Camping Stuff and Clothes

I am leaving May 16! Less than three weeks from the time I am writing this. I am ready to go but still making unnecessary trips to REI and almost buying stuff online. Consumerism is how I deal with trip excitement and anxiety.

Some folks have asked what I’m taking. I’ll enumerate the camping gear below, but first I want to post pictures and video from the Beverly Bridge Ride. I had to ask Gavin if it was OK to share. He's going on another bike trip around Coeur d'Alene this weekend. Please journeys! The video is unedited and kinda long. The bike stuff will be another post. This post is too long already.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7tKWnWJN3fjibHZR7

This week’s training ride was riding literally around Seattle. Although a lot of it was familiar territory, linking it together this way gave me a whole new view of my hometown. When I needed to push myself physically along the road I could feel the connections between places in my bones. I could understand how South Park, Magnolia, UW, Skyway, and West Seattle all inhabit the same place. Plus it was a beautiful day and my route took me through many parks filled with Seattlites enjoying the first summer-like day of the year.

Relive animated map (with cute music) https://www.relive.cc/view/vevYopDQVy6

I am struggling with the Ride With GPS app again this week. I tried adding Points of Interest but was inconsistent. Hence the two bathroom notes so close. I am still annoyed that it doesn't geocode photo locations. https://ridewithgps.com/trips/88143974

The gear 

See if you can spot each item in the picture.

Shelter

• Big Agnes Single Person Bikepacking tent with ground cover. What makes it a bikepacking tent is that the poles are in 12” lengths so it’s compact

Sleeping

• Feathered Friends 20 degree quilt style bag. I love quilts because I am side/tummy sleeper. I get twisted up in mummy bags, especially if it is warm. I bought a 40 degree bag that I’ll ship to myself general delivery because I’ll roast in the warmer bag during the summer. Even the 40 degree bag might be too much.

• Thermarest NeoAir XLite. Very light, but it sounds like a rubbed balloon when you move around in your sleep.

• Summit to Sea pillow. I bought this for the trip. Normally I put all my clothes in a stuff sack, but I won’t have as much cold weather gear so I need something. Also it makes reading in the tent nicer.

• Sleeping mask and ear plugs. I may go to sleep very early so I can wake up before dawn to beat the heat. If I do, I’ll need these, especially if I am at an official campground.

Cooking

• MSR stove. This is new. My old stove is giving up the ghost. Despite multiple cleanings, it only lights up on one side. This one has an igniter on the side so it doesn’t need matches. Genius.

• Snow Peak cook set. New. When backpacking I use a kettle because I just reheat stuff. The pot is .85 liter. The size is perfect for a big butane canister. The top is a tiny pan. Maybe I can make a half strip of bacon.

• Spork

• Collapsable bowl. Kisho gave this to me.

• .5 liter cup. Not totally necessary. I could just drink out of the cook set.

• Bamboo speading knife. Spreading is a big part of life.

• Ursack. This is a kevlar bag that is supposedly bear proof. I’ve had this for a long time. It hasn’t been tested. It has an odor proof liner. I hang it with the cord show.

• Aeropress. Luxury item, but are we savages?

Other stuff

• Headlamp

• Lantern - I may not bring this, but it’s nice for reading

• First Aid Kit (not in picture)

• Duct tap

• Gorilla glue

• Tiny Leatherman

• Katadyn water filter. New. This is so, so light compared to my old Sweet Water and it adds a 1 liter collapsible water bottle

• Biodegradable soap

• Camp towel

• Trowel for digging a hole for #2. Useful if I am camping off the grid.

Clothes

• 2 pair undies. Not shown. Modesty. Still when your butt is in contact with a small saddle all day, they need to be mentioned! One is padded cycling style. One is non padded tight fitting boxer.

• 2 pair shorts. I called the longer pair knickers, but Hisako and Kisho thought I was talking about women’s underwear. They are manly knee breeches like Ben Franklin wore except for biking.

• 2 pair short shirts.

• 2 pair socks. I like Smartwool. Merino wool is non-stinky.

• Rapha cycling jacket. I love this. Some cyclists consider Rapha poserwear, but it is merino wool with a rain/wind resistant front. It’ll double as a long-sleeve base layer at camp.

• Smartwool longjohns.

• Lightweight puffy

• Beanie (not shown)

• Cycling cap. Keeps the helmet from getting gross

• Rain jacket. I am bringing a heavier weight one. I hate getting wet.

• Rain pants.  

• Rainproof cheap shoe covers.

• 5.10 brand Van's style mountain bike shoes for flat pedals. I love these shoes! The heels flip down so they turn into slippers. I used a similar street shoe on my last tour and they were way better than clipless cycling shoes. More on than later.

• Water resistent gloves (not shown)

• Cycling gloves (not shown). Annoying because the velcro won’t stay fastened. Pearl Izumi can’t make velcro!

Fun Items

• Uke! Thanks to Nate for giving me this. It’s going to be fully accessible for breaks. I got a case and rainproof cover for it.

• Camp chair. Weighs about a pound. I found it was very nice to have something to support my back after riding.

Electronics / camera

• Phone

• Work phone as back up

• Tiny tripod

• Bluetooth shutter clicker

• Insta360 Go2 action camera - for first person POV shots

• 2 x 20,000 mwh powerbanks. I will be using my phone to record my ride which uses a lot of battery

• Micro SD card, holder, and phone adapter

• Folding keyboard (I am typing on it now)

All that fits in these bags and I still have some room!

All told, this is about 30 pounds including food. 7 pounds is optional stuff. Unlike your legs, bikes have gears. Unless you are going up a steep grade, weight slows you down, but doesn’t crush you. I think cyclists became obsessed with weight because racing culture dominated the conversation. Let's see if I am still singing the same tune after my first 3000' climb.

Thanks for reading this long post. I hope there aren’t too many typos. My next pre-launch post will cover the bike and related topics.