Down to the Wire

The smarty pants I am...I just figured out how to make a new post, including pictures, to my blog from my iphone.
I have been doing some odds and ends shopping, and thought I would write a post to keep you informed. Remember the tent stakes that I fired from my last trip?? Here is a picture of them. This picture actually gives the lip on the stake too much credit. My stakes seem to have even less of a lip.

Now here is a picture of the stakes that I just purchased:

Titanium "ascent" stake

Hopefully the little extra lip on these stakes will keep my tent from blowing off of them in the heavy wind and rain.

I also splurged and got myself a new backpacking pillow. Until now, I have been using an airplane neck pillow. It has worked well, is light weight, but is a little bulky for my pack. Now I will be using the NEMO fillo backpacking pillow. This is a pillow with some padding to make it soft, and has a port to blow it up, making it big enough to keep a comfortable position all night (hopefully). I also got a new digital sports watch. I never wear a watch, but needed something on the trail so I don't have to use my phone so much. The watch has a display that lights up for night time use, is water-resistant, keeps track of the date, and has an alarm clock. Just what I needed for just $12. Thanks, Amazon! 

Last, but not least. I have been educated once again by the Good Badger. Lyme desease on the Appalachian Trail

Though this seems like a scary thing to deal with, I am choosing to use the information to educate myself and better prepare myself. I purchased some Permethrin to help protect myself. I will have some more sent to me every 4 weeks in a drop box.

For all my hiking buddies: Please read the Good Badgers post, and take precautions.

I almost forgot!
I will be using the trailname "Passionflower". (At least until someone on the trail changes it to something more embarrassing, I am sure)
Enjoy my new theme song.
Passionflower, by Jon Gomm