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T-minus 1 day: Stage 2 packing

San Carlos Travel Blog › entry 4 of 71 › view all entries

Over the next 2 months, I will explore the southern part of South America, traveling by plane, train, boat, bike, bus, and foot. I will wine-taste in Chile, hike through Patagonia, party on NYE in Rio, and recover on the beach in Uruguay. I will begin and end my trip in Panama where my uncle lives. I don't know what to expect, except that it will be one hell of an adventure. Whatever happens, I'm truly thankful to have this opportunity to see more of the fascinating world we live in.

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T-minus 1 day: Stage 2 packing

November 12, 2008

Ok it's 20 minutes before "T-minus 1 day" but I'll start this entry anyway.

I'm getting nervous about refining my inventory, completing my 100+ item to-do list, and spending final time with friends.

We'll see what I can tackle on my last full day in town.

I appreciate some of the feedback I've gotten on my inventory at Stage 1. Amazingly, the comments have been "Wow, you're bringing too much". Ok, I will scale back. I mean, shoot, I could wear a single t-shirt for a month straight, I suppose. I may not make many friends, but what the hell, I like the friends I have already. :-)

Update from later in Day:

After a glass of wine to loosen up, I went through my inventory and removed my poncho, 3 shirts, and my swim suit.

I decided my gore-tex shell and backpack cover would be enough to shield me in a rainstorm - the poncho could be used as make-shift emergency shelter in the unlikely event I got lost in Patagonia - but after watching countless episodes of Survivorman and Man Vs. Wild, I know how to make a shelter out of branches, leaves, vines, rocks, etc. (Thanks Les and Bear!).

I decided my swim suit is really only needed for the last few weeks of my trip, and I could either swim in my workout shorts or in my zip off pants - or I just buy a cheapo Brazilian suit. Hope it's not speedo's only down there though. They must sell board shorts, too.

And the shirts - I removed 2 t-shirts and my "going out" shirt. The latter again would be used only at the tail end of my trip - not worth carrying for the first month. I'll just buy something later in Buenos Aires or Rio.

Although small adjustments, these changes offered up some space in my pack. I feel better about it.

I estimate, too, that about 25% of my gear is completely disposable - I can ditch certain items mid-route to free up more space as needed. Throw out the t-shirts and my shower thongs (hell, a little fungus never hurt anyone), give my emergency repair kit to the next backpacker I befriend, burn my guide book, sell my climbing rope, etc.