Thursday, July 12, 2007
Packing
Ok, it's not long now and I'm just starting to panic. The big trip is only a couple of weeks away.
I nearly have everything I need, just little things that keep coming to mind that may be of use. Then again can we do without them and keep our rucksacks to the minimum, or to use the new retronym I recently learned "top-loader".
Thinking back about 6 months in a walking shop in London, a shop assistant was trying to convince me that I needed the type of rucksack lots of the Aussies seem to use, the sort with a zip on day pack. And do you know I started to buy into it, I think it's so easy to forget everything you learn about traveling and then next time make the same mistakes. Also, with living in London you see backpackers/travelers all the time and they always have big bags, so it must be the way to do it. Or do we just not see the other backpackers because they don't look so conspicuous.
After reading the following site, which I can't recommend enough, I changed.
http://travelindependent.info/
I'm totally convinced that "light" is the way to travel. So the rucksack I've chosen to take is a Black Karrimor Sabre 45. Yes, 45 litres. I intend on filling it to about 30 litres full with 15 litres spare - kit tends to swell when not packed well. Also it's much easier to find something in a bag which is not packed solid.
I'm sure it's the right move.
Having said that, the above website could be improved or for that matter all the other websites I've seen on the same subject matter, my suggestion is as follows:
Step 1: Get out everything you are planning on taking.
Step 2: Pack it into your rucksack or rucksacks. I've seen people with at a guess 75 litre one on their back and a 20 on their front, borrow these rucksacks for a day if need be. If this is what it takes to carry your stuff so be it.
Step 3: Buy a one day travel card and take a trip around town, rush hour would be a good time.
Step 4: If you have packed jeans take them out and wash them in the shower and hang them up to dry in the shower.
While your jeans are drying and with all the stress you experience/trip around town fresh in your mind you will now almost be in the right frame of mind to start the packing process. After a few days of dodging your dripping jeans in the shower and thinking how bad it would be doing your little trip around town, if it was as hot as Central America and you didn't know where you were going etc you'll be ready to read the advice in the website and understand it.
I nearly have everything I need, just little things that keep coming to mind that may be of use. Then again can we do without them and keep our rucksacks to the minimum, or to use the new retronym I recently learned "top-loader".
Thinking back about 6 months in a walking shop in London, a shop assistant was trying to convince me that I needed the type of rucksack lots of the Aussies seem to use, the sort with a zip on day pack. And do you know I started to buy into it, I think it's so easy to forget everything you learn about traveling and then next time make the same mistakes. Also, with living in London you see backpackers/travelers all the time and they always have big bags, so it must be the way to do it. Or do we just not see the other backpackers because they don't look so conspicuous.
After reading the following site, which I can't recommend enough, I changed.
http://travelindependent.info/
I'm totally convinced that "light" is the way to travel. So the rucksack I've chosen to take is a Black Karrimor Sabre 45. Yes, 45 litres. I intend on filling it to about 30 litres full with 15 litres spare - kit tends to swell when not packed well. Also it's much easier to find something in a bag which is not packed solid.
I'm sure it's the right move.
Having said that, the above website could be improved or for that matter all the other websites I've seen on the same subject matter, my suggestion is as follows:
Step 1: Get out everything you are planning on taking.
Step 2: Pack it into your rucksack or rucksacks. I've seen people with at a guess 75 litre one on their back and a 20 on their front, borrow these rucksacks for a day if need be. If this is what it takes to carry your stuff so be it.
Step 3: Buy a one day travel card and take a trip around town, rush hour would be a good time.
Step 4: If you have packed jeans take them out and wash them in the shower and hang them up to dry in the shower.
While your jeans are drying and with all the stress you experience/trip around town fresh in your mind you will now almost be in the right frame of mind to start the packing process. After a few days of dodging your dripping jeans in the shower and thinking how bad it would be doing your little trip around town, if it was as hot as Central America and you didn't know where you were going etc you'll be ready to read the advice in the website and understand it.
