Hunting Stories

  Medford, Oregon, United States
Saturday, July 12, 2008

I was in my bedroom with my nose in a book the day they handed out common sense. The only way I learn things is through reading about them. So for the past year, I've been researching the gear I would need for extended travel abroad. Here are a few items I've learned about:

I. Chaco Sandals

Chaco Sandals

Knowing that we'll be walking all over Athens and hiking around very slippery marble excavations, I did hours of research to find the best footwear. I ended up buying black Chaco ZX/1 Unaweep sandals. They're comfortable, durable, washable, nonslip, American-made, podiatrist-designed, and adjustable. All hail Chacos!

Finn Comfort Sandals

Tragically, I had to send back the stunning pair of Finn Comfort Jamaicas I was also considering. German-made Finn Comforts are the Cadillac of sandals, and I'm in love with that deep brown leather. Unfortunately, they're insanely expensive, and I tried to think about how I'd feel schlomping my beautiful pricey Finns through dust, water, sand, and mud, and I just couldn't buy them. Farewell, dear Finn Comforts, you shall live forever in my memory, if never on my feet.

II. CoolMax Fabric

Greek Sahara

Greece is on the same global latitude as North Africa. Even in September and October, Athens will be as hot as Tunisia (for the geeks in the house, that's where George Lucas shot the desert scenes of Tatooine). I've discovered that CoolMax fabric is better than linen or cotton in that heat. CoolMax is a new generation of polyester fiber that wicks moisture away from the skin, making you feel cooler.

CoolMax

I found a great website with the lowest prices: CoolClothingUSA.com. You can get t-shirts, tank tops, polo shirts, shorts, socks, and underwear knit out of CoolMax fibers. This business started by selling CoolMax tees to American soldiers serving in the swelter of Iraq and Afghanistan. Now CoolMax is the Official Outfitter of Me in Greece.

III. Security Bags
Greece is actually one of the safer countries of the European Union, but tourists are still pickpocketed. Thieves will target the easy mark, so arrange your belongings to be difficult to steal, and the pickpockets will hopefully move on to somebody else who hasn't read three books on personal safety. :-)

Money Belt

I bought a money belt that will hold cash reserves, my passport, important phone numbers, and tickets. There are several different styles of money belts to choose from, meant to be worn under your clothes. You keep a few Euros in an exterior wallet or pocket for the day's expenses -- you're not meant to be digging into your hidden money belt in public. And guess what, since it's designed to lie against the skin, my money belt is backed with COOLMAX!

PacSafe Anti-Theft Backpack

I also have a PacSafe backpack. The PacSafe line of bags is designed with steel cables in the straps to prevent slash-and-dash thieves. They have steel mesh in the bottom and sides of the bag to stop criminals from slitting the fabric and pulling out your goods. They also have a system for anchoring the zippers together. Plus, you can attach the bag to a table leg with a steel cable so it can't be snatched at a restaurant.

IV. Packing Technology
I've never before faced the challenge of packing for a three-month trip, so yes, I read books about how to pack a suitcase. I learned from Anne McAlpin that folding each item of clothing separately and putting the stack into your luggage is not the best way. Rather than trying to explain her system, I'll just refer you to the DVD that accompanies Pack It Up: The Essential Guide to Organized Travel.

Compression Bags

I found some of those compression bags that remove the air from clothes or blankets so they take up less space in the suitcase. Originally, I thought you had to have a vacuum cleaner to suck the air out, but I learned that there are some compression bags available that you just manually roll up to squeeze out the air. Genius.

V. Solarphobia
Thus sayeth the Gospel According to Paula Begoun: the only true preventative for wrinkles is not moisturizer, it is sunscreen, also thy most important defense against skin cancer. I've been wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily since I joined the Church of Begoun at age 22, and I'll be bringing my three-month supply to Greece. (After multiple dermatologists failed, Saint Begoun's treatment plan for acne also cleared up the complexion problems I've been battling for 20 years because I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.)

Sun Hat

But for maximum sun protection on this trip, I'm going to be inseparable from my wonderful hat from SunDay Afternoons, a company based right here in the Rogue Valley, and prescription UV-blocker sunglasses.

EyeBuyDirect.com

I could afford both new everyday glasses and new prescription sunglasses because I'm ordering them online. I learned in this article http://tinyurl.com/5zjhxh how to secure my prescription from my optometrist, input it to a website, and order a pair of glasses AND a pair of sunglasses for less than the price of one at a brick-and-mortar store.

Hunters used to return victoriously to the campfire and regale the tribe with stories about the drama of their hunt... well here you go, these are my hunting stories. I've had great fun stalking the mighty Consumer Goods and dragging home the Travel Gear.