Mostly Packed – A Few Days to Go

The last few days have been a flurry of activity with many small tasks. One of the most frustrating was dealing with the HR folks at work who seemed to have a different answer each time I talked to them as if they were making up the rules as they went. I think everything is sorted now, but I guess we’ll see when I get back. Who knew taking a leave of absence was so difficult? I thought getting permission from my boss would be the hard part, but that was the easiest.

Other smaller things like getting extra keys made for the luggage and the lawn mowed were more pedestrian. I’m still pondering where to get my bike serviced near Seattle (new tires and oil). Any suggestions?

The SPOT tracking has been tested and seems to work. There will be a map on the right side of the site under the “Current Location” block that will show my location automatically updated throughout the day on a google map. The map will be live once I start the trip.

I have both of my side cases mostly packed.

The case above is my bedroom. it has my sleeping bag & pad, clothes, shoes. and towel. The black bag (16L) has my clothes, and the yellow (11L) my sleeping bag. I don’t have a lot of room for lots of choice. Things were extra difficult with the extremes in temperature I expect low 30sF in Alaska to nearly 100F east of San Diego. I brought a mix of clothes, that I think will work well. I will do laundry often as I have on other trips.

The other side is my kitchen. It has all my food, cooking, and toiletries.

I have a selection of dried food from Mary Jane Farms. I’ve been enjoying her food for several years now. I added several new varieties for this trip. I hope they taste as good as the ones I am used to. I also have my trusty jetboil, some fire starting paraphernalia, tea, oatmeal, collapsible cup, a small hatchet/knife, and a bladder for extra water. I got the larger size bladder, so it has room to bend to the space available in the case. I don’t plan to ever fill it completely to 2 gallons.

The food is to make things more convenient and to save money. I’m missing two paychecks on this trip, so I need to save where I can. Bringing it with me will be much less than going out three times a day every day. I look forward to the tasty food I will find along the way, but now I have some flexibility. I will also need to eat most of the food by the time I get to Seattle, so I have room for my wife’s stuff when I pick her up there!

I still have a couple things to do to the bike: new tires, oil change, and fixing a heated gear circuit.  I also need to pack the tent and some small electronics into the top case. I think everything should just fit.

So close to leaving! I can hardly believe it. Getting harder to sleep now. :)