What is in my rucsac -- 31 December 1999

• Clothing
  • pants
    1. Quickdry nylon travel pants -- bought, very expensive. Should last a long time.
    2. Black medium weight wool slacks -- bought on trip, thrift shop ($4), might not last through trip.
    3. Cotton walking shorts -- had, hand me down, might not last through trip.
    4. Light polypro long underwear bottoms -- had, expensive, might not last through trip.
    5. (Loose cotton pants) -- bought, thrift store ($3), currently in storage.
    • The travel pants are comfortable, have a couple of extra or secret pockets, look decent, and are supposed to work in many climates -- but i have found that they don't work in chilly or cold weather
      they do pack small though!. The wool pants i bought at a thrift store in Budapest and are great, i wear them every day, they look pretty sharp too. I found the cotton pants to be redundent and not useful and so i left them in Bonn.
  • shirts
    1. Cotton rugby shirt --bought, thrift shop ($3), should last through trip.
    2. Midweight polypro turtleneck --had, expensive, should last through trip.
    3. Pendelton Wool button down shirt --had, thrift shop ($11), should last a long time...
    4. 3 comfortable, plain, cotton T-shirts
    5. Lightweight polypro T-shirt --had, expensive, should last through trip.
    • The rugby shirt is comfortable and versitle, looks decent, and works in many climates. I threw in the Pendelton at the last second and it has been great and it looks sharp too! I don't use the polypro T shirt as much as i do when hiking, but it is still nice to have, and it packs small -- however, 4 T-shirts is a bit opulant!
  • shoes & socks
    1. Walking shoes --Salomon 'approach' shoes, had, gift, should last through trip.
    2. Birkenstock sandles with back straps --bought on trip, at factory ($20), should last a long time.
    3. 4 pair ankle-high socks --cotton/polypro mix
    4. 6 pair wool (or wool/polypro mix) socks
    5. 1 pair wool liner socks
    • Comfortable, durable walking shoes are a must, but having a second shoe to give your feet a rest is equally important. The Salomons can manage hiking as well as the city -- and they are super popular over here! I can walk around town all day in the Birks with back straps! I could leave the ankle socks behind in the winter...
  • briefs & hankies
    1. 4 pair cotton briefs
    2. 1 pair polypro briefs
    3. Speedo bathing suit
    4. 5 hankerchiefs
    5. 1 bandana
    • Throughout Europe this is the only bathing suit men wear and it is also useful as an extra pair of briefs. When clean, all the briefs and hankerchiefs live in a mesh bag in my pack. When dirty, they live in a small plastic laundry bag.
  • warm layering
    1. Fleese vest --had before, expensive, should last a long time.
    2. Alpaca sweater vest --being knitted on trip, should last a long time.
    3. Light acrillic sweater --borrowed on trip, on last legs.
    4. Light pull over wind jacket --bought, thrift store ($3), should last a long time.
    • I borrowed the sweater for Southern Europe while my parka is in storage. Cheryln is still knitting the alpaca. The fleese vest is fantastic. I wear it everyday everywhere.
  • hats & gloves
    1. Cricket hat --sun hat
    2. Neoprene ear band
    3. Lightweight polypro gloves
    4. Light wool watch cap
    • Cricket hat came from a market in England, only about 10 bucks -- unfortunatly it doesn't work in the rain very well... a flaw.
  • the big outer things
    1. Large nylon rain poncho
    2. (Heavy winter parka)
    • The poncho, which i have had since 1977, is an amazingly useful item. I've used it as a tent, a groundcloth, a way to lock the and/or hid the packs, and many other things, as well as a poncho, of course.. I bought the coat in Budapest, it is currently in Bonn while we are in Southern Europe. This big heavy warm coat has an added advantage of giving the 'sleeping bag' effect -- it protects you and makes you feel more at home.
• Bed & bathroom
  • the bed
    1. fleece camping pillow & cinch strap
    2. (sheet bag)
    3. flannel boxers
    • The pillow seems like a luxury, but it is very important -- it adds both physical and emotional comfort. Cheryln made them especially for travelling. They pack in a tight roll. It also gives a bit of the 'sleeping bag' effect -- it a bit of home that we take with us and get to experince every night -- besides, it is light. The boxers were a comprimise, between a short or long pajama. I wish i had brought both and kept one in storage while i used the other. It has not always been comfortable sleeping in shorts in the winter... so i sleep in my long underwear. The sheet bag also gives this effect and we miss it when we don't have it. Hostels in many northern European countries charge extra for linen, so it is a good thing to carry, but it is in storage in Bonn while we are in Southern Europe. Bringing a sleeping bag is always a big decision. It is heavy and VERY bulky (we would've had to take larger packs!) but it is a bit of home to cuddle into every night and it lends a bit of flexibilty to where you can sleep (people's floor, camping, etc.). So far we have not really missed it.
