9 Volts and Rising

So it's been a minute since my last Costa Rican update aside from my short updates on my Fund Me page.  Confession: I've just been gathering up my supplies little by little these last two weeks (I'm a big techie nerd on the inside).  I'm just a few items short of completing my list, but with some items I've come to realize how truly independent one can be if they wanted to be.  For example, I purchased a GoalZero solar panel and charger.  Not only does this let me power some electronics with the help of Mother Nature, but I can also charge up AA and AAA batteries to also use to run other items.  I add that with my solar powered UV water sterilization pen, and I'm just a poster child for solar energy.

Something that I've come to learn that I can also power with the help of this panel is my GoPro Silver camera.  If you don't what this is I highly recommend you check out their site: www.gopro.com  In short, it's pretty much an indestructible HD camera that you can use for all kinds of adventures.  I wasn't for the idea at first, but since this journey is not one I do everyday, I decided that to share it I would have to get it on tape... or in this case, SD card.  The plus side for me is that again, it's a pretty tough object as long as it remains in its water proof case.  The only setback I see is that it can only take up to 64gb on a micro SD card; so I've had to buy a few of those since I'm not taking my computer along with me to upload the video.  If you're clumsy like me or want a camera that can take a beating while recording great quality footage, check out the GoPro website and see what works for you.

A quick side note: I feel the need to say this to just clarify that my fundraising campaign isn't to raise money for this equipment; this gear is for more long term use than just this trip, so I would never find it fair to ask people to help me buy things that I intend to use more than once.  I'm sure my credit card company is throwing a party every time my card slides through those purchase machines though.  The only funds I'm trying to raise are the ones needed to get to Costa Rica, to register and keep myself afloat nutritionally speaking and if there's any extra, to donate the rest to the program.  Now back to the tech stuff...

Besides my techie side being completely blown away and amazed, it didn't hit me until I got home with my booty that I realized how much space I save with summer backpacking gear.  I prefer to backpack and camp in the fall/winter seasons because of the cooler air; the problem with that is that your equipment takes up significantly more room in your pack.  My new sleeping bag, inflatable pillow, head lamp and mosquito netting take up about a fifth of my 45lbs pack.  It works great for me because now I do have room for the clothes I've yet to buy, my camel pack and other necessities.

Since I'm bringing you up to speed on equipment and such, I'll try to stick to that topic instead of bouncing around to others.  At the end of day, my list of provisions has somewhat represented my whole way of being for this trip, ever evolving and growing.  If anything has come from this prepping phase of my journey, it's this: with technology and creativity, one can be on their own for a substantial amount of time.  I'm not necessarily talking about being Tom Hanks in Castaway and towing a volleyball around, but with the right equipment and preparation, independence can be had.  It's just a matter of how you balance your imagination and creativity with your needs.

As much as I tend to rag on technology and essentially trying to disconnect myself from it when I go on my journeys, it's that same technology now (among other things) that's allowing me to share my stories and adventures with others.  For example, I need a way to charge the batteries for my headlamp... BAM!  Solar panel saves the day!  I'm too clumsy and my pack takes too much of a beating for me to even ponder the idea of buying a $1000+ camera... BAM!   The GoPro.  The list goes on...  What amazes me about it all though, is that it's simply amazing how much one can do with something just as simple as the sun.

What I struggle with most with technology honestly is the idea of always being "wired" or just "on".  In this day and age where it's all Facebook and Twitter all the time, it's nice to get away from things, whether you're in the middle of the jungle doing volunteer work or in the Tibetan mountains meditating.  I've never liked the idea of always having to be connected and such; over these last few years though, I equated technology with just that: a manner to communicate and socialize.  However THIS time around, I wont be using technology as a means to socialize and communicate, but more so to record and catalog my journey, all the while relying on all my gadgets to help eventually tell the story of this trip.  I can't lie, being away from our wired and instant messaging way of being brings me a bit of relief.  Sometimes we all have to get away from our electronically commissioned social worlds and enjoy what life has to offer us in the flesh.