Gear List 2008

(This post is being made in an Internet cafe during a nice big thunderstorm… power has already gone out once and it’s been blinking on and off. I suppose it will clear up by tomorrow morning – well I hope!)

Surely I was going to carry less gear this time than last year, having been taught the hard lesson of pushing bike up hill. But alas no, I couldn’t reduce it very much. Decided against chopping 3/4 off the dish washing sponge to save weight, though I’ve seen it done.

So anyway, here is the list, in case you might be wondering how many pairs of undies I am taking.

<li>Bike</li>
<li>4 x pannier bags</li>
<li>Handlebar bag</li>
<li>Helmet, gloves, sunglasses</li>
<li>Tent 2kg</li>
<li>Ground sheet 2x2.5m</li>
<li>Bright yellow nylon Tour de France rain poncho -- makes a good rain cover for bike</li>
<li>Light-weight self-inflating mattress</li>
<li>Sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, pillow case</li>
<li>Old sheet to sit on and for rags</li>
<li>Monster U-lock plus python-like cable</li>
<li>Key for above lock, plus magnetic compass keyring which never works</li>
<li>Cycling shoes</li>
<li>Chain oil, pump, degreaser, rags, disposable gloves, spare tube, puncture repair kit, bicycle multi-tool, the other set of pedals in case I get new shoes, cable ties, gaffer tape</li>
<li>Food bag (sleeping bag cover) and various amounts of food</li>
<li>Microwave bowl, knife, fork, spoon, teflon/aluminium camping cup, tea towel, sponge, dishwashing liquid</li>
<li>Camera, spare battery, 2 x 1GB SD cards</li>
<li>Mobile phone</li>
<li>GPS logger, 512MB SD card, SD card reader</li>
<li>Chargers, cords, EU power adapters for the electrical items</li>
<li>Passport, some money</li>
<li>Lots of maps</li>
<li>Tolstoy’s Anna Karenin (reading it the second time)</li>
<li>Small Tagenbuch, 2 x red pacers, Ubuntu pen</li>
<li>2 x black lycra shorts, 1 x shy shorts, 1 x red jersey, 1 x soccer shirt, 1 x soccer training jacket, 1 x yellow rain vest</li>
<li>2 x pairs of cycling socks</li>
<li>3 pairs of other socks (actually I’m not sure why I brought these)</li>
<li>5 pairs of undies, two under t-shirts, boxer shorts</li>
<li>Shirt, t-shirt, shorts, trousers, belt</li>
<li>Red gore-tex jacket (also a pillow)</li>
<li>Thongs</li>
<li>Little smelly travel towel</li>
<li>Washing powder</li>
<li>Toilet bag, etc: toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving cream, razors, nail clipper, a couple bandaids, soap, sun cream, moisturiser</li>
<li>(most importantly) hair wax</li>

Can you see why touring is such hard work!?