Estrellita Sopita – A Mexican soup for colds and flu

      The first time we sampled this was at Burritos Victoria in Las Cruces, NM.  It was part of the lunch special so Barb and I tried it.  Although the restaurant is a small, local franchised chain and not rated very highly rated as a Mexican restaurant we loved the soup.  It was so very warm, creamy, delicious, and soothing that we wanted the recipe for ourselves.   They would not give us their recipe, but with some online investigative diligence I was able to find the closest thing.  Mineral rich chicken broth, fresh farm eggs, pasta, and sea salt.  It's especially light on the stomach and sure to please any adult or child.  One hint:  you have to like poached eggs....
      The list of ingredients is quite simple:

8 cups of chicken broth
1 package of Estrella pasta (small star shapes), but I like to use Moderna Brand Vermicelli (same as the restaurant) This can be modified to your personal preference.
2 eggs
dash sea salt
dash white pepper
you can add a small can of shredded chicken to this if you like

      In a large stock pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil.  Once the broth is boiling add a full handful of pasta per person to the pot.  Boil the pasta for 1 minute, then add the eggs to the boiling stock (1 per person).  (of course these times may vary depending on the pasta you choose......the eggs need about 4 minutes to properly poach)

      When 5 minutes are complete (or longer if the eggs are not cooked to your liking) use a slotted spoon and distribute the eggs (1 each) to each person's bowl.  Top them with pasta, broth, salt, and pepper. 

      This recipe is found in nearly every Mexican home and throughout the SW.  It is very much akin to the old chicken soup recipes from many Americans and immigrants for many years, but the addition of the poached eggs really tops it off.  The addition of the white pepper, vermicelli, and shredded chicken is my personal touch.  We love it served with crusty bread or garlic bread sticks.  This is the perfect comfort food for cooler weather, be it early spring, late fall, and of course winter.  We chose it for our "Pheasant Hunting Opening Eve" supper.  It is very easy to prepare, taking minimal time to put on the table.  If you serve it piping hot the steam is sure to help clear any congestion.  It works very well for us on the road in the RV over the winters. 

" A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to it's old dimensions" 

                                                                     Oliver Wendell Holmes

WiFi courtesy of McDonalds, Guymon, Oklahoma

     

Quail Hunting: Wish We Could Have Shown Roux a Better Time....

Picture courtesy of Quail Unlimited

      This is it....Roux's first wild bird hunt, bobwhite quail hunting in NW Oklahoma.  She is still just 18 months old.  Barb and I have worked with Roux for 9 months now, obedience, ranging, pointing, and retrieving.  Everything is always as you want it in a controlled environment, but in the field life is often much different.  I told Barb we're just going to have fun this fall.  We'll get some birds, but Roux will be far from perfect in her first outing........it's a learning process when they're this young. 
      We ventured NW to Fort Supply WMA about 189 miles from Oklahoma City.  I have hunted here many times in the past for deer, turkey, and quail.  It can be a very good quail area provided you find birds not harassed by other hunters near the road.  One thing I had discovered this trip is that quail season begins on November 12th, but is suspended for the first 9 days of deer gun season which begins November 19th so this cut down our number of hunting days this trip from 9 to 7. 
      We had originally planned on watering up at the Corps of Engineers Campground on the lake and then boondocking further south, but when we arrived the new off season rates for full hookups and our 50% discount with the Senior Access Pass was a deal just too good to pass up.  On the lake with full facilities, 11 days.....$99 !  Darned near boondocking prices.  To top it off there were only about 5 campers in the entire 107 site CG.  We are still only about 3 miles from our hunting area.   Due to the influx of windmill power being introduced to the region Fort Supply also offered not only their own RV Park, but propane service and a small laundromat as well. 

      We arrived two days early with the time dedicated to setting up a good firepit and cutting lots of wood.  I outfitted my 12 ga. Browning Citori O/U with improved over modified chokes shooting #7 1/2 shot for our anticipated flush fest.  Quail are covey birds, usually holding in circles tightly, and will flush in groups of 8-12 when initially found.  The flush is therefore a 360 degree event.  This will result in some hectic initial moments, but the key is to pick ONE BIRD and sight on him.  Second chance flushes result in singles and doubles as a rule.  I had been nursing my left knee due to a torn meniscus back in spring that I re-injured about 2 weeks ago.  It was getting much better when the night before opening day I was revisited by my old friend, GOUT!  A couple of Indomethacin with dinner and breakfast the next day and I was ok. 

