Friday, October 22, 2010

Pack on your back?...or just happy to see me?

This is the pack list I used for most of my 2009/2010 RTW trip and with a few minor changes is the setup for Ecuador'10. With water and a day's food, it comes in around 20-21 lbs. It is light on clothes, which means that I do a small laundry on a daily basis. On the other hand, I can walk all day with the pack on my back, which opens a lot of possibilities. There is nothing extra in the pack, and over time, I find that I am not missing anything either.

No electric plug-in required. The little radio takes one AAA. The camera takes 2 AA. The cell phone can be powered by 2 AA. I did not suffer any gear thefts last year, but as a rule, I carry around my wallet, passport, camera and USB backup most of the time. Everything else is expendable.

There is a light sleeping bag and self-inflating mat. With the sleep clothes, poly cap and gloves, I can handle an overnite about 5C. I pretty much stay in hostels, but again, I like that flexibility.

The Salomon TechAmphibian Shoes are a real treat. You can walk, run, hike, swim in these. They dry overnite, do not retain odor (no cloth, just plastic and mesh) and are very lite and rugged. I used up a pair last year and just bought their replacement. The perfect backpacking shoe.

CARRYING
40 liter knapsack
Small waist pouch for camera and spare batteries

WEARING
Poly Hat, Tech top, nylon shorts, cotton underwear, poly socks,
Salomon TechAmphibian Water Shoes

INSIDE KNAPSACK
Sleeping bag Primaloft .5 kg MEC overbag
Sleepmat Thermarest .25 kg Shoulders-to-Hips, self-inflating
Drybag (15 liter silnylon) for fleece and light jacket
Drybag (10 liter good quality) for clothes and electronics
Drybag (1 liter plastic) for travel books and documents
Daybag (10 liter shapeless nylon)

KITCHEN / FOOD
Spoon, plastic breadknife, can opener
Water bottle .5 liter
Multi-vitamins
1 day of light food (apple, cheese, chocolate, nuts, bread)

CLOTHES
Rain shell and pant
Light multi-sport jacket / Green light fleece
Poly skull cap / Poly gloves / Poly hat spare
Swim shorts / Mini-towel
Wool socks (2) / Poly socks (1)
Techie tops (3) / Running shorts (1)
Silk sleep top/bottoms / Cotton underwear (3) / Cotton sleep shorts
Sandals

MEDICAL
2nd skin, Band-aids, alcohol gel, compression wrap, gauze, tape, Murine, asthma inhaler, Ibuprofen, itch cream, tweezers, scissors, pumice,Poly-Sporin, Gravol, Chlorine tablets, Malarone (malaria), Diamox (altitude), Lomotil (Montezuma’s revenge)

TOILETRIES
Toothbrush/paste, floss, vaseline, sun lotion, chapstick, toilet paper, hair soap, deodorant
razors, clippers, soap, laundry soap.

MISC
Cell phone/charger/battery-backup, travel clock
Watch, wrist Compass, LED flashlight(2), whistle, plastic mirror
Camera, Memory chips, USB memory stick(2), 1-cell radio, spare earbud,
Batteries (2 AAA, 4 AA)
Maps, travel book, hostel/flight confirmations, Reading glasses(2), pen/pencil, diary, family photos, travel documents/visas
Passport, MSI card, Blue Cross, Intl and NS driver licence, Vaccine record
safety-pins, velcro, cable-ties, spare bungy cord, sewing kit

ONLINE
Jpeg copies of all ids/passports, licences, etc.
Same stored on both memory sticks (one to backup photos), along with some music and books
Bookmarks

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Bridge Commission Blues

With all the drivel and spin about rush-hour tolls, I am surprised that no one has brought up commuter lanes. If the Bridge Commission's concern is traffic flow and not just revenue flow, why not make that middle lane reserved for cars with at least 2 occupants? Yes, they do this in all the big cities Halifax is trying so hard to emulate.

A higher bridge toll will not spread out traffic flow or facilitate carpooling, just like the high cost of gas never did. I walked and biked that bridge for years, and the single-occupant rate is above 80% (even when gas was $1.50 a litre)

Commuting to work by yourself in a car is a very selfish act. For some people, it may be the only time of the day that they can be by themselves. Leave the house when you want, stop at Timmies for a coffee and donut, crank up the tunes, chat on the phone, run your errands at lunch and leave work whenever you feel that traffic flow will be in your favour.

How about Halifax takes over the Bridge Commission (gasp!)and then institutes rush-hour tolling and commuter lanes? Less cars on the road (very eco), better traffic flow, less parking required downtown and who knows, you might even get to know some of your neighbours.