National Preppers & Survivalist EXPO Review

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National Preppers & Survivalist EXPO Review

Downtown Nashville was host to the National Preppers & Survivalist EXPO over the weekend at the Expo Center. After a lengthy drive to Music City from our eastern retreat, we were anxious to view the show.  Having timed our 10:30 arrival for just after the crowds, we were surprised to see a huge crowd inside the gates of the Expo Center and cars slowly traveling up and down the lots in search of a good parking spot.

I was piloting our E350 War-Wagon through the fray when I noticed a line of perhaps a few thousand people stretching across the lot and around one of the largest buildings in the complex. After a few choice words about the length of the line, we noticed a forgotten area of the parking lot and were successful in parking  the van.

We weren't parked too far from the full-sized outdoor display of Triton Shelter Technologies' beautiful underground shelter. Glancing back at the line as we made our way to the shelter's entrance, I realized that the long line was for a gun show going on in the next building at the same time as the NPS Expo. The day was getting better already.

Triton's shelter was an eye opener! What a nice job they've done building an underground RV. As I stood inside the center living area I wondered why I even live on the surface of the earth when I could have one of these.

We made it out of the shelter without spending any money and cut through the gun show line to the entrance of the prepper expo. After filling out the raffle forms we started our tour of the show.

There were far fewer people in the prepper show than outside in the gun show ticket line, so we had both the room and the time to get a good look at all the booths and exhibits. There were the booths you'd expect with knives, packs, food, seeds, water purifiers and other typical prepper gear, as well as a couple more underground shelter dealers. My wife found some tomato seeds she'd been hoping to find and some reusable canning lids all at a very reasonable price. I was able to meet some local preppers and learn about some of the local groups, too.

We were able to take it all in in about 2 hours time. Unfortunately, the public address system being used by the guest speakers wasn't the greatest, and they could not be heard from the last row of seats where we sat for about 15 minutes straining to hear what was being said. It was clear that all of the scheduled talks would have had the same acoustical problem throughout the day. In the two hours we had spent there, the crowd had become a bit bigger and getting around was becoming an issue with so many people standing in the aisles taking it all in.

For us, it was time to go. On the way out we passed the Doomsday Preppers casting booth and noticed that there doesn't seem to be any shortage of preppers who want to show the world what they have and where they keep it.

For those who took the time to set up a booth and work the show, thank you! We both enjoyed it. Hopefully it can be better planned next time to include a meeting room with a suitable public address system for the keynote speakers who deserve a bit better than what was there.However, all said it was a great show. The skies were sunny and clear making it a perfect day, and with free admission and only $5.00 to park it was very affordable. I'll be looking forward to next year's show.

As we walked back to the parking lot, we noticed the gun show line was still as long as it had been earlier. I was grateful that guns were not an item we were lacking in.

Gaye Levy's Backdoor Survival has a good article posted today: 

12 Tips to Use It Up, Wear It Out and Make It Do

http://www.backdoorsurvival.com/?utm_source=BD+News+Flash&utm_campaign=44f2390a67-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

 

The points made are well taken. I often wonder about some of the things I have that I am "saving" for later. Looking back, I should have been using those things all along. Like many other preppers, there have been times I had extra money and other times money has been tight. Either way, I have always sought to buy the best product available for the task. Well maybe not always but at least in the last 30 years or so. I learned early in life how purchasing "cheap" stuff always proves to be a waste of money.   

Most of the tools and equipment I have will last forever and are indeed the "last" of that item I should ever have to purchase. This however, has not stopped me from buying two or three of the same or similar items. I'll always have a family member or friend that needs or can use my extras. I think most preppers are like this too, but you can let me know if I'm wrong.

One item that I use daily is our Berkey water filter. It's the bigger sized counter-top drip model. We use it to filter all our water no matter where it comes from. It's designed to filter muddy slop and provide clean drinking water but actually adding slop to the tank would shorten the life of the filters.

This is why we keep clean food grade 5 gallon pails around the cabin. Any rainwater collected can be pre-filtered to nearly clear before actually placing it into the filter tank. Pollen and other dust will separate and either float at the top or settle to the bottom of the pail and can easily be removed before the water is run through the filter. 