Picture courtesy of Quail Unlimited

      The first few days resulted in lots of other hunters and dogs, but we managed to keep to our own.  We mostly hunted broken, open cover with a mix of cottonwoods, elms and fields.  We found no birds in the planted fields.  We didn't venture very far from camp and found only a couple coveys, but the flushes were wild and many times the birds were nearly out of range 'coming off the ground'.  Roux did find the birds, but by the time she 'locked up' the birds were up.  I did manage to pick up a couple of birds each day, but no cornucopia.  Roux had some decent work, ranged well, and picked up the idea pretty quickly.  We did have to stop occasionally to get sand burrs out of her pads that would give her fits.  I always fed Roux once at the end of the hunting day after she's settled down for a bit.  Over the years I have been in the habit of supplementing my dogs with some heated wet food mixed with their dry for the fat content.   Roux did not care for this and was quite happy with her normal dry Blue Buffalo.  Anybody need 11 cans of Blue Buffalo Salmon & Chicken? 

      We continued to hunt around this area through Monday before moving on with the same sporadic luck.  Some hunters were finding some birds, but nobody was slaying them.  We decided to try our luck at Cooper WMA, just down the road.   This area is very much open sandhill, sage country.  We did manage to get up another covey here and a couple of singles, but still very 'wild'.  Roux could not get them locked down before they flushed often at about 30 yards.  I felt bad for our pup.  She was working her butt off and doing a good job ranging, searching, and answering the whistle.  I just wished we could show her a better time. 
      The middle of our week resulted in very warm temps (84+) and dry, windy days; not good at all for finding birds.  In fact Wednesday through Friday the weather resulted in a RED FLAG CONDITION for fires so we couldn't light up the fire pit for those days either.  I decided to cook up what few birds we had harvested so I tried them stir fried with Broccoli, Asparagus, and Sesame Seeds......with some fried rice it turned out pretty darned good. 

          Unfortunately we never really found more than a couple of coveys all week.  By the end of the 5th day of the season nearly all of the other hunters had left the area.  We hunted the last 2 days virtually by ourselves.  With the unseasonably dry heat and wind we decided to cut our losses and just relax.  Who would have thought we'd be using RV A/C in mid November, but it would NOT last. We got a few birds this week and did enjoy watching Roux 'do her thing'.  She will be quite the bird dog.  All training for the future.

      This entire opening week was an adventure in patience and exercise.  Roux worked her butt off and mommy/daddy enjoyed the Aleve and Liquid Carbs next to the fire each night.  We got some birds, but hoped to do much better.  We did see many deer, including several very nice Whitetail Bucks (probably 6 and 8 pointers).   The last couple of days (gun season opener) we just relaxed around the camp fire pit as the winds turned to the north and temps dipped into the low 20s at night and only 40s during the day.   Our camp entrees this trip included Cudighi Broccoli Casserole, Cajun Fish Fry, Spaghetti, Quail Stir Fry, Basque Lamb Salad, and Whitefish Tacos to name a few
      .

      Unfortunately, sometimes the worst comes out in those that pretend to be sportsmen. Our last two nights in camp were not relaxing.  The local game warden had a serious issue with several of the campers near us about something we didn't know anything about.  He had stopped by once earlier and asked about them, but we didn't know them.  He did take pictures of their RV and truck plates.  However, later Friday night, and probably way too many beers later, one of them shot a stray cat that had been hanging around the campground just to kill it.  We really kept to ourselves after that till we left and kept a close eye on our own furbabies.   We do plan on contacting the warden and local sheriff on our departure. 

      We steer our course south now to share the Thanksgiving Holiday with our grandson.  Our peer grandparents are fantastic cooks and we can't wait to enjoy the fellowship at their table.  We will return to the NW in a couple of weeks to once again pursue game birds.  Pheasant season awaits! 

"If you turn your imagination loose like a hunting dog, it will often return with the bird in it's mouth" 
                                                                         William Maxwell

WiFi courtesy of Verizon MiFi

Kendall's Noble, Ok

     

      This is as simple and down home as it gets.  The heart of America serving the best of comfort food.  Kendall's is located in the small central Oklahoma town of Noble, about a stone's throw south of Norman, OK.  I must admit I had never dined there when we lived there, but it caught my eye on the Food Channel's Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives program.  As they describe it "We are a simple cash only restaurant adorned with sports and music memorabilia serving southern style fare".  This is your simple diner type establishment.   Popular?  This place is only open Wed-Sat and there is nearly always a line to get in.  Limited seating might require your arriving early.  The interior is adorned with various music memorabilia.

