I love travelling in a car, where everything I just about own is thrown in, nothing is left behind and the open road is my friend, music going, dog in her car-bed, me and The Travelling Wilburys singing away in tune with each other.
Travelling across the Atlantic is quite nuther matter entirely. What to pack, what not. I'm a good packer, I should add. I rarely, if ever, have packed anything I haven't worn when there. Laundry facilities are usually good. For instance: I pack a cotton kind of nightie as a bathrobe for guest/hotel towels are usually too small and not conducive to galloping around hallways looking remotely decent after showering and your standard bathrobe is out of the question for packing. I will be moving around a bit when there, it is particularly challenging as to where I will land for a day or so as there are more friends and rellies to see than there are days to accommodate everyone. That's where the knapsack comes in.
As I get older, luggage weight can be a challenge. My arms have never been my strong suit though as I was bragging to a friend recently back in the day I could bench press close to 400 lbs with my legs. Seriously. Better than most muscular men. My legs have always been super strong. But they're absolutely useless when it comes to luggage carrying. And it's only me, no sturdy Charles Atlas striding beside me manfully managing all the bags as I hold my pinkie up dangling my lil ol' evening purse. I have to carry it all, switching airports with my big girl knickers on.
Light luggage is the best. And with that in mind I found one of those duffle bags on wheelies, soft-sided, multiple handles for manoeuvering on escalators, etc. and one of those dream knapsacks by Adidas, also very light and long with straps on the outside to hold jacket, whathaveyous and enough room inside for netbook, change of socks, ebook, journal, camera, etc. See photo above. Brand new both of them, found at a thrift store, and the price?? Under $8.00 for the two. Yes, you heard that right. I've been scouring thrift stores for a while. For I knew that the days of my hard-sided and more heavy luggage (though glamorous) were over.
I wish to travel way into old age if possible and this upcoming trip to Ireland is a total trial run for travelling alone with manageable light luggage.
So I'm wondering if you out there who love to travel light have good travel tips for elders. I sure would welcome them!
I'm excited for you, going home! Coming from Florida I never pack enough warm clothing. Because my head lives in La-La Land and if it's sweltering here it'll be a little cooler there! Ha! Usually a lot cooler! Through trial and error I've come to rely on layers. I don't even bother with shorts, brrrr! Hope you'll be reporting regularly! Bon voyage!
ReplyDeleteNot leaving yet, Molly. I'm going in August but like a good girl scout I needed to prepare :) Layers are the best, I find a good cardigan priceless in its flexibility and a good rain-jacket. I have a great one with a back pocket.
ReplyDeleteTo hell with the shorts...
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Be careful about lifting luggage into overhead bins. Get a young man to do it for you, or a flight attendant. And have a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteI only pack things I'm quite sure I'll use. If I'm not sure, then I leave them out. And if I know I'll be able to wash clothes, then I'll only pack what can be washed and re-worn.
ReplyDeleteBuild lots of extra waiting time into your schedule , especially if you're including trains . For some reason train companies expect you be travelling across Europe with only a spare hankie , so able to change platforms in a trice .
ReplyDeleteAnd don't let anyone kindly put your bags in the overhead luggage rack for you ... you'll find that said helpful person will have vanished when it's time to get the wretched things down again !
But the most important thing is to have a wonderful time , and , of course , you will !!
I travel with one medium sized suitcase on wheels with a retractable handle and a good sized backpack. Whatever doesn't fit in there, doesn't get to come along. I find that I don't even wear all the things I pack in them, so the next time I don't have to jam them full. I am lucky in that my daughter whom I visit, does wear the same size shoes that I do, so I get to borrow from her. It's the shoes that take up the room.
ReplyDeleteHattie:
ReplyDeleteCareful is my middle name, I've seen too many avoidable debilitating injuries in others!!
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Nick:
ReplyDeleteWise. Yes, washable is key.
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S&S:
ReplyDeleteTrains can be an awful nuisance, I had enough for a life time last year, toting heavy luggage and costumes. Boyohboy.
And no help from all the stations we were in....
yes, time to enjoy, I only have Heathrow for a change of planes, a great shift from before when New York had to be dealt with too.
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Irene:
ReplyDeleteI never pack excess so I wear/wash everything. My concern mainly was with the weight of the baggage itself. I am thrift shopping my old, fancy, heavy luggage and confining myself to the light duffle on wheels which has stretchy sides. I will update when I've completed the travelling, way off yet.
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I have a dear friend who only packs black and white when she travels. Just a few items of each color that way she can mix and match the whole time while gone.
ReplyDeleteHope this helps.
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Jo
I am learning to 'pack light', mind you all the travelling I do with the car has made me lazy, I can bring half a house and not have to carry it. Mind you, I blame the bulk on the "Oh, are you coming down? Any chance you would bring me....?"
ReplyDeleteElly is amazing these days at how much she packs in a very small space. Now, if you want to be like her, begin by talking OUT LOUD about what you are packing!!
Shower gel works well for hand-washing undies.
Just had a flashback! do you remember the disposable knickers from our young days? they were a cross between J cloth and disposable hospital gown paper. Most uncomfortable - I tried them once and never again! :-)
First thought; big man's hankie, sorry man size hankies. Knowing Ireland as well as you do and its propensity for raining softly all the time tissues are useless for nose mopping, glasses wiping etc. having said that tissues are a must when you look round in a public toilet...
ReplyDeleteHi Jo:
ReplyDeleteVery good tip, I like to mix and match also but colour restriction I hadn't thought of but now will!!
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GM:
ReplyDeleteGood idea on the shower gel!
As to those disposable knickers, god they were awful enhanced beautifully when it came to period time, lol.
I find Tilley's travel knickers (expensive)amazing. They dry in the wettest climate. And are so good for long treks as they wick away from the body.
Yeah, the car wrecks us for travel trimdown, though I must say I'm pretty good at it.
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Enna:
ReplyDeleteI pack those cotton scarves which are multi-purpose for me. I use them as hankies and sweat headbands and glasses wipers. They are fantastic. They also served more than once as field mushroom containers and stone and shell collectors and sun protector knotted at the corners!!!
Tissues for the strange unpredictable privy, thanks for the reminder.
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Since I use a walking stick as a constant companion, I check in all luggage and board the plane with nothing in my hand other than perhaps a book or a crossword puzzle if the flight is more than of 2 hours duration. A trick is to use a bag/case with four independent wheels which is much easier to pull along. I use the laundry/pressing facility wherever I stay liberally and so can manage with just a few changes.
ReplyDeleteI hope that helps.
I have a wheeled bag that is just small enough to allow it to be brought on board (or gate-checked if there isn't much overhead room) and a small backpack instead of a purse. But if I were travelling for a while, I'd probably take a slightly bigger bag and just check it. I will never again own luggage without wheels and a retractable handle, though! I roll all my clothes. Makes them more compact and minimizes wrinkles. I also read this tip, which I'm inclined to ry on my next flight - put everything in pastic bags - as much as you can fit into several gallon-sized bags. That way they don't have to rifle through your clothes.
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