...our age will be 64 and 66 when we are done...

Our equipment

  In planning for a 12-14 month RTW motorcycle trip, 5-Star hotels are just out of the question; we have to camp.  Janet was OK with this but she had some definite ideas about what she would and would not accept.  Not having done any camping in over 20 years meant that we had to start from scratch and buy everything new.  In twenty years, camping technology has changed dramatically.  I didn’t know where to start.

  I had met a long distance rider from Australia going to Western Europe in Kathmandu, Nepal during a 2003 holiday and he turned me on to Horizons Unlimited (www.horizonsunlimited.com).  Even if you aren’t a RTW biker, this is a site worth visiting because most of the RTW riders post incredibly extensive information here – great reading for those with active imaginations.  In any case, I went to the HUB and found that several people had posted their packing lists, mostly for one up riders who must carry everything on their solo bikes for extended tours.

  I took the three lists that were most appropriate for us (including a list for riders over 40) and merged them into a single Excel spread sheet and then eliminated the obviously inappropriate items, i.e., I didn’t think I would need all the condoms that one rider carried because of the poor quality condoms he expected to find on his route.  Then I divided the list into eleven categories: Camping Equipment, Kitchen, Clothing, Hygiene & Medical, Photography, Documents, Motorcycle, Tools & Spares, Computer, Miscellaneous and Emergency.  For each item, I listed the quantity required, vendor, cost each and cost total.  Then I added additional columns for weight each, total weight and finally cumulative weight.  This allowed me to track cost but more importantly to make sure we did not exceed the maximum payload of the Chang.  Lets face it, when Janet and I leave on our RTW, we will be 64 and when we arrive we will be 66 years old (we can finally apply for Social Security – Yeh!)

  When I was finished, I had more than 300 line items.  Now began the task of deciding who much of what to take.  Janet was very specific that the tent had to be tall enough so she could stand and change her clothes.  When all the research was done, we ended up with a six-man tent that we can park the bike in, in bad weather.  We bought self-inflating mattresses for $200 each because sleeping and rest are so critical to us old folks.  Virtually every item purchased was evaluated for function and then compared against what others recommended on HUB and other websites.

  Clothing is light weight and quick drying and limited to two pair of convertible pants and three shirts each, two, maybe three pair of special, quick drying underwear made of self-wicking fabric without seams that can cause debilitating irritation and “monkey-butt” (if you don’t know or can’t imagine – don’t ask.  Lightweight cooking gear, Lexan table wear, medications and waterproof matches.  The list seemed endless.

  Then there were problems of where to buy and how to get the stuff to China or do we buy in China.  After considering as many of these problems as my itty bitty brain could manage at any given time, we managed to buy most everything in the US and cart it back to China and still stay basically within a budget and below the maximum weight allowances.  Every time I look at the list, I’m thankful that we bought the Chang with the sidecar, there would be no way we could drag as much stuff along with us without it.

  I have a new appreciation for outfitters who put all the gear together major expeditions, obtaining all the required documents and put up with all the governmental red tape and somehow seem to get people to where they are supposed to be to do what has to be done.  I also have even more appreciation for RTW riders, who like us, do it on their own.

  At least I feel confident (for the time being) that we won’t forget some critical piece of equipment or that we have overlooked a necessary document.  This is due mostly because of those who have gone before and that I have swallowed my pride and didn’t try to do it on my own.  Who knows, maybe this is one of the benefits of age.