Adventure Layover Secret Number One: Packing Light

It's been a busy few weeks, out flying the line.  Lots of 4 am wake-ups, long days in the cockpit, short layovers in airport hotels.  And it's been a fun few weeks as well!  I've shared beers with new friends, met some challenges head-on, and plotted out my next adventure... and that's the reason for the whole shebang, isn't it?

I'm airborne right now, commuting home to Oregon to do a quick turn (48 hours), then head off on a two week trip to France.  Some friends and I are renting a canal boat and are wine-touring the Loire Valley (near Bordeaux) via canal for 10 days.  I'm going to sleep for 18 hours, shop for some new travel duds, play with my new camera and organize everything by color, weight, texture and usefulness.  Every moment of my time at home is planned out, to the minute.  

Okay, well, no it isn't.  I'm just not that organized!  And who would ever want to be?  But I am organized enough to get the job done.  Anyone can be.  It just tales some realistic planning and thought.  And that's what today's Adventure Layover blog is about: Realistic Adventure Layover Packing--The Serenity of Lightness.

In most cases, the trip you're about to take will very clearly dictate how much organizing and packing is required.  If you're headed out to catch a cruise ship for two weeks, you obviously need to bring things you wouldn't want to bring on a quick weekend trip to the beach or, as in my case, a tour of Paris and a week on a canal boat with friends.  I won't need my tophat and tails for this one.

Moose Weatherman's First Rule of Guerilla Travel:  When in doubt, leave it out!

Here's what I mean.  

Do you need five pairs of shoes?  No, probably not.  Bring comfortable shoes that are appropriate for the trip.  Hikers.  Or sneakers.  Sandals for the beach, if that's where you're going.  But don't bring "just in case" shoes.  It's an extra burden both in weight and in volume, and you'll regret having brought them.   Women are not the only ones who do this.  Guys, listen up.

Do you need a fresh, clean pair of underwear for each day you're on the road?  Surprisingly, NO, you don't.  Before you start questioning my personal hygiene (and remember, I am a Moose), let me remind you that two or three pair of the right kind of underwear is plenty!  REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.), Patagonia and ExOfficio offer really good polyester underwear and tee shirts that can be easily washed in a sink or basin, and will be dry within a couple hours of being wrung out and hung up on a shower curtain.

Same is true for pants, skirts, socks, hats.  The stores above also carry "convertible" pants, or pants that zip off the legs to become shorts.  Just don't lose the legs... or mix them up with other pants' legs.  I carry a few ounces of a mild, biodegradeable detergent and usually spend 15 minutes washing clothes every second or third day.  Regular soap works fine too, just be sure to rinse it all out when you are done or it'll show up on your clothes the next day... and if you sweat or it rains, you'll be walking around wearing suds.  Ask me how I know this.

For my two week France trip, I will pack exceedingly light.  Three pairs of underwear, three pairs of socks, all polyester.  Two pullover breatheable/wickable tee shirts.  A pair of shorts to sleep and/or swim or run in.  Two button front polyester wrinkle-free semi-dress shirts.  Two pairs of convertible pants, with zip-off legs.  One pair of shoes (travel-ready Vasque Hikers) and one pair of flip-flops.  One hat.  One polypro sweater.  One breatheable waterproof rain jacket.

All of this will weigh about 8 lbs, and will leave tons of room for souvenirs and for my camera equipment.  No, all these specialty clothes aren't cheap, and you may be reluctant to spend $10-15 on one pair of underwear and $30 on a tee shirt.  But it's an investment that you're going to be using over and over again.

If you pack jeans and cotton shirts and unmentionables, you may end up having to check an overweight bag.  That can cost hundreds of dollars!  And really, unless it is absolutely necessary, you never-never-ever want to check a bag with an airline.  Any airline!  Ask any flight crew... pilots or Flight Attendants... how often they check bags.  You will be surprised at the looks you get.

Additionally, you simply can not wash cotton in a sink at night, wring it out, hang it up and wear it the next morning.  Period.  If you bring cotton, bring enough for every day you're away, or plan to pay and wait on hotel cleaning services.   For me, in most cases, it's actually cheaper to buy the expensive travel-oriented gear.  And how do you compute the value of having significantly less weight and lots of extra room in your bag?   It's easy math for me.

On this trip, I'm leaving my trusty, bulletproof rollaboard bag behind and packing all my clothes into my 3850 cubic inch Osprey Backpack.  Because of this, weight and volume are of paramount importance.  Everything I take with me, I will wear on my back.  And since I'm no longer a young Moose, my back requires me to be quite a bit more realistic with my packing!   As you approach middle age, you'll understand.   Also, it is my goal to leave ample room in the pack to bring home souvenirs and wine.

Once all is said and done, I'll be carrying about 30 to 35 pounds of gear and clothing for my journey, including my camera and laptop.  I organize using fabric cubes so that my clothes won't be jumbled up the first time I paw through the pack to get a clean pair of socks or my toiletries kit out.

Pack heavier things towards the bottom of your bag, whether you're carrying a pack or a suitcase.  Heavy items high up can unbalance the load, especially in a pack that you're going to be hauling for any significant distances.  Load medicines, passport, sunscreen and sunglasses, and reading materials last, on top; if there is a smaller accessories pouch on the top, that's perfect.  Basically, the things you might need first or while you're en route, pack them last, with ease of access in mind.

Some things to think about.  Do you need a power converter where you're going?  Get it before you leave if you can... airport concessions charge 50% more in many cases because you're now a captive audience.  How about a towel?  An empty water bottle/Nalgene?  If you are staying at Hostels, it's not a bad idea to invest $40-50 in a silk sleep-sack.  Toilet tissue and a hair dryer?  Sometimes the most basic things get left behind... and herein lies the big anxiety of packing.   Let me tell you, you will forget things that you planned to bring.  You will also not think about things that you will need at some point.   There is a simple, easy and foolproof fix for this, and if you truly embrace the concept, you anxiety over over-packing, under-packing or even not packing at all should be immediately alleviated... if you bring this with you.

A credit card.  Don't forget your credit card!  It's probably the most important thing you'll bring, next to your identification.

I've walked out of Moose Landing on a 15 day tour around Asia and didn't realize until the aircraft door was closing behind me that I forgot to pack underwear.  True story.  I've forgotten my socks.   Even my toothbrush.  Ack!

But in almost every major city on the planet you can buy these things, for a very reasonable price, with a credit card.

So do your best to let go of the anxiety.  Plan.  Be realistic.  Pack minimally.  Make lists.  Make more lists.  Do your best-- then relax, knowing you'll probably forget something.  It'll be okay, I promise.  Stop worrying and get your travel on!