Self Contained Mobile Meal Kit in a Bag

A self contained Mobile Meal Kit in a bag.

Earlier on this blog I described a mobile meal kit we take on airline trips to use when we want to eat meals in our hotel room.

For camping trips it's nice to have a more inclusive kit so I created self contained Mobile Meal Kits to use for barge camping with our quads, camping in our own airplane and traditional car camping trips.

I've put several kits together for each purpose because they're so economical.

You can fit quite a lot in a small shoulder bag.

I start with a thrift store bag with zipper pouches to help organize the contents.

For meal simplicity, we don't include pots or pans. Camp BBQ meats supplement deli entrees.

There are only two of us, so I fill the kit with sets of two: plastic plates, plastic cereal bowls, plastic drinking cups, and plastic coffee mugs. I also include one larger plastic bowl to share salads.

Plastic bags keep things organized.

I organize and store all of the contents in a Ziploc plastic bags.

For utensils we take two steak knives, two soup spoons, two forks, one serving spoon, a multipurpose can opener, clothes pins, and a nut cracker (just in case a tasty crab crosses our path or to open some of those tricky drink bottle caps).

Condiments are extras from fast food restaurants. The small sealed packets are perfect in size and can be replenished easily, 

Mr. Bucket has been with us since the 1980s.

For dish washing I use a bucket. Our Mr. Bucket folds up for easy transport.

I use camp soap and paper towels for washing and drying. That way I don't have to worry about getting towels dry before packing.

For drinking and cooking water we purchase a gallon bottles to refill our smaller drinking bottles.

A small ice chest fills out our travel eating and cooking needs.

Mobile Meal Kit for a total cost of $5.00:

• zippered shoulder bag $2.00 at thrift store
• plastic plates and coffee mugs at thrift store $.25 each
• salad bowl $2.00 from Dollar Store
• plastic cups and cereal bowls (extras from home)
• metal utensils (extras from home)

Cost of other supplies:

• biodegradable camp soap $3.99 (long lasting concentrate)
• BBQ lighter $2.99
• paper towels (free from my kitchen supply)
• Ziploc bags in several sizes (free from my kitchen supply)
• plastic grocery and vegetable bags for trash (free)
• fast food restaurant salt, pepper, sweetener, condiments (free)
• folding camp bucket (he's been in the family for years)

I now have my self-contained Mobile Meal Kit ready for our next adventure where ever it may be. Do you use something similar. What are your tips and tricks? -- Margy

Ogopogo in Powell Lake

You've probably heard of the Loch Ness Monster. Well, here in my neck of the woods we have Ogopogo. Powell Lake in British Columbia is a very deep (about 365 metres or 1200 feet) glacial cut lake. There's even 10,000 year-old trapped sea water at the bottom. No wonder a "monster" is reportedly living in its depths.

Ogopogo's most publicized sighting was in Okanagan Lake at Mission Beach in 1926. He is said to be 20 to 50 feet in length with a serpant shaped body and a horse-like head. Ogopogo has also been seen here in Powell Lake. It's was recorded in an article in the Powell River News as well as Carla Mobley's classic book, Mysterious Powell Lake.


I've had two close encounters with Ogopogo. I haven't actually seen him, but I've felt his presence. The first time was while swimming around our float cabin. I felt a tug on my toes. What else could it have been but Ogopogo "pulling my leg." The second encounter was captured on film. It was his shadow on Goat Island across from my cabin. With evidence like this, I know he must be real. -- Margy