Bugged Out This Week-end

[Rick]

Over the course of the winter and early spring I've added a number of variables to our bug-out plans. I've bought a new Marmot tent, a canoe, a new trailer and some additional items for the bags. So this week-end it was time to test both us and our gear with the new stuff.

Some advance preparations were taken because safety is a primary consideration.

1. A SAR document was sent to my daughter so she knew what we were doing, where we would be, all the contact information for the location including local police and county police telephone numbers as well as what time we would be back.

2. I had picked up the canoes in advance because they are on a trailer and it was just easier. This was the first pull for this trailer so I wanted to verify torque on the lug nuts, check tire pressure again and do a light safety check. Obviously, things that you might not have time to do in a real event.

The test started at 12:00 noon. The truck went from empty to fully loaded in 7 minutes, which I thought was pretty good. The BOBs are always pre-packed as is one backpack so it doesn't take long.

I had mounted a Thule carrier on the trailer shortly after I purchased it. It sits beneath the canoes and all the necessary gear is stored in there all the time. So nothing has to be loaded for the canoes.

We "evacuated" to a location 50 miles away that we have never been to before. It happens to be a state park so the plan was, as I've advocated a time or two, to run the test and have some fun doing it. The only catch was all we had available was what was included in the BOBs and the backpack.

Everything went very well. We identified four personal items that we need to include in future tests. Pretty mundane stuff, really. My wife likes tea and, ooops, I forgot to include it in the BOB. Easy fix. That sort of thing.

I even took Hopeak's advance and submitted myself to extremes just to test myself. The temperature got down to 59 with a pretty stiff breeze last night so I waited until midnight to get in the sleeping bag. I even allowed myself one mosquito bite before I broke out the DEET (I know you're proud of me, Hopeak.). :innocent:

We spent Saturday afternoon canoeing the lake and Saturday evening away from the TV. Just some time together playing cards.

My point in posting this is to let everyone know that you HAVE to test your plan. Flex it to see just how prepared you are or are not. Like many of you, I'm a bug in kind of guy but there will always be threats that can force us to leave and we need to be prepared if that should happen.

You don't have to make it an agonizing ordeal for you or your family either. You can make it a camping trip, a week-end at the local motel (the kids will love the pool) or just a picnic. But step through what you expect to do to get your vehicle and your family ready should some event occur. Then buzz out and have a good time. The family will enjoy it and instead of looking at these tests as something to dread, they will see it as a prelude to a fun activity. Who knows, you might even convince them to carry on the tradition once they have a family.

I knew I'd be shamed if I didn't offer at least a couple of pictures. So....

This is one of the truck and canoes.

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q348/safe_zone/bob2.jpg

This is one of my better half looking out at the lake behind us.

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q348/safe_zone/bob1.jpg

[Ken]

Sounds like you had a real fine time. Glad you both enjoyed yourselves! Testing your plan can be fun.

My significant other swears that she will never sleep in a tent. Never. The canoe is a different matter. Maybe I can get her to sleep in one of them.

[mcfd45]

had a good time.....check
spent it outdoors....check
with the one you love.....check
prepare for the enevitable....check
Sounds like you had an awesome time. I like the setup with the canoe trailer and the storage underneath it.

[Sourdough]

Good on you, Rick. Now this would make it one step more interesting. Set it up with your daughter and wife that the next drill will be sometime on a pre-set Friday, time to be when your daughter calls ANY TIME on that day and says, "Go...Go....Go".

PS. you sissy, one mosquito bite.

Question: I never use Bug dope because it used to melt plastic, nylon, gun bluing, etc. Does it still do that or have they changed the formula.....?????

[crashdive123]

Nice test. Nice pics. Thanks.

[Rick]

PS. you sissy, one mosquito bite.

Actually, I didn't use the Deet. The skeeters weren't very bad. I've never had Deet melt anything or damage anything (other than my DNA...just kiddin').


run it as if your wife was wounded, and you had to carry her everywhere.

You are joking, right? I would have to DRAG her everywhere. I'm an old man and getting weaker by the day.

[Rick]

My significant other swears that she will never sleep in a tent. Never.

Mine said the same thing. I used to just drop a cloth on the ground and make that my bed but, boy, it was getting tougher and tougher to do. My son has used a ThermoRest self inflating pad for a long time so I finally broke down and bought two of them last year. What a difference they make. Not only do they take the "pokey" out of the rocks and sticks, they do a pretty good job of insulating you from ground. I told my wife, if something happens you may not have a choice so you need to go and help me figure out what what we can do to make it as comfortable as possible. She finally agreed to that.

[Ken]

I told my wife, if something happens you may not have a choice so you need to go and help me figure out what what we can do to make it as comfortable as possible. She finally agreed to that.

I figure that my best bet is to turn to the old tried and tested methods. Bribery and begging. :blushing:

[Rick]

I like the setup with the canoe trailer and the storage underneath it.

I snagged the Thule carrier off Craig's list for $250. They sell for a lot more than that. The trailer is designed to add a storage box underneath like that but not quite that setup and their box sells for around $800 (not this kid).

So I got some 1.25 inch galvanized steel pipe cut to length from Ace Hardware. Ace also had rubber caps that fit the ends of the pipe perfectly (keeps the wasps out). I then mounted them on the trailer just like a car top carrier and the Thule clamps down on the pipes. It worked out really well. The Thule is low enough in profile I can open it part way even with the canoes tied down on the trailer. A nice feature is it will open from either side.

[Rick]

tested methods. Bribery and begging.

I often use whining. It seems to wear her down faster.