kengr

I apologize! What I intended to imply was 'if S and I end up doing an overnight, that would probably curtail our ability to coordinate a trip with anyone else due to the baseline increase in logistical complexity' e.g. I CANNOT plan an overnight for anyone except MAYBE us even if other people could DO it. However, that isn't what I said, and it came out as me failing to honor and request information about your needs before tossing ideas around. I'm sorry for that.

No need to apologize. I read it as you thinking about maybe inviting one of us along on a camping trip. Which could be nice, but isn't currently workable.

It sounds like you ARE interested in an eclipse trip. Enough so that I should aim for a plan for S-and-me with enough flex in it to pick up some additional people, maybe? And NOT an overnight.

Interested, but the more I here on the news, the more it sounds like it'd be a *zoo* anywhere in the zone of totality.

Madras (pop 6000) is expecting 100,000 visitors, for example. and there's talk of major gridlock on the roads.

In the spirit of paying attention to necessary details, what distances, grades, and types of surface are you happy with, comfortable with, uncomfortable with, or unable to cope with for walking?

Since my bike was stolen (2(?) years ago come November) I've not been getting a lot of exercise.

It's less than a quarter mile from the bus stop to that computer store, and I had to stop on the way back.

I am *seriously* out of shape. But I'd like to work on getting better.

Surfaces aren't too much of an issue. Dirt, pavement, grass, whatever. Slippery is bad, but not too bad (I've got walking sticks).

Stairs are better than steep slopes. If a ramp will work for a wheelchair, it'll be fine for me.

BTW, I carry that cane in case I need it, not because I can't get around without it.

If I need it and don't have it, it's a matter of things hurting, not of my not being able to walk.

And as I said, it's more being out of shape than "crippled".

if I haven't eaten or slept, I go monosyllabic and have trouble walking AT ALL because I can't tell which direction is forward.

Remember, I've got a GPS. And carry spare batteries. :-)

My rule of thumb for trips for myself and S is that we bring water, we pack along food, and we go someplace where a restroom stop at the beginning and end of outdoor activity is feasible.

Yeah, I carry water *and* gatorade as well as a selection of granola/energy/meal bars.

I've got a couple of semi insulated water bottles with shoulder straps and a "camelback" type pack (only holds a liter or so of water, but also has room for carrying other supplies.

I also have (and should carry for something like this) a small zipper bag with various OTC meds, bandaids and a few other things.

Restrooms are good. I tend to need to pee frequently, and I can't just whip it out behind a tree anymore (gotta buy one of those "stand to pee" gizmos from a Womyn's bookstore one of these days)

Oh yeah, I've got 2 FRS radios we can use (Fay has my other two, but I'm not sure she knows where they are). Useful if we want to split up for some reason, or if there isn't cell coverage and we need help.