of the weather and into a safe place, what good will water and food be?  So first, try to get alternate lodging using your credit card or funds.  Let’s assume there is a convention in town while you’re there.  There’s “no room at the inn.”  Not even the hostels have room.  Where next?  My next step would be to go to the local traveler information office to see if there are any private rooms to rent.  Most likely there will be some place to rent a room.  You get there and find out they only accept cash and you don’t have enough.  It seems everyone only takes cash now that the city is sealed off.  Next step:  see if you can get some shelter from a local house of worship.  They may even feed you or at least let you use their phone to call back home if your cell phone has gone out of service.  Unfortunately there’s no room at that inn either as they have taken in all they can support.  If you’re a member of certain worldwide fraternities and you happen to know how to contact someone in that fraternity in the city, you could try that.  But let’s assume you’re not a member or cannot make contact.  Perhaps public buildings such as transportation stations—Spartan in terms of amenities, but possible.  Maybe the Red Cross or some similar organization has set up an emergency shelter that is accepting folks.  That’s a distinct possibility but I, personally, will avoid that option other than use their services to get word out to family that I’m OK but could use some assistance.  Think about the Superdome during Katrina.  Need I say more?  Constant noise, crime, poor sanitation, sick and diseased folks intermingled with the healthy folks in cramped quarters.  Short tempers.  Fights.  You need a bodyguard to go to the overtaxed restroom. (OK, I did say more just in case you said I needed to say more.)  Not me.  I’ll opt for out of the box solutions (and a box is one of them).  My old standby for airports is worth a try--Rent a vehicle and use that as shelter.  No one can leave the city anyhow.  Oh no, forgot, no cash and they won’t take a credit card until the situation stabilizes.  What now?  Now you have to think like a homeless person.  Hopefully you have a travel partner.  That partner serves many roles:  security, sanity, extra problem solving – a force multiplier, so to speak.  Once you get to homeless culture, there are different rules to follow.  Granted, you will probably be in this situation for a very limited time but you have to survive that very limited time in an environment foreign to you in many ways.  It’s best to keep your distance and not appear to invade their turf.  The homeless crowd is made up of lots of types of people:  folks who are simply down on their luck and looking to get back on their feet, folks with substance abuse problems, folks who are seriously mentally ill and it would be better for them to be in a controlled environment, folks who are simply adventurous and sampling the homeless culture, students traveling the country as cheaply as possible, etc.  Some will be helpful in terms of information.  Others are truly threats.  You have little time to decide which category they are.  The immediate future could get complicated.  You may have to make decisions you would prefer not to make or do things you would prefer not to do.

That’s all the room I have for on this post.  More soon.


 

People-watching at one of my favorite people-watching sites in Trier.

