Here’s my current inventory, totaling roughly 65 pounds (30 kg) by my reckoning. These are boring mundane details, yet potentially interesting in that they make up the entirety of my earthly possessions for the duration of the voyage. Some overkill may be apparent.
CONSUMABLES
- 3 liters of water in Camelback and frame bottles as daily minimum; up to 6 liters additional storage in collapsible Nalgenes
- 0.5 liters naptha
- lots of granola
CLOTHES
- 1 pair pants, convertible to shorts
- 2 pairs bike shorts
- 2 microfiber t-shirts
- 2 bike jerseys
- arm warmers
- leg warmers
- 1 smartwool long sleeve shirt
- 4 pairs microfiber socks
- 2 pairs heavy wool socks
- 3 pairs microfiber underpants
- 1 down vest
- 1 acrylic stocking cap
- 1 hat, packable, wide-brimmed
- 1 pair rain pants
- rain jacket
- bandanna
- helmet
- sunglasses
- 1 pair lightweight bike shoes
- 1 pair combat boots
CAMP STUFF
- 1 person all-season tent
- sleeping bag
- thermarest
- tarp big enough to cover bike
- multi-fuel stove
- stove maintenance kit
- medium size steel pot with lid
- pot-grabbing thing
- 3 cigarette lighters
- 1 box waterproof matches
- water filter
- water purification tablets
- handy wipes
- a spork
MAINTENANCE
- Leatherman
- universal spoke wrench
- frame pump with pressure gauge and foot peg
- 4 extra spokes
- 2 tire levers
- hex key set
- lots of extra hex screws
- 30 tube patches
- 4 spare tubes
- 3 spare tires
- 1 spare chain
- 3 sets spare brake pads
- extra brake and shifter cables
- 1 extra pair bike shoe cleats
- chain lube
- electrical tape
- duct tape
- ziplock gallon bags
GIZMOS
- Kindle
- cell phone with international SIM card
- iPod nano
- tiny waterproof video/still camera
- cycle computer
- headlamp
- wall socket to USB charger (thanks again Ryan)
- new gizmo circuit with rechargeable battery (fingers crossed)
- extra tail light
- backup headlight
- extra AAA batteries
MEDICAL & TOILETRIES
- 1 roll toilet paper
- 2 small bottles Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap, peppermint
- 1 weird-feeling synthetic towel
- toothbrush, paste, floss
- comb
- earplugs
- SPF 30 sunscreen
- DEET bug repellent (avoiding as long as I can)
- lots of kleenex
- small mirror
- cuticle scissors
- tweezers
- throat lozenges
- lip balm
- condoms
- acetaminophen
- triple antibiotic ointment
- prescription drugs for altitude sickness and traveler’s diarrhea (so far not needed, fingers crossed)
- oral rehydration salts
- snake bite kit
- medium size Army medkit, including lots of alcohol swabs, gauze, ace bandage, a splint, etc.
MISCELLANEOUS
- Saint Christopher medal
- Spanish-English dictionary
- Mexico road map
- Lonely Planet guide
- journal
- thin pad of paper for letters
- small bag of pens and pencils
- rock from Discovery Park
- yellow ribbon
- road flare
- combat knife
- 50 ml Glenlivet 12-year single malt scotch whiskey
I love that you have floss AND whiskey! Fun travel times, Elliott. Wish I could meet up with you in Central America.
“[A] towel has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (strag: nonhitchhiker) discovers that a hitchhiker has his towel with him, he will automatically assume that he is also in possession of a toothbrush, washcloth, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet-weather gear, space suit etc., etc. Furthermore, the strag will then happily lend the hitchhiker any of these or a dozen other items that the hitchhiker might have accidentally “lost.”. What the strag will think is that any man that can hitch the length and breadth of the Galaxy, ruff it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through and still know where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.” You, Elliott, are just that.
Thanks for the apt quote. I’ve been thinking that the bandana is to the bike tourer as the towel is to the galactic hitchhiker. With a bandana you can tie off your pant leg so it doesn’t get stuck in your chain, line your helmet to improve fit and absorb sweat, cover sunburns, bandage a wound, create a makeshift gas mask, blindfold yourself for sleeping near headlights, blow your nose, wash a pot, clean a drive train, secure something to your frame, or cushion fragile cargo.
When you get to Guatemala, and want friendly faces and a family, south of Taxisco on CA2, if you are going that way, the next cross road is 16/6.(at the crossroad is an Esso gas station.) If you go north on 16 a little ways, you pass Barrio El Campamento, you come to the little town of Chiquimulilla, Santa Rosa. There, is a wonderful family who would greet you and give you a roof for a rest. Patricia, their the daughter/sister is here in Seattle. Her family would be happy to show their hospitality to you.
Much obliged! A place to stay is always a big help. I’ll let you know when I’m closer and have a better sense of my route through that country.