You would think, being an experienced cycle-tourist, that the packing phase of the journey would be less stressful, but I always find myself a bit anxious making sure I've got everything, food selected for the first stage, a drop box loaded for shipping, etc. But I pile, fret and stare, re-pile, re-fret, and stare some more, go over lists. How will it fit? It always does, though sometimes not without some help from a Higher Power.
I'll be running with a one-person Sierra Designs tent, an Exped sleeping pad, and a homemade alcohol Pepsi can stove, the same I used for my cross country ride back in 2007. She don't cook fancy, but she's light, quiet, and gets the job done. I've picked up a couple of new pieces of gear for changing tires: Gorilla levers and a Kool Stop lever. I NEVER want to struggle with taking off or putting on a recalcitrant tire ever again.
The Kool Stop adds a little weight, but it will be worth it if I have to pop the tire on a frozen morning in the Middle of No Where. I'm also carrying a Topeak Multi-tool and a Leatherman. Spare shifter and brake cable, couple of folding spare tires, four tubes, two patch kits, a few bolts, some wire and tape. Clothing will be diverse because of WIDE temperature swings, from freezing or below to possibly low 70's in Death Valley. I've got a 3L Camel back and will also carry a frame bottle and a 6L Dromedary bag for camp.
I'm still mulling over tech. At the minimum, I'll have the usual smart phone, a Lumix camera, an iPod, and a Kindle for those long nights in the tent. The questionable item is a small tablet and keyboard. It's a bit heavy, but it would be nice for drafting.
Now I recover from a minor cold that has dialed me back a few notches, and a major winter storm works its way through the state. The forecast for launch is fantastic!
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