So, I admit, I have never been much of a light packer. I thought 20 Kg (40 lbs) was going to be an impossible weight limit for our 2-week weddingmoon, yet I managed to do it. For three weeks on the Colin’s motorcycle, I found out that my bag, the tank bag, allows for a maximum of 5 Kg! Wow, this is a one sunscreen, powder, mascara, lipstick, and eyeliner (zero eye shadow) trip.
I am wearing jeans, a T-Shirt, a bra, underwear, socks, boots, my gloves jacket, and helmet. Colin said on top of this, I was allowed one change of clothes. Yeah right! We’re camping so I had to bring a sweatshirt and sweatpants. I also packed a few pairs of socks, few pairs of underwear, two-week supply of tanks tops (this number was already cut in half from my original desired amount), 1 dress, two shorts and 2 bras. I also am bringing mini shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor etc. I zip-lock-bagged everything as Colin said I must assume the entire contents of my bag can withstand being fully submerged under water (this is in case it rains, not in case we fall into a river or ocean).
I told Colin I was ready with my 6 zip lock bags:
Underwear and swimsuits
Warm clothes
Tank tops and shorts
Diary, notebook, and novel
Cosmetics
Shoes (flip-flops and walking sandals). This is three pairs of shoes including my boots. I wanted to bring runners, but I’ll be swimming for exercise).
Colin laid face down across each one of my bags to press all the air out of each one. I took the six bags and no matter how I arranged them in the tank bag I could not zip it shut. I nixed a few more items and now have about a week’s worth of clothing (if I don’t wear the same thing twice, except my jeans). Thankfully my brother was up in July and took a change of clothes for each of us to his house. I know we can do laundry, but this is coming from a girl who can travel for 3 weeks solid and can bring enough clothes to not have to do laundry even once.
Colin weighed the bag at 8 Kg and we packed up the motorcycle with our gear (sleeping bags, tire pump, rain jackets etc.) in the saddlebags, Colin’s clothes in the tank bag and mine in the back rack bag. We went to OPM for lunch and lots of people asked us where we’re headed so we said to B.C. (instead of back home again because this is just a trial run).
Colin said the weight was fine, but it will take a bit to get used to. He also said that if my overweight bag falls off and takes me down with it, well at least it’s not his stuff. Thanks. People already fear I am going to fall asleep (which I’ve done twice) and fall off (which has never happened), but imagine if my one extra pair of sandals killed me.
Therefore, we rode home and I unpacked and repacked my bag, switching heavier clothing for lighter, but still warm clothes for camping. I’m at about 6 Kg now. It’s the best I could do.
We are going to leave our camping gear in B.C. at our friends’ house, so this will leave me room to possibly buy something on the way home. I
mean rubber ducks don’t really weigh much.
I’m also bringing a purse, but it straps neatly to the top of the saddlebag.
Well, I did it, it’s my vacation with the least amount of clothes yet. I think Colin is surprised that I managed to do it. We’re on the road tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM.
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