The Day Before a Trip

Tomorrow, I will be heading out for a trip that will involve travel in Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The anticipated travel time will be about 21 days, but could be shorter or longer depending on travel conditions, mainly, the wind.  I usually head out from home before sunrise the first day, so I load my bike the day before my ride begins.  Deciding what to load is always tricky because I want to carry what I think I will need without carrying too much. I usually carry about 30-35 pounds of gear and food on a multi-day trip. 

List of items carried on this trip:

Shelter - tent, sleeping pads (2), sleeping bag, and sleeping bag liner;

Clothing - cycling shorts (3), sleeping shorts, cycling shirts (4), jacket, leg warmers, knee warmers, arm warmers, socks (2), gloves, cap, and skullcap;

Food - peanut butter, bread, instant oatmeal, raisins, various nuts, egg sandwich (always a special treat on the first day that I make at home), and peanut butter and honey sandwiches (3);

Water - water bottle and a metal canteen;

Cooking - backpacker cook stove and fuel, pot, matches, cleaning rag, and spork;

Personal hygiene - wash cloth, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, baby wipes, razor, and hand sanitizer;

Electronics - cell phone and iPad mini (first trip I have taken it);

Bike repair - spare tire, tubes, tire levers, patches, frame pump, various wrenches and tools; and

ME (last but not least)

Below is a photo of my loaded bike, minus me and all the sandwiches, which I will make in the morning. 

Ready to roll!!!!!!