      The menu, although basic, offers nearly every 'down home comfort food' you can imagine.  http://kendallsrestaurant.com/?page_id=6    Of course the Chicken Fried Steak is at the top of the menu, but they also offer 4 different catfish dishes as well as burritos, hamburger steak, chicken strips, burgers, roast beef, and shrimp.   What restaurant featured on the Food Channel would be complete without the featured 'CHALLENGE'.  Kendall's offers the "Chicken Fry Challenge" which once you peruse the ingredients would provide anyone quite the daunting task.   http://kendallsrestaurant.com/?page_id=31
      Of course Barb and I had no such dietary aspirations so after studying this mouth watering menu Barb selected the 'lite' daily special meatloaf and after I queried the waitress about the sizes of the 'lite' and 'regular' chicken fried steak......I went with the regular. 

      Barb's meatloaf came with mashed taters, corn, and a homestyle biscuit.  She remarked that the meatloaf was decent, but the rest was very good.  She is, of course, partial to my ROTEL Meatloaf. 

      When my 'regular' chicken fried steak arrived all I could do (mouth agape) was exclaim....OMG!  This is a 24 ounce piece of tenderized beef steak breaded, fried, and covered with country gravy!  I was not expecting anything this size.  It comes with mashed taters, green beans and the homestyle biscuit.  The steak was delicious and tender, the breading light, airy, and did not overpower the meat.  It was all I could do just to finish the green beans and about half the steak.  Naturally there was a pretty big 'to go' box required to transport our leftovers. 

      Of course we were not expecting the coup de grace, their homemade cinnamon rolls for desert.  I really didn't have the room, but when I smelled it's warm aroma.......well, it was all over for me except licking the plate.  The manager is the maestro throughout the dining room orchestration and served us our desert, being sure to check on our satisfaction. 

      Our server Morgan was excellent.  The food came out within 10 minutes and she always checked back on us throughout.  I have to say this was the BEST CHICKEN FRIED STEAK I HAVE EVER EATEN!  I do have to wonder just how big the 'lite', large, and challenge steaks are?  If you're ever in this area and love a good country meal, this is the place. 

http://kendallsrestaurant.com/                      


"Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else" 
                                                                                Lawrence Block

WiFi courtesy of Verizon MiFi

Naylamp Peruvian Restaurant Oklahoma City

        We moved away from Oklahoma City 19 years ago yet every time we return for a visit we are intrigued with the new growth, especially on he culinary scene.  This is a bit of a departure for us, but then retirement is all about the Joie de Vivre.  This place was recommended to me so this trip we decided to check it out.  LOVE trying new cuisines.   'Naylamp' is a relatively new Peruvian Restaurant in Oklahoma City.  In fact the one we visited was an expansion due to the overwhelming success of the original.  Raul and Samara Ramos opened their first establishment in Warr Acres, OK 2009.

      Peruvian culture is at the core of what the Ramoses had in mind for their restaurant. That's why many of Naylamp's weekend events revolve around traditional music and dance. On top of cultural appreciation parties, the new location also offers live music on Thursdays.  As for the food, Peruvian cuisine has and always will begin with potatoes. Peru is home to more than 3,800 potato varieties, and believe it or not every spud on Earth originated in the Andes.  With a coastline that runs the length of the country, Peru is also where ceviche was born. That's probably the nation's most popular dish and the one Peru is most known for, with good reason.  Every country in Latin America offers ceviche, but none can hold a candle to Peru. Naylamp keeps that tradition alive with its haute interpretation.

      Their menu is quite eclectic specializing in cuisine from throughout their native Peru.  They have outstanding, yet somewhat underrated seafood as well as broaster chicken.  Some of the other menu classics include Paella, Papa Relleno (twice baked potato), Bistek a lo Pobre (a simply seasoned skirt steak topped with a fried egg and served with sliced avocados and fried plantain wedges). Lomo saltado (featuring steak slices with tomato and onion, topped with french fries, and served over rice).

https://www.zomato.com/oklahoma-city/naylamp-peruvian-restaurant-oklahoma-city/menu                   Everything looked and smelled delicious.  After some thought Barb and I selected the Peruvian Sampler to split as our appetizer.   This was a mix of Yucca topped with Huancaina Cream Sauce , Causa Limena, and Empenada Beef along with a side of their Salsa Criolla.  It was delicious!  Admittedly the Yucca is better with added salt. 

