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| The Tent: No Limits; Kings Peak Model |
Specs:
- Size: 85 in. x 51 in. x 41 in.
- Sleeps 2
- Weighs only 4.4 lbs.
- Two vestibules
- Interior bag
- Rip-stop
- rainfly
I have tentatively mapped out where I will be staying each of my 9 nights (10 days) of the trip. Don't take it personally, but I don't think it'd be smart to divulge the specifics of that information to strangers. You may be a potential stalker; I approve of the obsession, but not of the tracking and/or incessant spying and eventual harm to me. I will say this: I will be leaving Baltimore and then go through Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and then to Wisconsin.
Some people have asked me, "Why, if you have to go north to WI would you go south initially?" My thought is that I haven't been through the Virginias yet, so why not on my trip? It's only a teensy bit out of the way anyhow. I want to see as much of this country as I can before I kick the bucket, and I don't think there's a better way to do that than on the ol' bicycle.
The greater intention of this trip isn't just to tour part of our country, or to kick my own ass physically; it's to give a recital when I get home with the hope that some of my hometown supporters will come, listen, watch, and then donate toward the cause: my extremely expensive graduate education [and then, indirectly, to the survival and maintenance of the arts in the USA]. As far as the dates of the trip, I used my 2011 Farmers' Almanac to choose the "best" time to ride. I chose a span of time where nice weather is supposed to be prevalent. Let's hope that this summer doesn't go too far off course from the predictions and I have decent weather for my journey. I can handle rain, no biggie, but torrential downpour with a chilly wind for more than a few hours gets to be a bit obnoxious.
When figuring out what exactly I need for this trip, I sat down with a pencil & paper and brainstormed for quite some time. List after revised list has made its way to my coffee table. I then took that list and inserted
the items into a chart similar to the one below... it's pretty minimalistic. I figure the less I carry the better, but I still have to have the essentials. I have a 2 liter water bladder in my backpack, plus I'll be carrying bottles in bike's holders. I won't be packing a lot of food because I plan to stop at farmers' markets & local produce stands along the way. I'll only have 1-3 days' worth food on me at any given time. Again, the lighter the better. This is hard for me because I'm a chronic over-packer/preparer. I try to imagine the worst possible scenario and be prepared if it happens. On this trip, though, I'm letting go of that habitual tendency and taking what I need. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I don't NEED the camera, music, or phone, but why ride 900 miles and not have any pictures to remember it by when my memory deteriorates with age or what about when I need that inspirational song to help me get up that last hill? I think this is pretty darn good, for me, as far as light packing goes. Only the essentials, and then some small, added tidbits to make it more enjoyable & memorable. Besides, you'll be dying to see a visual account of my journey, right?! Right.
| | Have | Need to Get |
| In Backpack | Tools for Bike Compass TP MP3, Camera, Phone Toiletries Chargers Atlas/Maps Snacks Buck Knife Money | Bear/Pepper Spray CO₂ Cartridges Tubes for Tires Extra Chain Treats (for the mean dogs) |
| In Panniers | Sneakers/Flip Flops Extra Food Clothes 1st Aid Kit | Propane Burner/Cooking Receptacle |
| On Rack | Tent | Sleeping Mat/Bag |
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