Getting Lost – Folks who know me well know that I get lost often, especially in an urban environment where you can easily get information overload.  It’s a mystery to them how I can do my job which entails interviewing folks at different locations daily but I build this problem into my time and method to mitigate it.  I am “spatially challenged” and have been as far back as I can remember.  It causes problems for me and those with me.  Other than I like to do things at my own pace and interest anyhow, the inability to find my way back keeps me from doing much bus touring as there is often a time for everyone to be back at the bus and I just can’t enjoy myself as I feel the need to cut my touring short in order to get back to the bus in time knowing full well I won’t be able to get there quickly like everyone else.  It is very frustrating to say the least so I have had to come up with solutions to get things done anyhow.  Now that there is GPS, finding my way is usually very easy in a vehicle.  I’ve never really tried GPS on foot.  There are some smartphone apps that allegedly come in handy for that sort of thing and I’ve tried a few for such mundane things as finding my car in a crowded parking lot--they are not accurate enough for me and I have better luck going to the area I think it may be in and start walking a grid in hopes of finding it.  If I have the key that came with the vehicle we have that has the keyless entry thingee that beeps when you hit the button, I use that.  That helps a lot.  Too bad there isn’t such a thing for buildings.  This spatially challenged problem presents more “opportunity to excel” when I’m in a place I’ve never been before, especially out of the country where even the signs are not in my language.  Here are some things I do to mitigate:  I make it a point to keep the business card of the hotel (or lodging) I’m staying at with me.  The hotel business card solution is really great to use if you have children who may wander off.  Give the kid one with instructions to get help to return to the hotel using the card.  If, after reasonable effort, I simply cannot find the place I’m looking for, I can get a taxi to there.  Of course, prior to the taxi as a last resort, I will go low tech and (despite the stereotype for my sex) simply ask someone for directions.  If I don’t speak the language well enough, I’ll show the business card and point in different directions to somehow convey I’m asking which direction the hotel is in.  That reminds me of a thing about trying to speak in the local language:  it’s great that you can ask where the train station is, but you need to know the words for straight ahead, right, and left also. I make it a point to write down what I hear because I have found as I age that my short term memory is not the best.  Besides, if I take out pen and paper, the person providing the info will often map it for me.   If you can make contact with the local constabulary, you have a better chance of getting the info you need in a manner you can use in addition to enjoying the security of asking a “safe” person for directions if you’re in a dicey neighborhood.  I have found that a cell phone camera comes in handy when you’re setting out for a walking destination.  Each time you make a turn, turn around and take a photo of that waypoint so you can recognize it when you make your way back.  You can delete the uninteresting photos later back at the hotel if not needed.  This is especially helpful if you’re one who navigates by landmark.  Lots of lodging front desks have free local maps if you ask.  They’re often not the most detailed maps, but have enough details on them about major routes that you can navigate by the major crossroads to get you in the vicinity of where you want to go.  I do carry a cheap, lightweight, small combo whistle/compass/magnifying glass/thermometer I got at the camping section of my local Walmart which allows me to orient with the map.  Often places of interest and recommended restaurants are indicated on the map as well.  Sometimes discount tickets are printed on the map too.  I use the map/cell phone photo waypoint method most often.   Sometimes, there are directional signs pointing you to the destination you want to go to.  If so, simply use them as waypoints for your way back-kinda like urban trail-blazes. 

Secret of Invisibility - I can become invisible.  When working surveillances, most of my team (sometimes none of them) did not see me although I was right in front of or beside them.  Granted, I’m a small guy and not physically imposing.  A woman once described me as a soft-spoken Southern gentleman.  Don’t know about the gentleman aspect but soft-spoken works into the invisibility aspect.  But, I do have a technique I use to become invisible.  I’ll gladly share it.  Trust me, it works.  To become invisible in a room/area with people or that will be looked into by people, think and mentally broadcast these words:  “there is nothing in here.”  Wording is important here.  Note I did not say “there is no one here.”  To do so acknowledges someone is there.  Whether the actual mechanics derive from body language or from some paranormal ability I don’t know.  I do know it works.  Try it next time you’re people watching or the boss is looking to “volunteer” someone.

