Posted by One thing I’ve really noticed over the past 10 days is just how much luggage I’m hauling around and not using.
My list of unused items includes:
1 tent
1 sleeping mat
1 sleeping bag
1 bike carry bag
1 duffel bag
1 pannier backpack converter
1 down jacket
2 pairs thermal socks
1 pair arm warmers
1 pair of waterproof gloves
2 T shirts
1 torch
1 spot tracker
1 map case
1 helmet
1 pair of trousers
1 towel
1 cycling top
1 cycling knicks
Now admittedly I may still use my camping gear, but so far I’ve found I can usually get a room in a 3 or 4 star hotel with buffet breakfast and wifi included for between €35 and €55 and that’s just too good a price to turn down when it means a long shower and comfy bed at the end of the day and no worries about where all my gear is.
I also kind of have to carry some of this stuff as I’ll need it for the flight home, but still, at least two, maybe three, of my panniers are full up with crap I’m not using.
Which begs the obvious question … If I seem to be able to live quite happily for two weeks with just one panniers worth of stuff … what exactly do I need a house full of stuff for?
Oh, but just to be clear I have found my iPhone, iPad, Netbook and Kindle to all be essential, have used them on a daily basis, and include them in my one pannier worth of stuff that I do need.