Camp Arrival/Departure

Arrival

• park on flat ground

• move stuff from behind passenger seat to front

• set up tent

• put stuff in tent: lighting, valuables/ID, camera, phone

• set up clothesline/carabiners

• hang laundry & anything wet

• bathroom/explore

• light citronella candles

• make muesli

• dinner

• do dishes

• cribbage

• set alarm, < 30 min if showering

Departure

• get up with alarm

• coffee

• shower (if nec)

• breakfast

• wash dishes

• journal

• get dressed

• empty tent

• break down/pack tent

• prep the day’s snacks

• repack car

• drop off trash

• refill water container(s)

Things that worked well

Food

• self contained eats

• tortilla roll ups in Saran rap (not foil)

• peanut butter pretzels

• grapes

• apples

• muesli made each morning for the next day

• cold brew coffee kit

• small water container to keep in cooler that can refill both ‘driving’ water cups

• applesauce squeeze packs

• sausage rolls

• pasta

Inside Car

• kit for gas stops

• kit for restroom stops

• kit for clean masks

• spray hand sanitizer

Camping

• inflatable solar light (when it worked)

• roof top tent with sheets/blanket/pillows kept inside

• flip flops

• small collapsible strainer

• Brita filter water container

• separate drinking water and rinsing water

• small scrub sponge for dish washing

• zip top clutch purse for utensils

• small measuring cup (1/4 cup)

• self hanging clothesline

• state/national campgrounds

• prepared/ planned meals

• plot our possible campgrounds in advance

• set up camp before last light

• camp out of earshot of the interstate and trains

• motion sensor light (rechargeable closet light)

• touchless soap dispenser (SimpleHuman)

• collapsible small cooler with small ice pack

• bath/beach towel with pocket to stash shower stuff

Driving

• straps for roof rack stuff (tent) front to back instead of side to side

• mapping out Costco gas stations ahead of time

• thermoelectric cooler

• converter with normal plugs that uses cigarette lighter

• cups with straws for water

• Gas Buddy app

• glass cleaner + paper towels for inside windshield

• accessible lip balm

• small container of snacks - the day’s portion

• avoid weekend

• switch drivers often

• slightly change seat position often

Misc

• BunBun - mascot to document trip

• license plate spotting game

• ponytails

• packing during-drive and after-drive clothes separately

• TripTik for public campgrounds

Home Emergency Kit

Instructions

• How to turn off water, gas and electricity

• Location/use of fire extinguishers

• Fill containers, sinks, tubs with water

• readysandiego.org

Light & Communication

• 30+ Hour Candle

• Flashlight - squeeze one best, else extra batteries

• Waterproof Matches

• AM/FM Radio w/ Headphones

• AAA Batteries for radio

• Solar Charger

• Map of Area

• Compass

Shelter & Warmth

• Poncho

• Sleeping Bag

• Blanket

• Earplugs

• Eyeshade

First Aid

• Latex Gloves

• 10 Plastic bandages (3/4''x3'')

• 10 plastic bandages (3/8''x1 1/2'')

• 2 Gauze pads

• 3 Alcohol cleansing pads

• 1 Butterfly closure

• Antibiotic Ointment

• Burn Ointment

• Thermometer

• Scissors

• Tweezers

• Petroleum Jelly or Other Lubricant

• Masking Tape (tics)

