You Forgot the What?

(A guide for packing and camping)
by Yehudah of Nuremberg (Barony of SunDragon, Atenveldt)

Greetings!

After many years of camping, you develop a memorized routine of packing everything you need for an event or war. However, after this same number of years, I have also come to the realization that I will still forget something ranging from semi-important to very important.

Usually these oversights can be reduced by creating a packing list. Check off each item as it is gathered in a ‘staging area’ for packing. Then you know you are finished packing the car, truck, AND trailer when this staging area is empty.

Unfortunately, there is one flaw in this method. The packing is done by us SCAdians. I’ve found that planning and organization seem to be out of period and therefore not in general practice in these Current Middle Ages.

In spite of this and other traditions, I’ve cobbled together years of hard-won, and lost, experiences of my own and a number of others for the benefit of anyone who cares. Some items are deliberately noted on more than one list.

Feast Baskets:

The simplest of events to prepare for is a one day event and feast. Simply said but making sure you take all the items you want is not as easy. I suggest having a basket always stocked, ready to grab-and-go.

We use a large wicker basket with a good lid. I have also lined the inside to keep out dirt and insects (scorpions, Black Widows, etc.), with out-door feasting in mind. Eventually, all this junk will weigh about the same as a medium sized javelina so be sure the handles or straps are pretty heavy duty and well attached to the frame. Also keep in mind, the feast environment and clean-up facilities when selecting your dinnerware. Metal doesn’t insulate at all but doesn’t break. Wood is a fair insulator and far more durable than ceramics, glass or china. I have seen plastic ware (ie. Melmac) that has a period appearance and avoids embarrassment when sitting across from Their Graces and their exquisite place settings.

We have the large feast basket with all the regular gear and a smaller one with nice plates, glasses and napkins for civilized in-door feasts. So! What to keep in a feast basket? Some items are obvious, some not. You may think of more.

Feast Gear Basket Checklist

Besides a dinner set for each member of your family, I also keep a couple of extra set for guests or to use.

Plates / Platters Bowls Cups / Mugs / Tankards Dinner knives Soup spoons Forks Serving spoons Napkins Tablecloth(s) Paper towels

Salt & Pepper Sugar (water tight) Instant coffee Tea bags Candle holders Candles Lighter / Matches Good can opener Bottle Opener Good cork screw

Steak knives Serving tongs Dish towel Handy / Baby wipes Small flashlight 'Mundanity' covers Pain relievers Pepto Bismol

• Alcohol based ‘waterless’ cleaner. (Kills bacteria on contact. Bacterial soaps need much more time for effect.)
• Kitchen garbage bags. (For trash, dirty dishes. Great liner in a basket for a make-shift wash tub or water bucket.)
• ZipLock storage bags. (Several quart and gallon sized for left-overs, etc.)
  

Put your SCA name on the bottom of your drinking stuff. They get lost more than any other item.

Cooler Tips: Keep a couple of 2 liter bottles in the freezer ready to grab. Fill to about 1-2 inches from the top and squeeze the bottle a bit before capping. This give room for the expanding ice. They hold up better than loose ice, your cooler stays dry, and they provide additional cold drinking water as they melt.

First Aid Kit Checklist

This is for FIRST and minor aid. Always seek the advice of a Chiurgeion on any injury.

Finger bandages (Assorted sizes) Calamine lotion Antiseptic wipes Eye wash and cup Tweezers Ace bandages Bandage tape Small knife

Large bandage pads Aloe Vera gel / lotion for minor burns Pain reliever Scissors Cotton swabs Gauze wrap Sterile gauze pad packs Allergy kits

Now you are ready to really camp and setup up your very own kitchen. As with the feast basket, I suggest keeping a stocked camp kitchen ready to go. Mine is in a large plastic tub. Most of the gear is from 2nd hand stores and “Wally World”. (The following items fit into a 24"x18"x18" Rubbermaid tub with a high lid. ‘Tetris’ experience is a plus.

Camp Kitchen Check List

Griddle / Lg fry pan 10" Handled pot 3qt Coffee pot Wok-style ladles with & w/o holes Long metal tongs BBQ fork BBQ skewers Pot holders 2-3 Chef's knife Paring knives Lg plastic mixing bowl Lg strainer or colander Lg plastic funnel Plastic measuring cup 16oz Plastic rap roll Tin foil roll Lg ziplocks gallon size Scrubber brush Paper towels Bottle opener

Sm bottle bleach Cafeteria style tray (food prep surface) Deep pan 5qt Teapot Lg metal spoons Wood mixing spoons Wisk BBQ spatula Regular spatula Dish towels / Rags Long blade knife Cutting board 'Mundanity' covers Lighter / matches in waterproof container Lg plastic pitcher Dish washing liquid Steel wool pads Can opener Two stackable storage boxes (wash tubs)

What does not fit in the Kitchen tub:

• Lg 2' diameter wash & rinse tubs (optional)
• Collapsible soft-sided trash barrel (garden section of Home Depot, et al)
• 6-8 clothes pins to hold trash bag in place

Kitchen tip:Pack a 3lb coffee can. The gallon sized sealable bags fills the can and folds back nicely over the top. This holds the bag wide open for filling. Make sure there are no burrs on the lip of the can. Try to keep all your food stuff in sealable tubs. This can be a life saver after a major storm.