      Barb selected the Lomo Saltado which is a marinated beef steak covered with seasoning, two eggs, and a side of rice, fries, and fried plantains.  She loved the dish, except that we both found our meals to be much more food than we anticipated........'to go box' was in order.  We drank water, but all the other drinks: soda, beer, and juice are authentic Peruvian. 

      I decided on the Jalea de Mariscos a deep - fried breaded calamari, shrimp, mussels, and fish seasoned in a mixture of spices accompanied by Salsa Criolla and fried yucca.  We did notice that most foods are topped with either pickled or spicy onions which adds a whole new dimension to the taste.  It was delicious. 

      It was an interesting and unique evening overall.  The food is delicious and the service very good.  This location is somewhat smaller as there are only 9 tables total.  One very good waitress handles it all.  This is a family run establishment.  Our tab for the evening was around $38, but well worth it for the amount of food you get.  They do have a Facebook presence at Naylamp Peruvian Restaurant South that you can visit as well. 

"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and avoid the people, you might better stay at home"

                                                                              James Michener

WiFi courtesy of Verizon MiFi

Boondocking & Catfishing in the Ozarks

NOTE:  An afterthought from the last post I forgot to include.  We did notice 2 separate taxes imposed on our receipts when shopping in Missouri.  Research showed that you pay separate state, local, and sometimes county taxes, which in this case equated to nearly 10%.  That's a bit different. 

The view from the top of Winding Stair Mountain

     Schedules being dynamic as they are when you're retired allowed us some extra days between scheduled stops.  Even though we were a day late leaving Neosho, MO due to a never ending line of thunderstorms we took advantage to do some relaxing and fishing in the Ouachita National Forest of Oklahoma, a spur of the Ozarks.  Leaving Neosho, MO we ventured south on I-49 to Fort Smith, Arkansas and then I-40 just west into Oklahoma where we began our journey to the southeastern part of the state.  If you've never been here, it is by far the most beautiful part of this state.  It is rolling, mountainous land with plenty of lakes, streams, hardwood forests, and some wilderness (without banjo music).  It would remind you of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina or even the Porcupines of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  We visited here a lot when we lived in Oklahoma. 

      Our destination was at Short Mountain Cove on the Arkansas River, just south of Sallisaw, OK.  www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.17895  This is an Army Corp of Engineers Campground that qualifies for the 'Senior All Access' discounted price of  $9.50 for water, electric, showers, and dump station (borderline boondocking).  9 days for $85.50.....nice!  There are two loops to this campground which is nestled in the hardwoods next to Robert S. Kerr Lake.  We chose the emptier loop as we love the peace and quiet while still on the water. 

      The main focus of this stop was catfishing.  The Arkansas River system is prime catfishing water and our tackle was 'all about that' this trip.  First we stocked up on firewood.  We were lucky enough to be allowed by the Camp Host to cut up an old oak that had fallen near camp.  Then we headed to the nearest bait shop to pick up some cut shad for fishing.  Catfish, especially flatheads and channel cats love cut shad.  Sallisaw, OK is only 7 miles north so were able to have access to several bait shops, Walmart, a laundromat, gas, propane, and even a casino for my bride.  Weather was a bit on the warm side with highs in the upper 80s and a couple over 90.  With such warm temps we concentrated our fishing late afternoon and on into the evening.  During the heat of the day we usually just rested and watched movies while Roux played outside. 

      Catfishing is a sedentary activity.  Once your bait is cast just take your favorite book or smart phone and enjoy.  We also attached little bells to the end of our poles just in case we weren't paying attention (insert wry grin here)   We tried several combinations of bait, but cut shad left out in the sun to spoil a bit provided the best STANK.
      Try as we might, changing our hours, baits, and locations (and this is a bit hard to admit) we did not catch one single catfish.  After 3 days we braved the 90s heat and fished the river below the dam near the locks, but the only thing we found were snapping turtles.  I even changed hats 3 times (Fleet Farm, Tabasco, and Spartans) to find some luck.  Nope.

