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Thursday, July 02, 2026

Do That Again (At Least Once)

I have been saying for several years that I wanted to do a sub24 trip and...... I haven't done one. I don't know why, exactly, it's just that other stuff took precedence, or I let it do so, and I never got around to it. 

But the BRAN trip taught me that I can do this, and it also showed me I had better do it sooner than later or I won't ever do it. 

The gear is all there. I may as well use it. I know it works. There is only one thing I might have to change and that is the sleeping pad. The Thermarest Basecamp is flipping huge. I'd have to find an alternative which wasn't so massive so it did not take up so much space on the bike. Honestly, my old, ancient Thermarest pas might be okay from that standpoint. 

But no excuses. This has to happen at least once more this year. That's the goal. Small, I know, but it would be better than zero. And I have places I can go local to me as well. Maybe they are not that exciting, but that is my perspective. And in the end, it is the options that matter not "how cool/uncool" those places may seem to me. 

So, I better get on this. It's now or maybe never.....
 

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3 comments:

  1. tntmoriv8:29 AM

    Hi GT, regarding compact sleeping pads, I have had good luck with the current generation of Thermarest NeoAir pads. They are quiet, comfortable, and when deflated pack to less volume than a Nalgene bottle. I also had an ExPed branded one for many years that finally got passed down to my kids that was a bit heavier and bulkier, but still way smaller than my Thermarest Base camp (which still gets pulled out for car camping etc.). Only drawback for me was the cost, with many at or over $200. But the comfort is amazing and the compact size and low weight made it worth every penny for me.
    It may be in the same category as something like the Redshift stems; expensive compared to alternatives, but if it works and you are much more comfortable when using it there are no regrets. Only smiles.
    Sometimes there is really only one solution… YMMV

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    1. rth00910:10 AM

      Ive had the same expernece with Thermarest NeoAir pads, after having the first-gen thermarest decades ago, one of the thick thermarest base camp pads for 15+ years, among other kinds of pads. If you want light and comfortable and big enough for a larger person to actually sleep on, they are the way to go, but they are pricey ... but what isnt in 2026.

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    2. Guitar Ted10:25 AM

      @tntmoriv - Thank you for that feedback. I am looking at ExPed's line. Very interesting stuff there.

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