50 Days On The Road … A Few More Lessons, Updated Luggage & Friends

My mind just went to 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover …

You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don’t need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don’t need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free

I’ve been 50 days on the road!  Wow.  It doesn’t seem quite real that I’m doing this.  I’ve been so lucky the last few weeks … I visited with Debbie (plus Ron, Claudia & Emma) in Paris and with Nadine (plus Pearl and Ty) in Prague.  We all grew up together and these ladies have been my best friends as long as I can remember.  Nadine also brought me some goodies … Kraft crunchy peanut butter, regular Doritos (she couldn’t get Ketchup) and a new Loft camisole.  One just wasn’t cutting it for me.  She also brought me some mail that Bryan dropped off.  I’m now trying to decipher my pension documents.

Yes, I have the same shirt on.  My wardrobe is very limited.

Note to anyone who’s planning to see me along the way.  I’d be so grateful if you  brought me Ketchup Doritos (buy them when you see them because they’re limited), Kraft Crunchy Peanut Butter and Cadbury Mini-Eggs.  A few Bounce sheets for my laundry would be cool too!

A Few More Lessons …

• Buy yourself flowers!

• Have the ice cream, soak your feet and face your fears!

• I’ve been using booking.com when looking for a place to stay … sometimes the studio apartment price is only dollars higher than the hostel price … a private bathroom is priceless
• Always filter on Free Wifi … read the descriptions for things like elevators and AC and proximity to what you want to see, train stations, Starbucks, etc
• Book the next train reservation when you arrive at the terminal … this gives you time to make adjustments if they’re full … I’ve been finding the night trains are fairly booked … things should slow down in September
• I need to stop obsessing over Terror Train when I’m on a train

• There’s sink clean and then there’s laundromat clean … there’s a difference
• Talk to people!  They are interesting and have so much advice on many things … shout out to Marisa in Iceland and Moho at the Paris Gare de l’Est Starbucks
• It’s okay to do this

• Looks like Sweden Post has lost my orange backpack … it had my Antarctica Polar Plunge Survivor patch on it … I’ve filed a missing claim and I’m hoping it’s found, but I’m upset … I’ll need to beg Quark Expeditions for another patch
• Sometimes it’s okay to take an Uber and not walk …
• I’m still a princess!  Why oh why do I have calloused hands and how do I make them go away?
• Look ahead for concert listings!
• I’m going to miss all the important events at home … this was my Grandmother’s 90th birthday!  xo

Updated Luggage …

I knew nothing starting out.

Those are Ketchup Doritos if you’re looking for them for me!

The Packing Ordeal … Bags, Lists & Tips

• The Pacsafe Venturesafe X40 PLUS Anti-Theft 40L Multi-Purpose Backpack bag is great!  I took it on my trips to Vienna, Quebec City and Newfoundland.  The cons were that the bag itself was heavy and not comfortable to wear for longer periods (eg. trekking through the airports).
• For my electronics and daypack, I reverted to my trusty purple Osprey 36L Sirrus bag.
• The Osprey Aether AG 85 is a great bag too.  It wasn’t working for me though during the travel days and having to take it on and off multiple times.  I also got stuck in the bathroom stall with it on.

I shipped the orange one home (Sweden Post has lost it) and I got an Osprey Sojourn 80L on wheels with backpack straps and it’s working out fabulous!

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The Revisions …

Important Stuff

• Passport / Visas / NEXUS
• International Driver’s License
• Vaccination Record / Yellow Fever Certificate
• Credit Cards
• Emergency Cold Hard Cash
• PADI Certification Cards
• Eurail Global Pass

Electronics

• MacBook Air and mouse
• iPhone
• iPad
• Nikon camera and lens
• Panasonic waterproof camera
• Go Pro and accessories
• External hard drive 
• Chargers, USB cables, extra battery power
• Plug in adapters
• Headphones
• Selfie stick
• Gorilla tripod
• Pacsafe portable safe
• Pacsafe lock
• Pacsafe wallet
• Pacsafe change purse

Footwear

• Hiking Boots
• Sneakers
• Flip Flops
• Water Shoes
• Hut Slippers
• Christian Laboutin Mary-Jane’s

Outerwear

• Rain cover for my pack
• Gore-Tex bib pants and jacket
• Puffy coat
• Wind jacket
• Tilley hat, ball cap and toque
• Gloves
• Buffs

Clothes

• Icebreaker base layer (long johns and long sleeved shirt) (1)
• Sports bras (2) 1, regular bras (2) and underwear (10 6 pairs)
• Hiking socks (3) 2, running socks (2) and regular socks (2)
• Leggings (2 long and 1 capri) 1 long
• Running/workout outfit Lululemon pants (1)
• Shorts (2)
• Sweater (1)
• T-Shirt (3) brought 1 and bought a Harley Davidson t-shirt in Krakow, Poland
• Halter Tops (2) I brought 1 and Nadine brought me another one, so I’m back to 2
• Long sleeved shirt (2)
• Zip up hoodie (1)
• Fleece (1)
• Hiking pants … capri, regular and soft shell (3)
• Travel Dress (1)
• Sarong (1)
• Scarf with hidden pocket (1)
• Bathing Suit (1)
• Pajamas (1)

Health & Vanity

• Filled prescriptions
• Doctor letter and the actual written prescription
• KLM vanity pack … the burgundy Viktor & Rolf one … my favourite and it can double as a clutch for me
• Goop (moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, soap, sunscreen and I will need aloe)
• Minimal make-up (not that much of a hardship as I barely wear any)
• Q-tips, razor, deodorant
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
• Tweezers, small scissors, sharpener
• Nail file, nail clippers, clear nail polish
• Comb, brush, hair scrunchies/elastics
• Small tissue packs, hand sanitizer, baby wipes
• Travel towels (face and body)
• Travel medical kit and band-aids
• Travel blow dryer and iron

Miscellaneous

• Pacsafe mesh for locking & storage
• Pacsafe bag lock
• Airport bag (has a hole in it and I’m ditching it when I get to Europe)
• Water bottle
• Sleeping bag/liner
• Walking poles
• Headlamp
• Laundry soap (small Tide packs)
• Door stop & whistle
• Stuff sacks & packing cubes
• Emergency kit
• Sewing kit

The new travelling me in motion!  Nadine took this picture when we were in Prague and I love it!