I was thinking about one other thing and while not today, I did get an app for our smartphones: http://maps.me/en/home

The nice part is it downloads the area map and will not require any connection to work as a map. You have to use the old school read-a-map skill as the GPS isn't working but you have a workable map for reference.

I put on the phone memory a PDF file of our local metro area (lots of detail) and a state version too. Today I found a reference to: http://www.natgeomaps.com/trail-maps/pdf-quads

While the actual maps you can download are older - in many of the places I can find myself it's still the same ground and not much has changed.

Paul -

I bought tie down straps for my camper. I also picked up a sheathed knife for DW's GHB.

two (redundant) external hard drives?

Those two serving packs of instant Idaho potatoes were on sale at Walmart today, along with instant Bisquick. They are both "just add water" and both were $1 a pack so I bought 6 of each, including our two favourite flavours of potatoes, for a total of 18 packages added to the pantry. I could have sworn I bought at least two more packages of a third flavour of potatoes but they must have gotten loose in the car somewhere. 8}

We harvested a little birch bark on a nature walk at a local conservation area this morning. We also got some on a trip to a friend's cottage earlier in the week, as well as a nice score of chaga. The chaga is drying in the backyard and the bark has been added to the fire kit storage bin.

Rather than an external hard drive, I picked up a previously owned (okay, used) Panasonic ToughBook CF-30 with a 1 TB HD. It's big enough for all my files and the laptop is built like a tank.

Worked out. I am trying to repair my relationship with my Cybex ArcTrainer. I have been neglecting it for a while.

Going out today to look for a new motor for the boat. We have an open aluminum boat which is a bit under powered with the current motor.

With a bigger motor, if we really had to evacuate long term and could not drive, we are a few minutes to easy access to the ocean where we could launch our boat from. With more horsepower for the boat, we can increase our carrying capacity and it opens a lot more options with miles of protected Pacific coastline and rivers to nearby areas to evac to and will literally save hours (or days in a major disaster) of road driving time.

Got a good deal on a lease return 30hp boat motor. Ordered a prop with a different pitch which is now on back order. Have to drop the boat off next week to switch out the motors and also have some wiring done as the new motor has a better alternator which will help more with powering electrical.

Should mention that the boat is primarily used as a fishing machine, but now with more hp, it gives us another evac option in the unlikely event it is ever needed.

end of August and looks like the Atlantic and Caribbean tropical storm season is going to be active... lots of recent rain and grass mowing, and I let the gas cans get low, so topped them off, charged up the Eneloops and 18650's in the lights...water changed out at the first of the season...will charge up the 12v batteries if storms do threaten...."run from the water, hide from the wind"

Renewed my Costco subscription, big bale of toilet paper coming my way at the weekend