A S.T.E.A.M. CATEGORY
RHYME TIME
ONLY HALF SHOWED UP
BACKPACKING
AROUND EUROPE
400

Textile engineering includes developing new types of these to protect wounds

BANDAGES

400

The correct plane trip

RIGHT FLIGHT

400

Only half the U.S. Senate showed up for the vote, this many members

50

400

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" says to carry one of these everywhere to dry you

A TOWEL

400

These people who seek independence from Spain get their name from the old region of Vasconia

THE BASQUE

800

Scientifically, the one that's part of your hand is the metacarpus; the tree is Nypa fruticans

PALM

800

A hex even more heinous than the last

A WORSE CURSE

800

The meeting of Ivy League school presidents only attracted half of them, so this many

FOUR

800

Be sure to have a waterproof container for your bedroll, AKA this 2-word portable bed

A SLEEPING BAG

800

Belgium is made up of Brussels, Wallonia & this Flemish region

FLANDERS

1200

How far apart your eyes are is one metric of FRS, short for this tech system used by social media & law enforcement

FACIAL RECOGNITION SYSTEM

1200

A cacophonous mob

A LOUD CROWD

1200

DAILY DOUBLE

We planned on fourscore guests, but only half showed up, so now this many have to eat all the food

1200

Depending on your size & planned exertion, figure 1.5-2.5 pounds of food or 2,500-4,500 of these units per person per day

CALORIES

1200

Hungarian people call themselves this, which is Hungarian for Hungarian

MAGYAR

1600

In math the vertical "rise" of a line is divided by the horizontal "run" to calculate this measure 

SLOPE

1600

Mistake caused by Gandalf's walking stick

STAFF GAFFE

1600

Zooey Deschanel appeared without her musical collaborator M. Ward & now the band's just called this

SHE

1600

You can save space in the pack by using a multi-tool, like this one named for a national military branch

A SWISS ARMY KNIFE

1600

DAILY DOUBLE

At almost 10 miles, Samaria Gorge on this largest Greek island is the longest gorge in Europe

2000

This American artist said his painting "Hotel Window" was "lonelier than I'd planned it"

EDWARD HOPPER

2000

A presidential "no" in Ecuador's capital

A QUITE VETO

2000

Half the jurors bailed on our production of a Reginald Rose play; guess we'll retitle it this

SIX ANGRY MEN

2000

This company named for a region of Argentina sells lightweight black hole bags

PATAGONIA

2000

The Sea of Marmara connects these 2 important Turkish straits

THE BOSPOROUS AND DARDANELLES