      Many catfish were being caught, but mostly by 'jugliners' who put out large strings of baited hooks supported by buoys (milkjugs) overnight. Those of us from shore did not have much luck. I'm sure that once this blog chapter hits the internet we may indeed be banned from several southern states.  After 5 days we decided to 'mellow out' and just relax around camp.  We even did the casino thing one night, but our luck there was no different......but at least there was no debate on TV.

      Ah yes, the obligatory meal and cooking section.  While here we dined on Shrimp Feta Salads, Tasso, Cheese, & Grits, Wild Boar Steaks w/Peach Salsa, Fish Taco Boats, Mexican Manicotti, Caprese Chicken, and grilled a couple of NY Strips over the fire to name a few.  We replaced our original 1 1/2 quart RV crockpot with a bit bigger 2 quart model this time.  This is plenty big for Barb and I.  I christened it with a batch of Creole Crawfish Tasso Corn Chowder including the homemade Tasso I smoked this summer.

www.neworleansrestaurants.com/new-orleans-recipes/recipes_bombay.php

Creole Crawfish Tasso Corn Chowder

Wild Boar Ham Steaks w/Peach Pineapple Chipotle Salsa, Spaetzle and Green Beans

      Lowest diesel of the trip so far in Sallisaw, OK.....$2.09  The casino at Sallisaw, OK, although they serve a delicious menu are nowhere reasonably priced for gambling.  The cheapest slots are 1 cent although the minimum bet is 50 cents.   Pulling anchor we head west to Lake Thunderbird just SE of Oklahoma City to visit family and friends.  We will continue to practice our retiree relaxation and catfishing to the best of our ability.  Barb reminds me that there will some serious shopping (pre-hunting) while we are there as well.  I hope I find my MOJO before quail season gets here......

      "Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind"

                                                                                Seneca
WiFi courtesy of Verizon MiFi

2nd Star to the Left and Straight onTill Morning....

      After 6 wonderful months at home in beautiful NW Michigan we hit the road.  Truck and RV are fully serviced, washed, waxed, and all our stuff is packed.  We have both the onboard and Engel freezers stocked to include:  10 packs asparagus, 13 packs corn, 6 packs broccoli, 10 packs green beans, 10 packs Tasso, 11 packs Cudighi, 10 packs whitefish, and 1 pack oxtail.  We also prepared and froze individual meals of Crab n Corn Bisque, Wild Boar Mac n Cheese, Wild Boar Ham, and New Mexico Manicotti, and 6 packs of frozen Pastys.  This always helps to defer costs and ease meal prep for several months.  A to Z, soup to nuts, we head out.  You are never fully prepared as everybody always forgets something.....which makes retirement travel all the more an adventure, yet without measurable stress.  McMansion is cleared for departure.....US 131 South. 
      We depart this fall with hearts full of hope and prayers for my best friend in Wisconsin who has been battling several serious health issues throughout the summer.  We spent a week with him the early part of September doing everything from preparing meals, painting, running errands, and just good old moral support.  Much still needs to happen for a full recovery, but the latest round of medical referrals bring much improved news and hope. 
      We accomplished quite a bit this summer with all our projects and several camping trips tucked in there, but it is always good to head out knowing that this voyage is long.  Autonomous on the road....we have grown to love it. 
     We have no true itinerary.  We have long range plans to venture north to Alaska again next spring so this winter will still be filled with adventures, but with a truly boondocking, austere flavor.  Lots of adventure, very little frills.  There will still be lots of hunting, fishing, and relaxing.  Joie de Vivre! 

     Roux looks forward to her first year of chasing quail and pheasant in Oklahoma and Kansas.  Bones on the other hand relishes another winter of good weather, plenty of relaxing, being spoiled, and of course re-familiarizing his sister with the food chain. 

      Our itinerary enabled us to boondock at new places and still visit some family on the way. 

Wal Mart Pontiac, IL:  Our original plan had us stopping at Des Plaines WMA just south of Joliet, IL, but unfortunately (and this is becoming an all too familiar story) the campground was closed several years back due to lack of funding.  So we ventured another 40 miles further south on I-55 to the town of Pontiac. You really can't beat pitching your wigwam at Wally World for a quick, safe overnighter. 