  • toiletries
    • =tooth bag=
      1. toothbrush
      2. toothpaste
      3. dental floss
      4. 3 extra tooth brush heads in a ziploc
      • My toothbrush case broke, and it was too big anyway, i think the idea would be one of those things that just cover the head.
    • =shower bag=
      1. soap in large case
      2. shampoo in small bottle
      3. extra soap in a ziploc
      4. hair scrubbee
      5. (nailclippers)
      • I often have a extra bar of soap for when the current one runs out. My soap case is a bit too big, i would go for a smaller one if i could. I decided not to bring nailclippers and it was a mistake. It is too much trouble to use Cheryln's every week -- so i will need to buy some soon.
    • =shave bag=
      1. comb
      2. elect beard trimmer
      3. extra batteries for trimmer in a ziploc
      4. trimmer accesories & comb
      5. (flywheel razor)
      • Since i now have a full beard i left the razor in Bonn.
    • =other places=
      1. large towell --waffle type
      2. 25 extra wash ups
      3. laundry soap in a ziploc
      4. sink stopper
      5. sock
      6. toilet paper roll in a ziploc
      7. toilet paper handful in a ziploc
      8. toilet paper handful
      • Each 'bag' is a small stuff sack which is ready to be grabbed. The towells are the waffle type, organic cotton and are wonderful. They are light and compact -- they take up as much room as the tiny ratty towells that some people carry, but are big and luxurious. No traveller would be without their towell -- they are very useful. I carry a wad of toilet paper and some handiwipes in a ziploc at all times, just in case. I keep a roll in the pack to replentish it and i generally keep a handful in my pocket too!
• Tools
  • the 'EVERYTHING BAG'
    1. first aid kit in a really tiny stuff sack with bandaids, asprin, first aid cream
    2. pocket pliers w/knife
    3. fork & spoon
    4. flashlight
    5. 2 extra batteries for flashlight in a ziploc
    6. 4 foam ear plugs in a ziploc
    7. motion sickness arm bands --Have only one, i lost the other.
    8. 4 wash ups in a ziploc
    9. duct tape
    10. cloth (medical) tape -- Very useful for repairs, especially on clothing.
    11. small sewing kit in a ziploc
    12. emergency chocolate in a ziploc
    13. 2 power bars
    14. chapstick
    15. a meter or so of light rope
    16. half a dozen rubber bands and pony tail holders in a ziploc
    17. 'business' cards with our address on them
    • The EVERYTHING BAG is a small stuff sack of essentials that goes everywhere (i also carry it at home!) I absolutly could not live without it.
  • other tools
    1. mechanical pencil & extra lead
    2. 3 pens
    3. small notepad
    4. palmtop computer
    5. 8 extra batteries for palmtop in a ziploc
    6. pocket kinfe - small -- (Swiss army 'classic')
    7. pocket binoculers
    8. sunglasses in fleece pouch
    9. watch with light and alarm
    • A good watch with an alarm and light is essential. The tiny 'classic' knife has proven more useful than the larger ones. A handy pencil in and notepad is a must. The palmtop is execptionally useful for keeping track of addresses and expenses and such.
• Documents
  • money belt
    1. passport
    2. cash from previous and future countries
    3. important info -- in a ziploc
    • The important info is copies of documents and credit cards, numbers to call when cards are lost or stolen and such.
  • secret pocket in backpack
    1. copy of passport
    2. debit card - second bank
    3. other ID's and important data
  • accessible pocket in backpack
    1. atm receipts
    2. used tickets
    3. data notebook -- lists and notes and expeses and phone numbers etc
    4. ID cards
    5. journal notebook
    6. misc address
    7. misc brochures and other souvineers
    8. misc info
    9. misc maps
    10. souvineer coins
    • The coins and maps make the best souvineers!
  • wallet
    1. copy of passport
    2. debit card - main
    3. ID cards
    • A second ID card other than the passport is often requried, a drivers licence works. Also i have a student ID, hostel card and usually a discount railcard for the country we are in!
  • Cheryln carries
    1. airplane ticket -- in a ziploc
    2. debit card - main --emergency second copy
    3. train pass -- in a ziploc
  • other
    1. book - guide --Rough Guide: Europe
    2. book - guide --Official HI Hostels
    3. (book - dictionary --German)
    4. (book - dictionary --Polish)
    5. (book - guide --Lonely Planet Eastern Europe)
    6. (book - large journal)
    • The books we do not currently need are in storage in Bonn -- as are many old maps, recepits, brocures and tickets...
