Planning a camping trip

[Eva Elisabeth]

What a pity you won't be allowed to have a camp fire, otherwise you could barbecue all these bothersome beasties and thus as well solve the food problem...
Have you already given some thought to:
a) Shaving? If JWB had shaved he probably would have used his pocket knife...Anyway, will you grow a moustache in advance?

b)Booth's boots? (Ouch, is this just for me a tongue-twister? Say it quickly ten times and then, please, tell me I'm not the only one!)
Dr. Mudd had to cut off JWB's boot, so I'd assume this one was junk afterwards. And most likely his broken leg didn't fit in a boot anymore. So - what did he wear then? And what will be your footwear?

[BettyO]

We do have routine garden spiders that have a leg span of about three-inches. We also have poisonous hermit and black widow spiders.

Booth's Boots, Booth's Boots, Booth's Booths....

Yep - a true tongue twister!

Spiders?!?! OUCH!!! And yes, I've seen those wood spiders - OMG! I'd much rather bunk with snakes!

Yes you do get kinda rank after several days. I don't even want to describe myself after 5 days in 100 plus degree heat at Manassas for the 125th 25 years ago.... When I got home, I couldn't wait to get into the tub - stayed there for at least an hour and then went to bed, fell asleep and didn't wake up until 4 PM the next evening!

[LincolnMan]

For reasons of safety- a cell phone?

[L Verge]

Speaking of the Booth/boot tongue-twister: My gift shop manager snuck one over on us and stocked socks with Booth's photo and "Give Booth the Boot" imprinted on the toe portions of each. Do you want a pair, Dave, to keep those tootsies warm?

Eva - the boot that was cut off ended up under the bed at Dr. Mudd's. Someone at the good doctor's house fashioned a toeless work boot for him to wear. Start shopping around at thrift stores, Dave, to see what you can properly destroy for the sake of accuracy.

As for the cell phone - 'Fraid not. Maybe Dave can practice a secret whistle similar to what Thomas Jones used to warn of his approach. How loud can you whistle, Dave?

Can we turn this into a reality show - or at least send it viral on youtube?

[Dave Taylor]

Thanks for the info on the spiders, Laurie. As if I wasn't already apprehensive about all the creepy crawlies.

I would bring my charged cell phone but I would keep it off and put it in the first aide kit for an emergency only.

With regards to Booth's footwear, I believe Dr. Mudd gave him an army shoe for his broken leg. So yes I would have two different shoes, and I'm not sure how happy I'll be not being able to take the shoe off.

[L Verge]

Now that you mention it, I do recall some sources saying that Mudd fashioned a shoe from an army boot. I remember questioning at the time how the good doctor happened to have army boots just laying around the house.

I also gave one of the spiders the wrong name. Instead of hermit spiders, they are brown recluse. They especially love to hide under leaves, pine needles, piles of wood, etc. We took one of my Sunday School classes on a camping trip many long years ago, and one of the chaperones got bitten on the finger by a recluse. The ER doctor ended up having to cut the man's wedding ring off because his hand swelled so badly.

Sufficiently scared yet??? We also forgot to mention skunks... We have lots of them in Southern Maryland (two-legged as well as four-legged). Don't head back towards Zekiah Swamp at any time because a plant known as skunk cabbage grows there. You can guess why it goes by that name.

[LincolnMan]

It might be too cold in April for spiders?

[Gene C]

Dave, you've taken a lot of good natured teasing about this camping trip. You're a good sport, hope it works out well.

[Dave Taylor]

Dave, you've taken a lot of good natured teasing about this camping trip. You're a good sport, hope it works out well.

I dish it out enough, so I better be able to take it. I decided to share my plan so that I couldn't chicken out of it. I may have to delay it if the weather is not agreeable, though. We'll see when the time comes.

[Jenny]

We'll push you from the box at Ford's, shove you on a horse in Baptist Alley, and then arrange for a crazy D.C. driver to spook your horse somewhere on this side of Anacostia.

I have a horse - it could be arranged! (Although I doubt the city would be very happy to have Bandit's poop by Ford's Theater and then down the escape route with all the tourists. Ha!)

Speaking of horses, saddle bags can be easy to carry on your shoulders in lieu of a backpack. I would think John and Davey could have held onto their saddle bags to hold supplies? I can't think of anything else from tack that would be useful except the reins to tie things together like Betty said.

I'd definitely take a water purifier like Gene suggested. No sense in you getting "beaver fever" out there!

[Dave Taylor]

Though Jill made a good argument against saddle bags, I am one of those with the belief that they would have had them. Though I have no evidence to support it, I though that maybe that's where Booth's mystery revolvers came from and where Booth's extra hat was.

Water purification is definitely a requirement for me.

[Jim Garrett]

Dave, as I have volunteered before, I can arrange to have your leg broken.

How about authentic style undergarments. I think the boys might have at least kept the saddles to use for pillows. I have an 1870s McClellan saddle I can put to you disposal, along with tack and saddlebags.

Do you have a Rio Grand and a pearl handled folding knife?

Don't forget to pack your adrenalin. About the time Lindsey brings yoy newspapers, you will have to turn in your adrenalin for angst.

[RJNorton]

Good morning, Dave. Laurie just sent me this and asked me to post the following message:

Alert for Dave! It has just been discovered that all of the creatures featured here can be found in Southern Maryland and especially like pine trees. Mama Verge

CLICK HERE.

[Houmes]

I also gave one of the spiders the wrong name. Instead of hermit spiders, they are brown recluse. They especially love to hide under leaves, pine needles, piles of wood, etc. We took one of my Sunday School classes on a camping trip many long years ago, and one of the chaperones got bitten on the finger by a recluse. The ER doctor ended up having to cut the man's wedding ring off because his hand swelled so badly..

Don't lose sleep over a Brown recluse spider. In a fascinating 2002 entomology journal article, over 2,000 of them were found in a Kansas home where a family of four was living. No one got bit. If you're ever in the area, you could probably visit the house: 8415 Clare Rd, Lenexa, KS.

[LincolnMan]

After looking that those pictures Laurie- I think I'd stay home.