Fully Loaded

With only one week before I leave, I have my complete list of gear fully checked off. I have all I need! This will all fit in the four bags shown at the top of the picture. Pretty crazy!

First two segments with departure date!

Thanks to the kindness of my family, I won't have to start this tour riding through the cold Colorado mountains. On March 2nd, my parents and my sister are driving me down south to begin! These maps show the first two segments of my trip. From El Paso, I'll ride west to San Diego. Along the way I'll make detours to visit the Grand Canyon and some ancient cliff dwellings. A lot of desert here.

More Gear!

From left to right, top to bottom.

1. Mountain Hardware Pinole Sleeping Bag
2. Kelty Salida 2 Tent in Event's Sea to Summit waterproof compression sack
3. ThermaRest ProLite sleeping pad
4. ThermaRest self inflating pillow
5. Cacoon Travel Sheet/Sleeping Bag liner
6. GSI Outdoors Dualist cook set
7. 5'x7' Tarp
8. PackLite Towel
9. Packable Backpack
10. Forte Bicycle Touring shoes
11. First Aid kit
12. Colorado jersey!!
13. Toe guards for cold weather

Testing... One... Two...

This week I've had my first chance to test ride my bike, fully loaded with the gear I'll be taking on tour. I left my apartment and pedaled my way to Tyler's house, a very good friend of mine. The trip between my place and his was officially the longest I'd been on my bike, fully loaded. It felt great. Riding through town with everything I need to live ,strapped to my bike. Very freeing experience. I left Tyler's and headed toward another good friends place, Isaiah. My lease is up, so staying with him and my sister for a few weeks before the tour, while I tie up remaining loose ends.

A picture of me and my bike at Tyler's. Also, my sleeping bag with a super soft liner, a therma-rest sleeping pad and a therma-rest pillow. SO comfortable!

Dashboard!

New Panniers!

Had to buy a new set of panniers that would better fit my bike. My last set would easily pop off of the rack on bumpy roads. These are bigger and are easier to pack! Win Win.

The Gear List!

Here is the list of gear I'll be taking with me for the tour! (will be updated/changed throughout the week)

Shelter:

- Tent/Footprint - Kelty Salida 2 w/ Kelty Salida Footprint
- Sleeping Bag - Mountain Hardwear Pinole +15
- Sleeping Pad - Therma-Rest ProLite Self-Inflating

Bicycle:

- Bike - 2012 Fuji Roubaix 2.0

- Rear Rack - Transit SeatPost Rack

- Panniers - Garneau Panniers

Misc.:

- GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist cook set

- 5' by 7' Tarp

- UltraLightweight packable backpack

- MSR MicroRocket stove and fuel

- Assorted bicycle tools

- Spare tire and inner-tubes

- Event Sea to Summit 14L Compression Stuff Sack
- TekTowel packlite towel

Clothing:

- Columbia OmniHeat rain jacket

Pictured is all of the new gear, bought today. Bicycle touring isn't cheap.

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.

Soon I will be embarking on a self-contained bicycle tour! What does that mean? Well, I'll be riding my bicycle around country at about 15 miles per hour and traveling 70+ miles a day. Ill stealthily camp in city parks, abandoned barns, in the desert and in beautiful national and state parks. Ill eat what I can carry on my bike and cook whatever requires only a small pot and water. Ill have shelter, food, water, and clothing strapped to my bike using saddle bags. I will travel only as far and as fast as my body will let me.

Life is already a journey, but going on an adventure makes the journey more fulfilling.

The purest form of transportation.

This is my bike! A 2012 Fuji Roubaix. It wasn't designed for touring, but neither was the penny-farthing Thomas Stevens rode around the world... In the 1800's. He departed for his journey with only a little food and an extra set of clothes. I think ill be fine.

The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart. ~Iris Murdoch

Cooper, the Sooper Dooper Pooper

Nothing at all to do with bicycles or touring... just a cute picture of my dog... Who I will absolutely miss on my bicycle tour!!!