The same method can be used whenever you're forced to use creek, lake, or river water. Let the pail rest overnight and allow the sediment in the water to separate and settle. Allowing the pail to sit two or three nights will make the water even more clear and be less harsh on the life of your filters.

While the Berkey tanks are clearly made to last, the filters will only last when treated kindly.

So be kind to your water filter and make it last a long time. Only add the cleanest water you can find.

More later. Thanks for taking the time to look here.

F.J. 

  

 

    

  

   

I wish I'd worn my Muckmasters!

Today, I went down to the river to see how the banks have fared over the winter. We have had a few good storms, and the river has gone over flood stage twice since fall. I also wanted to check on the canoe. I had a bicycle combination lock securing the canoe to a tree and forgot the combination. Last week I called my son, since he has always had a keen ability to remember these types of things. He told me where the bolt cutters where in the shed. So, after retrieving the bolt cutters I headed out. It was a sunny day here, about 60 degrees, and quite nice!

When I got to the head of the path that led to the canoe, I decided to drop the bolt cutters and continue down the trail that runs parallel to the river so I could view the far bank and see how much work it's going to be before I can do any paddling this year. The path itself was riddled with broken branches and windfall from the winter's storms. In years past we have just tossed them off to the side, but this year they look a bit larger in size. I might have to bring the chainsaw down. Since the leaves have yet to begin to sprout, my line of sight was clear through the thicket and I saw several trees that had fallen from the far bank and across the river. Further on down I saw a very large oak that also had fallen from the far bank. I'd bet it was 30 inches at the base and not an easy one to move.

Enjoying the bushwhacking, I continued to the path's end and cut through the brush to the river. The beaver dam that had been there last fall was gone, washed away with one of the winter's storms. This explained why the water looked to be lower. I decided to head back, following along the river to the canoe. The ground was a sloppy mess. It was slow going just to keep my balance. I went further along the river and saw where it had taken a large tree from the bank that we used to fish alongside of. Water is a powerful force. There was not a sign of that tree ever being there.

Carefully stepping on branches and rocks, I kept along the river and found animal tracks in the mud. It was clear a coyote had just come through, and there were fresh deer tracks, as well. I had been hoping to find bear tracks but didn't come up on any. It still may be a little early for the bears.

It wasn't until I turned to go back to the trail through the thicket that I realized  this would have been the day to break in my Muckmaster boots. I was only three steps into the briars between the river and the trail and found that my work boots were sinking down into the muck up to my ankles.  I took aim at a fallen branch to step on with my next move, but as I did my boot lace caught on a briar and the step fell short, landing in the muck as well. The step was, however, a success in untying my boot. With both feet now planted firmly in the muck, a loose boot lace wrapped in a briar, and my socks acting like sponges drawing water towards my toes,  I thought about how my Muckmaster boots didn't have any laces and came up over my calves. Fortunately, there was a tree both close and large enough for me to keep my balance on while I pulled my boots free from the muck and untangled my bootlace from the briar. At least I had remembered to wear my leather gloves, otherwise there would have been blood, as well. I was able to get free and back to the trail without any further adventure.

After finding the bolt-cutters right where I left them, I went down the path to where the canoe was left last fall chained to a tree. As good fortune would have it, the tree with the canoe was still there. The cutters worked fine, and I quickly had the canoe free and was turning it over to drain the water that it had been collecting throughout the winter. Not that it really mattered since my socks were wet anyway, but I did try not to pour the canoe water out on my boots.  Here again I realized that, had I worn my Muckmaster boots, my feet would have been dry even if I had.

I pulled the canoe up the bank and dragged it to the cabin for a good inspection and cleaning which I scheduled for sometime in the next week or so. I didn't want to work too hard, and besides, I needed to dry my feet.

I wish I'd worn my Muckmasters!

http://www.muckbootsandshoes.com/?gclid=CMT1mJnz9bUCFRGqnQodCTsADw

How to catch wild pigs!

I found this article posted on BIN this morning. I was actually interested to  know how it was done.

http://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-conservative/2013/03/do-you-know-how-to-catch-wild-pigs-2591292.html