Balcony view from US Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Military retiree travel, TRICARE. Frugal.  If there's a cheaper way to do something and it's safe and does'nt detract from my ultimate goal, I don’t see a reason to pay more to achieve that goal whether it be a purchase, entertainment, lodging, whatever.  I’m not a person of means and I’m self-employed.  That means I must be innovative and get the best bang for my buck without sacrificing quality.  OK, this entry is aimed primarily at my retired military brothers-and-sisters-in arms but others may find the subject interesting as well or know a military retiree who has really not considered this benefit.  Being a retired jetbutt, I gotta put a plug in for my fellow military retirees about free Space A travel.  A great website for Space A travel, especially to find out what is going and where, is at Pepper D’s website.  You may have to sign in to the website and become a member first to get to the all-important flight schedule page but you'll be glad you did and joining is free.  Review of the flight schedule page shows flights leaving Baltimore Washington International (BWI) almost daily with lots of seats available, for example.  The “T” beside the number means “tentative” available seats.  There is also a USO at that airport.  The Ramstein passenger terminal (the typical port of departure for Europe) also has a USO.  When I was active duty, I never flew Space A as there was the strong possibility that waiting for a hop simply ate up too much leave time.  As a retiree at Class VI, you’re on the bottom of the list for a seat but they do come up eventually.  A single traveler has a much better chance as there may only be one seat available and couples or families who wish to travel together will forego the seat which means you get it.  Space A travel can be uncomfortable so take some lightweight comfortable travel gear with you.  I managed to get a hop to Munich from Pittsburgh on a tanker which was cold at head level and hot at foot level so dress accordingly.  The staff at the military passenger terminal are very knowledgeable and helpful so just ask about flying conditions.  I hopped back from Ramstein (which almost always has less seats available due to being a hub for active duty members to return to CONUS) on a C-17 going to Dover AFB, Delaware, which was a much more comfortable flight although I sat facing a helicopter a mere few feet away on the way back.  Sometimes the C-17 is an angel flight bringing back bodies from battle zones.  I have no experience on that kind of flight (one must consider odor) but it is my understanding such flights are humbling and it is an education to see the respect the deceased get for their final trip to the US.  There is no rule that you must accept a seat on any particular flight so something to keep in mind.  Another hint, periodically check with the Air Reserve unit in your area to see if they have anything going to the place you may want to travel to.  I checked Pittsburgh on a whim and got a flight straight into Munich.  They had fifty tentative seats and only seven of us retirees showed up.   We got VIP flight crew treatment when we arrived in Germany to include transportation to the main airport and expedited customs clearance.  There is a link at the Pepper D site to Space A.net.   Use that link to sign up on-line for flights.  These Space A sites are extremely informative and it pays to spend a few hours researching them.  Remember Space A works on a category tiered basis so sign up early to get seniority for potential flights.  The sign-up is good for sixty days so my strategy is to sign up about fifty days before my anticipated travel.  Make absolutely sure you print out the email confirming your sign-up.  You will be asked to produce it when you report for roll call at the flight desk.  Getting back to the US from Ramstein is a bit frustrating and you have to do your lodging reservation at Billeting (conveniently located across from the Passenger Terminal and in a state of the art mall) each day.  A room for a retired SNCO is $39/night and the room is better than some of the nicer hotels I’ve stayed at here in the US.  I don’t know how much longer Congress will allow Space A flying so use that privilege while you still have it.  A round-trip ticket from Pittsburgh to Munich, for example, presently costs from $900 to $1500 depending on season.  Like commercial airlines, it is best to travel on Space A during shoulder seasons.  For Space A, this means travel between late September to mid-December and from January to late May.  Your chances of getting a hop quickly are best during those times (except during Oktoberfest).  I caveat this to remind that sometimes you just can’t get out of Germany in a timely manner so factor a return flight possibility via civil air into your budget if you can't hop down to Italy or Greece or over to England or Spain and leave from there.  Very important, due to the Status of Forces Agreement, you do not have commissary/exchange privileges so all food you buy other than meals at base restaurants must be purchased on the German economy.  For health concerns, your TRICARE works overseas without much problem.  You get your care at the local hospital and they bill TRICARE or bill you for you to get reimbursed by TRICARE.  Read up on the latest and greatest TRICARE stuff at the sites listed above and check with TRICARE as well.  European healthcare is much cheaper than US healthcare.  Do make it a point to talk with your fellow Cat VI travelers.  Some are very experienced in all the nuances of Space A travel and can save you lots of money and frustration as well as being interesting and entertaining fellow travelers.  I haven't met anyone while traveling Space A who wasn't willing to share or help out.  Who knows, might find friends for life.  Oh, and if you do go to Germany, consider a stay at Edelweiss Lodge and Resort located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria. Picture of the rustic cabin I rented at Edelweiss' campground is below ($55/night).  Tent sites are $16/night.  Lots of tours out of there and, especially if it's your first time in Germany, you can escape back to the US culture at the end of the day.  It's for military only but you can sponsor guests so take your good friend(s) there with you.  Mind you, they can't fly Space A but you could meet them at the airport in Munich and then train to Garmisch (about a one and a half hour ride).

Rental Rustic Cabin at Edelweiss Lodge and Resort