• Packing materials
  • main bags
    1. backpack Mountainsmith Bugaboo -- had, expensive, should last a long time
    2. large pocket that straps onto outside of backpack
    3. large fanny pack -- had, expensive, should last a long time
    4. money belt -- had, gift from Barbara from Guatmala, should last through trip
    5. wallet -- bought on trip, should last a long time
    6. large nylon duffle bag
    • The backpack that is my home for a year is a large technical daypack with as many straps and belts as possible. It is extremely comfortable to carry and is too small to pack too much in! The outside pocket was a last second addition (Cheryln made it) and it is very useful! I wish i had four more! A good daypack is essential. The fanny pack is perhaps not the best. It is comfortable, holds a fair amount and straps on to the backpack when i am loaded. But it does not carry weight very well, and it is a giant red 'I AM A TOURIST' sign. And 1kg hanging off of the back of the backpack carries like 5 kg inside the pack! I think a sturdy backpack that is light enough to crumple into a pocket would be best -- but it must have a belt and decent straps for carrying all day! The wallet is one of those waterproof boxes -- very hard to pickpocket. The large duffle is another thing that Cheryln made at the last minute. We can put an entire pack in it (for airplanes) or empty a pack into it or use it for additional lugage. It packs down extremely small and is very light. Wish we each had one.
  • accessories
    1. small nylon duffel bag --for food
    2. 5 cinch straps
    3. 18 stuff sacks -- from matchbook size to milk carton size - in a stuff sack
    4. 15 medium sized ziploc bags -- in a ziploc, of course
    5. 3 large garbage bags -- in a ziploc
    6. about 10 plastic grocery bags -- in a grocery bag
    7. small bicycle cable
    8. 2 small comanation locks
    9. 2 small replacement pack buckles -- in a ziploc
    10. replacement pack belt buckle -- in a ziploc
    • The cinch straps are to tie things on and squeeze things down -- a last minute addition which has been very useful. The stuff sacks are, of course, essential. Besides, good organization is necessary to make sure you can find things, to make sure you don't loose things and just to make the pack livable for a year. mrk.s rule of travelling #8. You can NEVER have enough ziplocs! Garbage bags are to line pack in case of downpours. Have not used them. We are always adding to our collection of grocery bags, and we use the constantly. Security when leaving the packs is a tradeoff. I have seen 7 lb metal mesh cages that you can put on the pack, but you have to carry the damn thing all the time. The cable and small combo locks would not stop someone who was determined, but it will discourage anyone who gets any ideas. We cable the packs up in many hotels as well. Many hostels have lockers, but no locks -- so extra useful. It helps immensly if your backpack can be locked shut (mine can, Cheryln's cannot.)!
• Entertainment
  1. book - novel
  2. deck of cards
  3. fairy pouch
  4. (cribbage board & cards)
  5. tiny scrabble tiles - in game stuff sack
  6. tiny yahtzee dice - in game stuff sack
  7. tiny yahtzee scoresheets - in game stuff sack
  • We each are usually carrying one or two novels, although we find little time to read them -- We trade them off with travellers, leave them in Bonn or just leave them at a hostel. The fairy pouch is a wonderful collection of tiny Pagan fairies and goddesses to help give us strength and smiles when we are down. Another EXCELLENT Cheryln idea. Of course we lost the cribbage board in England, and i am still distraught about it! We will have to try to make another when we can.
• Food
  1. snack food --in a grocery bag
  2. dinner food --in a grocery bag in the food duffel
  3. breakfast food --in a grocery bag in the food duffel
  4. 2 water bottles
  5. water bottle with built in filter
  6. isostar powder in a water bottle
  7. chocolate bars in a ziploc
  • Snack food for train rides and wandering around town is essential. Nuts, bread, cheese, fruit, onion butter... For hostels with self-catering kitchens we carry some food to cook. Sometimes this is really full, and sometimes just the basics, dinner is couscous, bullion, potato flakes... etc. and breakfast is Ovaltine, caffine free tea, oatmeal, cream of wheat, muslei. Makes every day go better! No need to buy and wash (and perhaps lose) a nice water bottle, we just keep half liter bottles from bottled water (we kept one bottle from London to Poland, four months!!) The filter bottle has proved VERY useful, especially in eastern and southern Europe! Isotar is like Gatorade powder and is invaluble for fighting the constant fight with dehydration. One time it came with a free cheap plastic 'Isostar' logo water bottle and that is now the dispenser! Of course we always have several 70% dark chocolate bars with us!! mrk.s travel rules #1: always have extra chocolate in your pack!
• In storage in Bonn
  And of course in storage at our friend's house in Bonn are two huge bags of things we don't want to carry around. Clothes we don't want, clothes we bought on the trip to use at home, old tickets, recepits, maps and brocures, and a bunch more things. Don't know how we will get it all home actually! return to travelogue main page
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