Packing List

This is a complete list of the gear and equipment we carry on our bicycles. It includes items for two adults along with two 11-year old boys who are being roadschooled.

• Tent
• Sleeping Bags (4)
• Foam/Air Mattresses (4)
• Pillows (4)
• Flashlights (4) - We believe it's important to have one flashlight apiece since we all do a lot of reading and the kids are doing homeschooling. This was more important during the winter when we spent a lot of time in the tent due to the short days.
• Tarp (large) - Large enough to cover the bikes in a rainstorm. There were times when we were caught in a heavy rainstorm and our only protection was making an impromptu tent with us straddling our bikes with the tarp covering us! Anyway it has multiple uses.
• Sheet(1) - For those hot muggy nights where just touching the nylon of the sleeping bag makes you break out in a hot sweat (only for John, the rest go without)

• Stove
• Bowls (4)
• Utensils - spoons(4), forks(4), knives(2)
• Knife (a regular one. We wrap it in plastic bags to prevent cutting panniers)
• Big wooden spoon
• Pot (we carry a 4-liter pot so we can make spaghetti)
• Lighter
• Spare parts for the stove
• Spare fuel bottle

Regular Clothing:

• Bicycle helmets(4)
• Shirts, Bicycling Shorts, Socks - About two apiece
• Shoes - Everyone has a pair of walking shoes, a pair of sandals, plus John has an additional pair of cleated cycling shoes
• Sweat Bands(2)
• Bicycling Gloves(3) - Gloves are a must-have for the adults, but not for the kids.

Bicycle:

• Bicycles (2 singles & a tandem)
• Spare tubes - More 700c tubes than 26" since the former are very difficult (if not impossible) to get in South or Central America. A spare tube for the trailer.
• Spare tires - Again more 700c tires for the same reason. A spare tire for the trailer.
• Patch Kits
• Pumps(3) - One on each bike
• Panniers and Trailers - A full set of panniers for all bikes plus two trailers. We are carrying lots of stuff, much more than the average cycle tourist, but remember that we have two children and they are being homeschooled.
• Tools and Spare Parts - Too much to list so I made a special page for this
• Emergency Flashing Lights - For when we get caught in the dark or go through tunnels

Winter Clothes:

• Hats(4) - A thin wool hat to wear under the helmet
• Gloves(4 pairs) - Winter gloves; wool works best
• Liner Gloves (4 pairs) - To insert inside the winter gloves; wool works best
• Neck gaiters (3) John doesn't cover his face, but Nancy & the boys like to cover their noses when cold.
• Long Sleeve Shirts - thin wool and thin cotton shirts to use in layers
• Felted wool sweater vest (2) Nancy & Daryl get really cold so they need an extra layer
• Jackets (either fleece jackets or thick felted wool sweater)
• Raincoats - To use for warmth (they act to stop the cold wind from penetrating into our layers of shirts) and to keep out moisture.
• Tights (6) - the boys have two pairs each to layer
• Wool socks - a thin pair and a thick pair for each of us

Roadschooling:

• Journals(4) - small spiral notebooks. We send them home when filled.
• Math books - a book for each kid at their level.
• Novels - depending on where we are, we sometimes carry a whole bunch and sometimes very few.
• Pencil bag - filled with pencils, pencil sharpener, compass, protractor, and ruler
• Sketchpad (for Davy)
• Colored pencils
• Computer Software - Various math and language arts programs

Technical: (see Technology for Travelers page for more detailed information)

• Computers(2) - There is a long story of why we have two, but we initially planned on having one
• DVD/CD plalyer/recorder - One computer has no optical drive, the other is so old it only has a CD-read drive
• Blank DVD's - For backup to send back home to the States
• Flash Drives(3) - To backup and transfer data
• SDHC Memory Chipss - For backup
• Recharable AA Batteries - For the cameras and flashlights
• Battery Charger - For the above batteries
• Still Cameras(2) - One Sony SLR and one very old Sony for the kids
• Video Cameras(2) - One good quality one and another small, cheap one for the kids

Miscellaneous:

• medical kit - we carry very little. Basically, just bandaids, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, allergy tabs, and cortizone cream.
• beads - Nancy is a bead artist, so carries a small pack with an assortment of beads, thread, and needles.
• toilet paper - an essential!
• toiletry kit - toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo
• bug spray
• sunscreen
• extra batteries
• mP3 player/headphones
• Wet Ones (travel pack)
• eyeglass cleaner/cloth
• sunglasses (4)