Freedom Lake:  Our stop here coincided with visiting two of Barb's cousins in Waterloo and Valmeyer, Illinois.  www.facebook.com/Freedom-Lake-Fish-N-Cabins-127927720572522/?rf=837218629701474  Close to family and convenient....what can I say?  This family owned campground is quite a bit out in the country on a privately owned lake.  We had free access to our own pavilion with a fire pit (with wood) as well as free fishing for stocked bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish.  Full hookups at a bit steep price of $35/night.  I have to admit this is one of the prettiest, quietest, scenic RV parks we've ever stayed at.  We had a great visit with Barb's cousins, Beverly and Stephanie, and their families.  Lots of catching up and pizza made for a nice evening. 

Malden, MO Airport RV Park:  We try to stay here when visiting Barb's immediate family. Simple and bare bones, but with full hookups and close proximity for our needs at $84 a week!  www.maldenmo.com/parks.html  The airport has a great museum of the local WW 2 aeronautical history which is a 'must see'.  www.maaps.net/museum.html 

NOTE:  The campground is grass with trees, but does have lots of sand burrs so make sure to put out your RV yard mat and take off/brush your shoes before entering the RV. 

www.maldenmo.com/parks.html

For scale:  the sites are large, these folks only occupied half a spot

      One great thing about being back in Missouri is being able to enjoy Chicken Gizzards and Red Diamond Ice Tea.  Although Barb spent much of her time visiting her sisters we did enjoy Crab & Corn Chowder, Whitefish, and Beef Pastys w/gravy.  I am once again trying seriously to lose some weight so I am applying the Weight Watchers Point System.  It's all a matter of portion control, a change of lifestyle and discipline........lots of discipline, especially when traveling.  I even had enough bonus points left for a modest catfish dinner our last night in town.

Neosho, MO City Park (Hickory Creek RV Park):  Another stop in SW Missouri to visit Barb's cousin and his family.  Very nice city park with 10 electric and water site hookups with a central RV dump station......$12/day. http://neoshomo.org/index.aspx?NID=176  Large grassy fields, but very little shade.  A nice park.  Fees are paid at the City Hall in town, but since we arrived on a Saturday and Monday is a holiday, I guess we'll see.  Probably stay an extra day or two cause who the hell is in a hurry?  We love visiting with Stephen and his family.  We always feel welcome in Neosho and I am excited for the opportunity to photograph their daughter Maddy.  What a cutie!

      We averaged a very nice 14.3 mpg towing for this first segment of our winter journey.  Cheapest diesel was $2.15 in Dexter, MO.  From here we head into Oklahoma, staying along both the shores of Robert S. Kerr Lake on the Arkansas River, as well as either Billy Creek or Cedar Lake in the Ozarks before ending up at Lake Thunderbird just east of Oklahoma City.  We plan on relaxing, shopping, catfishing, and visiting with some very good Air Force retiree friends for a couple of weeks prior to bird hunting season.

"The gladdest moment in human life, methinks, is a departure into unknown lands"

                                                                           Sir Richard Burton

WiFi courtesy of Verizon MiFi

Squirreling Away RV Nuts for Winter

      I thought it might be informative to detail the packing and storage considerations for a winter sojourn of 6 months that takes us across many states and climates.  We're not talking "off the grid doomsday prepper survivalist levels", but pretty simple common sense things that can save time and money down the road.  Our average winter trip lasts 6 months and across anywhere from 8,000-15,000 miles.  This necessitates planning on several logistic levels.  These are in addition to the normal supplies utilized.  This winter our travels will only take us as far south and west as Louisiana and Texas as we save $$$ for Alaska next summer. 

Food
Clothing
Accessories
Auto/RV maintenance supplies

CLOTHING:  We stock about 7-10 day's clothing consisting of underwear, shirts, pants, shorts, hoodies, sweaters, sweatshirts, raingear, rubber boots, and shoes.  Basically whatever you might think you will use on the road.  We limit this to such a short time because laundry is almost always required about every week.  Types and weight of clothing will depend on individual preferences and regional climes.  (This year we will be quail and pheasant hunting in NW Oklahoma and SW Kansas during late November early December so the temps can be quite COLD at times) Shoes also fall into this regional category, depending on use (leisure, hiking, golf, dress, etc.)  Of course we carry all the required laundry equipment including (and don't laugh) a healthy supply of quarters.  Laundry costs on the road can vary from $1.75 to $7.00 a load for wash and anywhere from 50 cents upwards for dryers depending on time.  Always bring your own detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets.

