Rime of the Modern Mariner

I’ve been packing (in bits and pieces) all week, partly to see whether I’m going to be able to fit everything into my planned luggage. But also in an effort to not be frantic at this stage of the game, which uh…didn’t work. For the curious, here’s what I’m hoping to take. Trying to keep the mass of stuff down to a level that I can manage without help. Of course, even if that works, at 4’11”, I’ll need help getting carry-on stuff into the overheads. (Okay, the swim suit can probably stay here.) Some of this stuff is on a packing list they supplied us with. I am tremendously glad the heaviest of the clothing I’ll need is supplied by RPS at Punta Arenas. (See Odd Preparations.)

I decided to spend the extra money for merino wool long johns. We discovered Icebreaker woolens while traveling in New Zealand a couple of years ago. Totally no itch, and they are naturally antibacterial so they have to get really dirty before they start to stink, which might be handy since I don’t want to be hanging out in the laundry room all the time. I’ve used them for backpacking with great success.

I sure have a lot of technical gear to drag along on this trip. There was no room or money for a professional photographer, so I’m doing the honors. Not that I mind. I love to make photos. Taking two cameras, a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi with a Tamron 28-300mm lens (don’t want to be changing lenses in an environment where there’s salt water flying all over), and a Leica D-Lux. This is a pocket camera, but takes incredible pictures owing to Leica’s fabulous optics. I also hope to make some sound clips; hence the digital recorder. My laptop is a small-screen Macbook, loaded with extra memory and storage.

I’m new to Amazon’s Kindle book reader, but so far it’s dangerously great. (Owing to its ability to connect me directly to Amazon.com from pretty much anyplace where a cell phone will work, it’s WAY too easy to spend money on digital books.) Loaded with Darwin’s Voyage of the Beagle, and a couple of novels, it’s definitely saving me a fair amount of weight. Biggest trouble with it is that most books aren’t formatted for it yet.

Here’s how it looks (and yes, I really really need the gumi worms):

CLOTHING
 Regular underwear
 4 t-shirts
 1 flannel shirt
 1 gym pants
 1 set of sweats
 1 pr regular jeans
 1 pr better jeans
 1 pr fleece lined jeans
 3 pr regular socks
 Asolo medium weight hiking boots
 1 pr Crocs
 1 pr blue Keene sandals
 6 pr wool socks
 6 pr sock liners
 2 sets each wool long johns, heavy and light
 Polarfleece glove/mittens
 Silk glove liners
 Fleece pullover
 Northface fleece jacket
 Northface weather shell
 Yellow fleece hat
 Down vest
 Swimsuit

TOILETRIES
 The usual, but larger quantities
 Sunblock
 Minimalist makeup
 Extra chapstick
 Fingernail clippers & emery board
 Hair dryer?

FANNY PACK
 Driver’s license
 House key
 2 credit cards
 Insurance card
 Passport
 Chilean currency
 Wallet & some cash
 Notebooks & pen

TECHNOLOGY
 Batteries (audio recorder, microphone, flashlight)
 Kindle & charger (preloaded with books) ?
 iPod & charger
 Cell phone & charger
 Computer
  charger
  Ethernet cable
  flash memory stick
  LaCie Rugged drive & cables
 Audio recorder
  manual
  microphone
 Plastic bags (vapor protection)
 Tripod & bag
 Camera case
 Canon camera
  charger
  extra batteries
  sensor cleaner
  extra memory
  manual
  card reader(s)
  cable
 Leica camera
  charger
  extra battery
  extra memory
  manual
  card reader(s)

FOOD & KITCHEN
 Water bottle
 Steri-pen?
 Drinking cup
 Gumi worms
 Tea
 Vitamins
 Traveling pharma & first aid kit
 Prescription meds; SCOPALOMINE; Gan Mao Ling

MISCELLANEOUS
 Hand warmers
 Exercise ball, bands & strap
 Little pillow
 Computer glasses
 Clip-ons for regular glasses
 Wash cloth
 Alarm clock
 Kitchen timer
 Laundry bag
 Combination lock
 Books

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