The halfway point of the Draplindustries Design Co. “50 Days On The Road” Fall 2003 North American Tour was reached as the sun came up this fine Thursday. All downhill from here. Lots of miles to go. So lucky to be out here doing this. The best. Thankful for every safe mile completed. Hopeful for the rest.

So like any good adventurer�at the height of the wind-whipped excitement�we thought we’d take stock of inventory, just to make sure “everything was cool” for the next 25 big ones on the road.

MOBILE COMMAND UNIT GEAR LIST:

01. Big the Passat. 2001 VW Passat GLX V6, “Like New” meats, even.
02. Blankie.
03. Pillow.
04. Apple iBook 867mHz 14” ‘puter. Ram maxed out, slow as fuck.
05. 40gb iPod. 6461 songs, and proud of it.
06. Canon Digi-Elph s400.
07. Canon Digi-Elph extra battery.
08. Canon Elan II-E SLR, 28mm-80mm lens.
09. Shitload of Fuji film. All speeds, Reala and Target grade.
10. 1-Shitty pair of sunglasses that do more damage than good.
11. Fender DG10 Acoustic Guitar, gigantically out of tune.
12. Loyal backup, to be called upon if things get ugly.
13. Blessings from my mom, dad, gal and lots of nice people all over.
14. Pocket full of loot.
15. Leatherman all-purpose tool.
16. Four pairs of Saucony Jazz kicks. “Clean feet are happy feet.”
17. Beat Down Cabela’s jean jacket. Larger-than-average size.
18. Samsung Something-or-other flip phone. Drops calls like a champ.
19. Skil saw carrying case for all pertinent cords.
20. 80gb external hard drive.
21. Gravis shoebox full of DDC promo paraphenilia.
22. Gravis backpack for city/daytrip/”man-tique-ing missions”
23. Couple of dirty mesh-backed ball caps to battle harmful rays.
24. Moleskin journal for client relations/records of broken promises.
25. Tweezers.
26. Big-ass pile of charging apparatus’, as well as a briar patch or cords.
27. Carhartt yard jacket for fowl weather.
28. Dirty laundry. Lots of it.
29. Pens, pencils, x-acto blades, a ruler, an eraser.
30. Big lump of twine, in case we have to “tie something down.”
31. Credit cards with big limits, just in case.
32. Copy of the U.S. Constitution.
33. Copy of the Declaration of Independence.
34. One worn-to-hell road map. Dog ears/scribbled directions a-plenty.
35. One Apple mouse that more or less sucks.
36. Bottles of cool water.
37. Hygiene maintenance supplies. “Like New.”
38. Dust from West Texas.
39. Various memories.
40. A couple of white hairs from dad.
41. Remnant of life-saving provisions; cookies from mom.
42. Socks, underoos, t’s, shirts and a pair of 501’s.
43. Two Nixon watches. The leather one stinks to high heaven.
44. Little pair of binoculars that don’t do much, but look cool.
45. Snot rag.
46. Piss bottle. In case you can’t stop due to “Making good time.”
47. Various pieces of emphemera/site literature/periodicals.
48. One blue plastic container that serves as a suitcase of sorts.
49. One Aaron James Draplin, fully-clothed.
50. An iron will.

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The day’s highlights include:

01. Peanut fields.
02. Jefferson Davis Memorial…where he was caught, ending the Civil War.
03. Trashy Firework stands.
04. Cool “Deep South” air.

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Tomorrow:

01. A visit to the birthplace of Jimmy Carter.
02. Into Alabama. “‘Bama,” as we’ll be saying as we haul ass.
03. Andersonville, where the Rebs held 45,000 Union POW’s, allowing an unfortunate 11,000 to perish due to starvation, bad water and disease. Yikes.
04. More smooth sailing pver and down toward New Orleans, that “Big Easy.”
05. A little deal called a birthday. Snuck up on me. 31 big ones, and many more, you bet!