How to Pack Like a "Girly-Girly" Woman.

How to Pack Like a "Girly-Girly" Woman that I am.

I have never gone camping voluntarily in my life. However, I am a traveler. I have been blessed to have visited many exotic locations in the past. Kenya and Tanzania during a photo-safari back in 2006, a river cruise in the Nile in 2008, a cruise to Alaska back on 2016, etc. So, even thought I don't know much about camping, I do know how to pack in an efficient way. I am thrifty and don't like to pay for extra luggage charges.

I have to pack for a sixtyish day road trip that includes both early winter and then warm temps on the loop back. Challenge accepted.

I am using these handy "toiletries" bags to pack: toiletries, bug spray/sun screen, and chargers/batteries/electronics peripherals.

In the process of packing away other stuff, I realized that I have these little Ikea organizers. These are perfect to help me separate items inside of the clothing container.

One for t-shirst, one for soxs, one for unmentionables. The bottom layer are the jeans and sweat pants:

Here it is, sixty days worth of stuff in one container:

I do have a standard carry on suitcase because I am going to be flying out to Mexico in November for a wedding. I am using the carry on to store the fair weather clothing. Once I come back from Mexico, I'll do a switch-a-roo and put some of the winter clothing in "storage" and take the summer clothing out into the black container.

Twenty Five days to go...

The itinerary has changed a bit - since I've discovered that Yellowstone "shuts down" mid-October. No, it doesn't mean they turn off the fossette on old faithful.... It just means that winter comes early - I've re-arranged the schedule to try to make it earlier in Oct - I'll be heading directly to Maine from Virginia on Sept 28 and then head out west. I had originally planned on wandering around the mid-Atlantic and north east coast and hang around for 10 days. Research continues and of course nothing is ever set in stone... that is the beauty of being a wanderer.

Comments

ee said…

Good thinking. I love how focused you are. It is a kind of creativity, and creativity is a depression buster, too! (:

September 3, 2018 at 8:46 AM

Chinita Chapina said…

Yes!! Focusing on what I have control over and keeping my energy on small accomplishments keeps the uglier thoughts at bay... besides positive minds, bring positive outcomes. Thanks for following my adventures.

September 8, 2018 at 9:37 PM

LillyEPS said…

You are a braver soul than me babydoll!!

September 9, 2018 at 3:11 AM

"Best ... bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine - or Portland, Oregon...” -Jack Torrance

My own westward expansion is accomplished! Portland to Portland! All 4000K miles of the journey! DONE! "… You were always the best of 'em. Best ... bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine - or Portland, Oregon for that matter.” -Jack Torrance, in The Shining. T he exterior of the 'Overlook Hotel' is the Timberline Lodge , Mount Hood in the Hood River area of Northern Oregon. One of my "Wander List" Items that I am proud to check off is coming to Portland Oregon. The idea of all those explorers making it “out west” and crossing the vastness of the continent to “see what is out there” has always been appealing. Perhaps because I am the child of immigrants. I am an immigrant. The image of all those people taking the chance and picking up all that they could to make it “all the way” to Portland… Leaving everything behind and carving a life in a new place. I identify with all of that… the sense of adventure, the search for something...

Links

Shortcuts! Here are shortcuts to the posts by the park or city: September 29: Sleepy Hallow New York , Tapan Zee Bridge. October 1: Maine Visited a dear friend and enjoy a trip to the lake! October 2: More of New England and Hyde Park in New York October 4: Letchworth State Park in New York the "Grand Canyon for the East" October 7: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota - Driving fast so I had to skip a lot but it was a nice drive October 9: South Dakota, Black Hills, Wyoming Dead presidents, Alien Ships rest areas and SNOW! October 10,12 and 13: Yellowstone! , Yellowstone , and one more Yellowstone October 14: Arches National Park in Utah - Beauty beyond compare October 16: Portland to Portland ! From Portland Maine to Portland Oregon in one piece! mostly. October 19: Oregon, Crater Lake and I learned about "trail magic" October 21: Lava Fields, Redwoods and ma...

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. – Leonardo Da Vinci

South Dakota, the Black Hills, Wyoming and a Sad Anniversary After spending my first night at a Cracker Barrel parking lot in Sioux City I had a nice breakfast and (wisely) decided to find me a heavier coat. I underestimated the cold during the “fall” season up here. I am glad I went with my gut feeling. On the way west I stumble onto the Louis and Clark expedition welcome center and had a date with Dignity! She is beautiful! I made it to the Badlands National Park! It was a bit cloudy and rainy but it the park was as beautiful as I ever picture it!! Someday I may come back and spend a couple of days exploring! The silence! The wind blowing through the canyons… Of course I had to stop at Wall Drugs... hey is a tourist trap but coffee was only 0.05 cents!! From there I headed west to the Black Hills area. When I arrived to the welcome...

Opportunity Dances With Those Already on The Dance Floor - H Jackson Brown, Jr

I've Been Preparing Myself for this Trip All My Life! (I just didn't know it until now) Have I mentioned that I have never gone camping voluntarily in my life? ever... I've dated outdoorsy, adventurous people in the past, but me? nah... Dad used to work for the Public Health System in Guatemala and he used to work in some remote locations. I went with him a couple of times, maybe more. It required donkey rides, canoes, hikes through muddy jungle and back of pick up trucks. Mosquitos, spiders, snakes, and scorpions? oh yeah... plenty! I still hate spiders to this day. Mom says she strongly identifies with Sancho Panza and has never been tempted to go fight windmills... she prefers to stay at home and binge-watch Netflix. So, I was surprised to find out that I already had a lot of stuff around the house that I can use for this trip. I've got solar lamps, solar radio, battery operated radios, rechargeable AA batteries (come to think of it,...

"I'll like to stop there some day...."

How many times have you thought of stopping somewhere and just look around? Well, for me, "someday" is NOW! I am trying to make it into Yellowstone National Park before it shuts down for the season. Each time I say that I imagen the rangers shutting down the water flow into "Old Faithful" and cooling down the springs at "Thermopolis" - But having that goal in mind doesn't mean I can have a little fun along the way. Day one and Two: Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rode Island and Massachusetts. Left VA at 6:00 on a raining day - what was I thinking! Made into into Jersey by 2:00 am and I learned a new lesson: Stop ahead of the overnight destination at a restroom and put PJs under whatever I am wearing. Once I get to destination, I don't want to be changing in the middle of nowhere, or, what if it is pouring rain? and I don't feel like taking a natural shower before bed.... ...

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