One of the things I’ve agonized over when planning a trip, especially a kind I haven’t been on before, is knowing what to pack. I know from backpacking how to pack lightly, but this trip will have some important differences: no food and cooking gear, additional tech gear, the need to be presentable to other human beings (for when I want food), etc.
With my shakedown cruise I got a pretty good confirmation that I was on the right track, so here’s what I’m planning to bring on the big trip, and how I’ll be packing it:
On my person – utter essentials:
T-shirt
Jeans
Shoes
Helmet
Riding jacket
Gloves
iPhone
Pocket camera
Keys
Wallet: cash, debit/ATM card, papers
Tactical Bail Out Bag (on seat behind me) health and safety:
Good camera, charger
Frogg Toggs (rain gear)
Rain cover for rear rack
Hat
20oz bottle of spare gas
Swiss army knife
Tire repair kit
First aid kit
Bug dope
Sun screen
Soap
Meds
Toothbrush, paste
Flashlight
Compass
GPS
Paper road map(s)
Pet carrier (under the seat) clothing:
T-shirts 3
Shirt
Shorts
Underwear 3
Socks 3 pair
Hankies 3
Camp shoes
Towel
Detergent (for doing laundry 2x)
Plastic bags
Tie downs (for scooter on ferry)
Rear rack – camp gear:
Tent
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Pillow
Tire pump
Bungees
Glove bucket – etc:
Lock
iPhone charger
Water
Extra bungees
As you can see, there’s a kind of general logic to what goes where, which is helpful when trying to find things, or to figure out where to put something when repacking along the way. I’m a fairly “relaxed” person at home, but when I’m on the road like this, out of necessity I become very anal-retentive about keeping things orderly, to make sure I don’t leave anything behind.
A nice thing about the packing arrangement I’ve worked out here is that I don’t have to strap anything down on the seat behind me. This makes it easier to get things out of the pet carrier if needed, and – more importantly – allows me to pop the seat up to refuel. Plus, it leaves more room for me on the seat.