• Ace Bandage

• Tylenol, Aleve

• Insect Repellent, Anti-Itch

Car

• jumper cables

• battery charger

• gas can

• flashlight + batteries/charge cord

• rags

• Help sign

• plastic tarp

• first aid kit

• tire pressure gauge

• duct tape

• blanket

• small tool kit

• rope

• AAA card

Important Papers

• Fireproof Box

• Flash Drive with Electronic Copies of Documents

• Household Contacts

• Drivers License

• Passport

• Social Security Card

• Birth Certificate

• Marriage License

• Photo of Pet With Owners

• Pet Microchip Information

• Emergency Contact Information

• Mortgage Information

• Real Estate Ownership Information

• Utility Information

• Credit Card Information

• Automatic Payment Information

• Bank Account Information

• Retirement Account Information

• Investment Account Information

• Auto Information

• Home Insurance Information

• Auto Insurance Information

• Personal Property Inventory

• Recent Pay Stubs

• Rewards Program Accounts

• Most Recent Tax Return

• Property Tax Statement

• Will

• Trust Documents

• Living Will, Power of Attorney

• Health Insurance Information

• Doctor Contact Information

• Prescription Information

• Prescription Insurance Information

• Record of Immunizations and Allergies

• Copies of Prescriptions - incl. eyeglasses

• Vet Contact Information

• Pet Immunization Records

Tools

• Whistle

• Dust Mask

• 16 Function Knife

• Safety Goggles

• Wrench or Piers to Turn Off Utilities

• Work Gloves

• Duct tape

• Gas Can

• Car Charger

Clothing

• Long Sleeved Shirt

• Long Pants

• Sturdy Shoes

• Rain Jacket / Windbreaker

• Hat - Warm and Sun

• Bandana

• Socks

• Underwear

• Swimsuit

• Watch

Other

• Pet Carrier

• Fire Extinguisher

• Pencil / Pen

• Notepad / Post-Its

• Playing Cards / Dice

• Dry Bag

• Car & house Keys

• Jewelry

• Computer Backup

• Cell Phone & Charger

• Locks

• Carabiners

• Safety Pins, Rubber Bands, Paperclips, Shoelaces

• Ziplock Bags

• Cash

• Towels

• Sunscreen

• Shopping Bag

• Crocheted Blanket

• Wedding Album

• NAS

• Camera + Cards + Chargers

• Music + Earphones

Hygiene

• Hand Sanitizer

• Prescriptions

• Glasses - Normal and Sunglasses

• 10 Cotton tips

• Wet Naps

• Comb, Brush

• Razor

• Toothbrush

• Toothpaste

• Dental Floss

• Feminine Products

• Soap

• Shampoo

• Conditioner

• 3 packs Pocket Tissues

• Sewing Kit

• Waste Bag

• Lotion

• Unbreakable Mirror

• Nail Clippers

• Toilet Paper

Food & Water

• Food for 3 Days

• Utensils, Paper Towels

• Can Opener

• Water Pouch / 3 Gallons per Person

• 10 Water Purification Tablets / 9 parts water to 1 part bleach

• Regular Chlorine Bleach

• Pet Food

Travel Food Ideas

Keep Close While Driving

• small bowls with lids that fit between front seats

• insulated water cups with straws

• mints

• container of a day’s worth of peanut butter pretzels and goldfish

• protein bars without too much sugar

• nuts and dried fruit

• homemade oatmeal raisin cookies

• Emergen-C

• napkins

• clutch purse with utensils

• drinking water

• rinsing water

In Thermoelectric Cooler

• grapes

• apples / clementines

• tortilla rollups

• refillable water container to used to replenish insulated cups

• individual applesauce or yogurt cups/bags

• lunches, dinners

• opened oat milk carton

Prepped Food

• Muesli - bring container of toasted muesli, and each morning after breakfast fill the thermos with muesli + oat milk

• Cold brew coffee - bring “beanbags” of cold brew coffee and fix as needed in container with a spigot

• Tortilla Rollups - cream cheese + veggies ; hummus + veggies (don’t use fresh basil)

• Veggie Sausage Rolls

• Spinach Pasta

• Squash Risotto

In the Back

• wine

• cold brew coffee bags (concentrate)

• oat milk carton (unopened)

• honey

• small colander

• water for rinsing

• paper towels, napkins, plates, cups

• ziplocks

• hand/baby wipes

• tissue box filled with trash bags

• can opener, corkscrew & bottle stopper, funnel, scissors

Cross Country Trip Planning

We will be trekking across the country from California to Pennsylvania to visit family. Since we are in the midst of a pandemic, we will go as quickly as possible with minimal touristy stops. We will also avoid hotels by camping or sleeping in the car, and as much as possible bring the food we need.

Map the Route

AAA has a great online TripTik tool, also in their AAA app. You can say how many hours of driving you want to do each day, and it will tell you where to stop! And you can add layers to show gas stations or campgrounds.

I also create a Google map where I can map the planned route, and expected points of interest/gas stations/overnight locations. But you need the internet to see it, so that where the Opensignal app comes in handy. You can choose your provider, and it shows you a map of cell signal!

Potential Stops

Colorado National Monument

COVID Travel and State Restrictions

Apps / websites:

• Gas Buddy app

• AAA TripTik in AAA app

• Roadtrippers app

• Rand McNally TripMaker website

• Opensignal app to check cell service

Car Supplies:

• a cooler that plugs into the cigarette lighter port!

• a battery charger that has USB ports to charge devices

• rubber gloves, sanitizing wipes, litter genie borrowed from our cat supplies for trash

• neck rest for bobbing head front seat napping