Camping Gear Check List

Sleeping tent w/ poles Kitchen pavilion w/ poles '(Make sure you have ALL the poles!)' Stakes (metal, forget plastic!) Canopy for tent (keeps tent much cooler) Water proofing spray Ground cover tarp(s) Portable holes Lantern(s) and fuel Extra lantern mantles, bulbs Candle lantern & candles Sledge hammer (5-10lb mini sledge) Lighter / matches Lantern hooks Fire pit / brazier Sleeping bag(s) Pillows Folding tables, kitchen & general Disposable table coverings Flashlights Spare bulbs Duct tape (2-3 rolls) Shepards hooks or other lantern hangers

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Tent heater (avoid leaving lg BTU heaters on while sleeping!) Camp fuel Supply tent w/ poles Guy ropes Tent rugs Tarps Grommet repair kit Tie down rope (100' nylon) Banners & poles Hurricane lamps Lamp oil Camp knife, lg survival type Camp stove(s) Fire wood Hot water bottle Blankets / bedding Foam / air mattress Folding chairs Water cooler(s) Portable radio for weather/emergencies Batteries Sleeping futons, cots, pads, beds

(Plan on at least a gallon of fuel for every 3 days. 1 10oz. propane bottle per day for each lantern and heater.)

Suggestion: The propane ‘trees’ that mount on the large tanks are about $20 but are much cheaper in the long run for propane lanterns. I set the 5 gallon (20lb.) tank on a table or stand so the top of the tree sits above head height to provide good lighting.

‘SECOND CHANCE’ is the name of a brass adapter that I have that screws onto the tree with the large propane tank threads on the other end for connecting large grills and other stuff.

I keep my stakes, tie down ropes, repair kits, etc. in a 5 gallon detergent bucket with lid.

NOTE: Leave the lid off for a couple of days when you get home from a rainy trip so it can dry out EVEN IF YOU THINK IT’S DRY! It won’t be a pretty sight when you open it a few month later. (Last year’s lesson.)

Vehicle Check List

Spare tire, INFLATED! Radiator water (3gal min) Spare oil 12v air compressor (damn near essential) Flashlight TOOLS! (hammer, adj wrench, vise grips, screwdrivers, pliers, hose clamps, etc.)

Jumper cables Power sterring fluid Radiator tape / duct tape Transmission fluid Road flares / triangles

MAKE SURE ALL OF THESE ARE ACCESSABLE! It sucks to unpack everything to just get at that tire iron.

Personal Gear Check ListI like to pack as much as I can into stacking ‘Rubbermaid’ type tubs or something similar with a good seal. They keep your stuff clean, dry and pretty bug free even in the worst weather. Put your shoes on top of something at night.

Address book / EMERGENCY NUMBERS Event directions (stick in sun visor) Map Notepad Watch SCA card and fighting cards Cell phone AND the bloody charger Toilet paper Hair brush / comb Tooth paste and brush Bar / liquid soap MEDICATIONS!!!! Shaving cream Hair ties Bath towels Safety pins Handy/ baby wipes Feminine hygiene supplies Contact lens case & solution Sewing repair kit Stapler (great easy fixer) Carrying basket

Lg metal camp mirror (no glass) Glass repair kit (mini-driver & screws) Heavy duty portable power jack for dead batteries Wallet & ID & credit cards Money (sounds dumb but I've forgotten) Pen / pencil / calligraphy set Alarm clock Camera Film & batteries Tissues Shampoo / Conditioner Deordorant Sun screen Razor(s) Wash cloths Insect repellant Spare eye glasses Alcohol based "waterless" handcleaner Sun glasses Walking cane / staff Make-up Umbrella

Clothing:

Spare MUNDANES (2 set) Socks (hvy & lt) Work boots SCA boots Slip on footwear (for privy dash) GARB (court, field, warm & light styles) Favors / medallions Hats Laundry bags

Under garments VERY comfortable footwear Cloak(s) Head coverings Sweat pants / leggings Scarves Rain ponchos Shower tunic / robe Belts