I flew in my favourite aeroplane today. A vintage french MS 500 'criquet' radial engine varient of the remarkable german WW2 Storch.
I was flying in her some years past when the engine quit.The plane puts some of the sailplanes I rarely get to fly to shame and I had thoughts of getting out to push it down, if only a cloud thick enough for purchase of my feet appeared on that Beach Boy endless summer day.
We landed neatly in a huge lemon grove and I had visions of using my PSK until a mexican orchard worker drove up looking all the world like a Steinbeck or B. Travern character.
My pilot friend has assembled a remarkable kit since then. I was anxious to inspect it, but with a nationwide snafu in the flight plan computer we 'hurried' aloft at a safe and sane 35 MPH. We now wore mutally agreed upon, de riguer HERMES ties instead of the obligatory A2 flight jackets.Like the Aran Sweaters with 'proprietory family patterns' courtesy of the irish tourist board,My peach coloured with asian dancers, temples and flowers will I.D. my rotting remains.
We flew out to the ocean. The intesection of horizon with ocean,sky and land gave way soon enough to the first hint of sunset,a Vincent sunset and appearance of the evening star.
We turned inland and I drifted into my Walter Mitty 'ta-poket ta-poket ta-poket' imagination of some behind the line espionage sortie.
Once on terra firma, I looked over his 'kit.' Ahem
Container- wicker basket
Shelter- surplus wool blanket
Knife- Opinel
Firemaking-box of 500 strike anywhere matches and a copy of le Monde from our trendy bookstore
Medical kit- a bottle of Armagnac
To be fair, He did include a flashlight and two bottles of Perrier along with rations of baquettes of bread,strawberry preserves and a can- with P 38 of escargot,pears and wrapped wedge of Brie, just about ripe.
I complimented my friend, noting the survival manual of WIND SAND AND STARS I gifted him on Exupery's birthday.
We rotated his food and water stock at the hanger before parting. I drove home warm with a minute splash of Armanac, my window open with my french tie snapping proudly.
My heathen, foriegn nieghbors were talking LOUDLY right outside my window, until a skunk walked up and sprayed the old oaktree beyond my window. I had to splash a double dose of Pinaud Lilac vegetal on me as antidote as I tossed her some sardines from my own BOB. She hates MAINSTAY bars.The past date ones I tossed out are still sitting there, impervious to teh exposure of sun and weather.
Sometimes you have to forget about sharks, pandemic outbreaks or the price of petrol and LIVE people.
We survive for a reason.Know yours!

Me thinks Chris needs to get some sleep, and let the Armagnac wear off

Survival takes many forms, some more surreal than others.

Having not seen this side of Mr. Kavanaugh before, I found it distubingly refreshing to have to alter my mind-picture of a heretofore suspected curmudgeon. Clearly more evidence to be gathered before a reliable conclusion can be reached. Nice post.

Very good story and an outstanding post!!!

I've identified what threats may happen, prepared as well as possible, and now I sleep well (when at home) because I've done what can be done and I'm not going to waste time worrying about those things that I can't influence anyway.

Well, I must say that the very last (VERY LAST) item that will ever be found in my survival kit is a can of snails.

Sue

I don't know about that Sue.....they do make good bait!

My local oaktrees dump the single most nutritous food source onto sidewalks and people sweep them away as trash. I go out at night with my REAL nieghbors; skunks, ducks, racoons and opposums and collect snails for the empty #10 pail( the one my Y2k fearing nieghbor finally tossed full of red durum wheat) with purging cornstarch.

I leave the earthworms alone though. This Chumash Shaman revealed they were one of my two totem spirit guides. For $50 you can pay a Ward Churchill, 1/8 lakota follower for a 'sweat' and get a eagle or wolf assigned to you.I just outstared this shaman WEARING his Ray-Banns and he decided I was worthy.

I could take you to a oceanside restaurant with a fancy french name. They charge $100 for grilled Abalone. Abalone is just a big old sea snail with a pretty shellcalifornians used as ashtrays for cigarettes before it became unhealthy to breath smoke. The New Agers burn white sage in tehm now before sweeping down their driveways of Acorns.

But being it's lunchtime, I have a craving for my weekly burger, vanilla shake and onion rings.Sometimes the soul needs junk food and Micky Spillane literature Supersize me baby.@_V