The list is so long it’s crazy… But I figured I should spill out some of what’s on my mind.
26 dresses – nearly all need to be modified, cropped, stretched, torn apart, use your imagination, i don’t fit into most of them, and the long ones need to be hiked up. Think tons of brush and bushes and cactus, now picture gowns getting caught on all of that. Not good.
$2000 – I still need to come up with that amount of money to be sure, when i start the hike, that I can finish the hike.
Gear – I still need a hard shell (rain/outer jacket) $99-500 – Shoes. I know what I want to wear, I just have to buy them. – Mosquito Net – Hat – Shorts – Gaitors (worn around the ankle/shin to keep as much dirt and crap out of the shoe – I want a synthetic ‘sweater’. I have a down one, but prefer synthetic. – Silk liner for my sleeping bag (lighter than the one I have, increases the insulation in the bag to keep me warmer) – and i’m sure there are a few things that I’m forgetting
Food- Food and such that I’m going to put in with the gowns. Most people suggest not mailing food ahead because you’ll get tired of the same stuff, and you can’t possibly know what you want to eat this early on, but i’m sending the boxes anyway…
What am I gonna do about shirt sales? My friend Kayola in Newport is probably going to be in charge of shipping off my gowns to me, but the task of T-shirt and ’26 stuff’ sales is a little more complicated. The shop i use in town prints them off as i need them, which is great, but who’s going to place the orders and ship them when i’m on the trail? I have no idea how many to expect. I might sell ten T’s or I could sell a couple hundred. My family has offered to do the shipping, but they’re 2200 miles away from Newport.
I have nothing to offer those who are helping me, and it’s difficult to ask. I also have to have 100% assurance that whomever helps will follow through for the entire six months. I can’t have someone back out while in the middle of the hike.
Who’s going to keep up my blog, post photos that I take, video, etc? Who’s going to manage Sponsors etc if i happen to get them? I have a great option but an expensive one at this point. Well worth the money, but when the money isn’t there, it’s not an option. My sister runs the E-Marketing Dept of a major Hotel chain in the midwest… but I don’t want to put more on her table.
I still have a lot of food to buy and prep before packing.
There are sooooo many things to think about. It’s exciting, and tiring. So much to do in the next 3 1/2 months.
Ye-HAW !
AND I have to work – get to the gym – keep you all up to date…
Am I forgetting something? Surely I am…..
