Day: T-7
Like a kid with Disneyland in his future, I started packing months ago. *From day 1 of entering into the agreement with Tracy to buy the Dakar, I started setting things I knew I'd take with me aside. *Over the last two weeks I've really turned serious about it. *Packing, unpacking sorting, re-packing, and repeating. *Every motorcycle travler knows you always take too much stuff. *Lots of stuff means lots of weight on the bike, adding to the rider fatigue when off-road. *A general rule "they" say lay out your planned gear and take 2/3rds of it and toss it... you don't need it. *So applying this "rule" I've packed and unpacked several times.
As with many trip reports I've seen I've snapped a photo of my gear. *This serves two purposes, 1 to show YOU what I'm bringing, and 2 to show ME just how much shit I have. *Packing things has a way of shrinking the shear amount of crap you bring IN YOUR MIND. *Setting it all out where you can see it, you'll realize just how much you have and elmiminate any excess.
as it turns out, I still eliminated a pair of pants, and 3 shirts I had over packed. *here's what I'm left with: Pardon the mess
Camping gear: will go ON the bike
(Top left to bottom right) gutted air compressor, SPOT2 with Cradle by Stovey, JetBoil Flash, Glow sticks for emergancies, Camping lights, Thermarest, Camping pillow (red), extra Waterproof roll bag (military issue green), Wolfman medium roll top waterproof duffle, Slumberjack 30* sleeping bag(silver), ASLO 20* sleeping bag (black), Military Poncho (camo), Cabela's XPG 3man Tent, Home made Wool bivy bag.
Riding Gear: will go ON ME
(Top left to bottom right) Schuberth C3 helmet with Sena communications headset, Cabela's Polartec top, Aerostich Roadcrafter 1 piece suit, Cabela's Balaclava, Cabela's Polartec bottom, Underarmor heat gear bottoms, Aerostitch Insulated Elkskin Gauntlet gloves, Widder high coller heated vest, Alpine Star Back protector, Aerostitch Combat Touring Lite boots.
Gear for the bike:
(Top left to bottom right) Hyper lights, Voltage Led, Hippo Hands (black under previous), Weider heated vest control, Garmin Zumo 660 lockable mount from Touratech and harness, spair parts bag, tool roll, accesory plug (above tool roll), Alaska Leather sheap skin seat pad, Rock straps, Wolfman Rainer tank bag
Clothes: what I'll wear off the bike
(Top left to bottom right) *3 pair wool socks for riding, 4 pair cotton for off bike, 1 pair dress for the wedding, Dress shoes for the wedding, 3 long sleve shirts, 5 pair underware, running shoes, 1 pair shorts, 4 t-shirts. * *This is in adition to the shirt, pants, socks, and underware I'll be wearing on the flight out. *I'll be wearing my riding boots on the flight.
Packed up:
Top bag has all my camping and riding gear, botton one has clothes, gear for the bike and is only awaiting the arival of my tripod and HID lights for the bike.
Not pictured are the Camera equipment (Nikon D300, 18-200mm Lens, 50mm lens, SB600 Flash, Remote shutter release, Manfroto Tripod,) 15" Macbook Pro, Lacy "rugged" 500gig external HDD, HID headlight kit, and LED fog lights. *Tripod, and lights are in the mail being shipped to me as I type.
I will not open the bags again until it's time to leave, save adding the lights and Tripod if they show up in time. *this will help me from forgetting anything.
1 week to go!
Day: T-1
Days are dragging, I have to force myself to stay up and not to try and go to bed at 1700 (5pm) just in an effort to make them pass quicker. *I don't have much work to be done, either at work or at home. *I've got my apartment setup for my departure, just need to finish the last set of laundry (I'll do Friday night) and dishes. *At work I accomplished the last of my work today, room inspections on all 90+ airmen done today, discipline to be handed out, and last minute training to be accomplished (so I'm not over due while I'm gone).
On the trip front of it, I had three items I was still waiting for. *The Tripod, Tripod head, and my HID lights. *well the first two were purchased from Bestbuy. *Apparently Bestbuy.com is starting to do things sort of like Amazon, where they sell things out of their own inventory or out of another companies. *My Tripod head was shipped directly from Bestbuy and left on the 2nd and showed timely status and arrived on the 8th. The tripod on the otherhand, was shipped from some place in New Jersey. *On the 2nd it said Status: pending shippment from warehouse. *on the 8th it said Status: pending shippment from the warehouse. *I got home on the 8th and found both items on my porch. *This morning, I got an e-mail from Bestbuy letting me know my Item was 'on it's way' and gave me a tracking number finally (click on it, shows delivered LOL) so all's well just a little annoying when you're wondering if things are going to make it or not.
Which brings me to my HID's. *Ordered on the 1st, I got an e-mail with a tracking number on the 3rd. *this tracking number shows invalid until on the 6th where it states Status: package prepared at origninating post. *then on the 8th it changes to *Status: Package accepted on 6 Feb. So at this point I'm starting to try and figure out what I need to do. *The package is being shiped partial post. *meaning it's being handled half by Fedex and delivered by USPS. *USPS only tries 3 times then returns the package, and with me being gone for 30days, coupled with the fact that they won't let anyone else pick it up, I'm S O L. *This AM I looked... Status: Arrived at New York 1400 8 Sep. *hey, wait... I might be able to get it... at Noon I checked Status: 0200 in Mobile AL 9 Feb. *Now I SHOULD be able to pick it up on Friday... IF they attempt delivory today... (the trucks don't get back until after the pickup window closes so if they attempt delivory on Friday I'm again... SOL).
At 1500 I check. *Status: 0900 Arrived at Gulfport MS... sweet now if it'll just make it on the truck. *Status: Attempted delivory, notice left 10am. *AWESOME! *I'll take a long lunch tomorrow and pick it up... good... I needed an excuse to get out of the damn Mardi Gras parade anyways! LOL
That's it... the last of my preperations, asided from picking it up, is complete. *Now, it's just get through this last day of work and try to fall asleep tomorrow night.