FOOD:  One can try to plan ahead as much as possible, but there are always factors to consider.  Barb and I always take the leftovers from several meals over the summer to pack and freeze for winter.  Also, our garden is planted with the express intent of supplying the winter pantry. We have an additional 43 quart DC powered Engel Cooler/Freezer to assist with this, effectively doubling our freezer storage throughout the trip allowing for hunting, fishing, and regional stocking up.  Of course we stock about an additional 20 pounds pet food.  This year our frozen pantry storage consists of:

10 packs of asparagus
13 packs of corn
6 packs of broccoli
10 packs of tasso (Cajun Bacon)
10 packs of green beans
11 packs of cudighi (Yooper Italian Sausage)
10 packs of whitefish
1 pack of oxtail
6 chicken and beef pastys
      In addition we have stocked frozen meals of Wild Boar Mac n Cheese, Wild Boar Ham, Crab n Corn Bisque, and New Mexico Manicotti.  These meals always provide an easy thaw and cook alternative on travel days as well as defray costs along the way.  Additionally, the pantry is fully stocked with nearly every spice, herb, stock, sauce, and marinade imaginable for my kitchen adventures.

ACCESSORIES:  This is just about everything and anything in between.  There is, of course, all the hunting, fishing, and golf equipment which can be substantial. We stock extra charger cables for electronics, empty water bottles, bucket, several gallons of fresh water, batteries, rolls of Velcro tape, duct tape, Gorilla Glue, and several containers of Flex Seal in both spray and caulk, Rescue 911 Rubberized Spray, Clorox Spray, Armor All, WD-40, and Silicon Spray Lube.  Additionally the on board tool kit contains nearly every screw, fastener, light bulb, LED, and fitting we might need in addition to a portable trouble light, rope, extra filters, an 11 foot telescoping ladder plus another 6 foot step ladder, and a variety of tools including my Milwaukee 18V Fuel cordless drill (a beast on torque).  The idea here is to be able to initially fix or repair any OTR leak or mishap at least temporarily or until a repair facility is reached.  You can't fix everything on your RV on the road, but a good toolkit, sealant, and duct tape goes a long ways.  Another important note:  we carry all our financial and bill paying info with us as well as a complete set of medical records for both Barb, Bones, Roux and I.  We carry all prescription, pharmacy, and doctor info as sometimes cross referencing prescription refills on the road can be a bit of a juggling act.  We have a sheet of contact info for those (with keys) keeping an eye on things while we are gone and mail forwarding points of contact too.  Lastly, we keep our credit card company updated as to our locations to further protect our card securities and ensure acceptance at any stop when needed. 

AUTO RV MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES:   Depending on how long we travel either via miles or distance determines the supplies I stock up on.  For the solar system I stock a gallon of distilled water for the on board battery bank........a NO BRAINER.  I also carry a complete set of multimeter tools and cabling for the battery bank.  For the truck I always stock an additional 3 gallons of ROTELLA Diesel Synthetic Motor Oil, 5 gallons of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), a portable air compressor, water pump for off grid point of contact pumping,  two 6 gallon water jugs, extra 40 gallon water tank with pump, Honda EU 3000 generator, and 2 five gallon 'jerry cans' of gas......diesel and unleaded.  On a longer trip, let's say Alaska or Mexico, I also carry 2 extra spare tires for both the truck and RV plus a versatile RV drive on mount for changing tires.  This is much easier and quicker than a standard jack.   

Summary:  This is the bulk of our 'Winter Pantry' planning and stocking list, most of which remains either in the truck or onboard the RV year-round.  Other items are used both on the road as well as at home during the summers so we have to be sure and swap back and forth where needed.  Prepping advance frozen food supplies saves us considerable $$$ thus saving us for when we want a special dining out experience or just a break from the critters.  The solar powered battery bank and generator backup allows us to boondock off grid for a day or up 10 dayssy whenever/wherever we need to.  We only need the generator for microwave or A/C should the need arise.  We do have to keep an eye on weight due to the light RV frame. We get the entire unit weight once packed once underway.  This is much easier as we do not haul water on travel days until we get very close to our destination.  This is only for toilet flush considerations unless we plan on spending several days in one location.   Inevitably we end up needing something we didn't expect on the road, but not for lack of preparation.  Winter's coming, must get back to my 'squirrel duties'......

"He who would travel lightly must travel light"

                                                                      Antoine de St. Exupery

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