Pack-n-Play
Radio - May 4, 2009

The year 1981 was a memorable one for me for two reasons. One, it was my first long motorcycle trip; 3,600 miles. Second, and more importantly, it was my first motorcycle trip with my husband of six months. It was his first trip with a passenger…ever.

• Smaller is better when packing a bike, from your underwear to your cosmetics, keep it small.
• Pack like colors, and they should be dark. If you get a chance to wash clothes on your trip, it will probably be late afternoon or evening and you will have to fight others for the washer and dryers at the hotel. Fewer loads are better.  Avoid having a white load, a colored load, a jeans load, delicates, or hand wash items. One load; colored! (Note: It took me a while to get used to it, too. Men have no problem with this.)
• Pack your bike to keep heavy items low on the bike.
• Keep items you use frequently where you can access them easily, e.g., maps, rain gear, Tylenol, water, cameras, snacks, etc.
• Compression bags are your friend; ‘nuff said. I will show you later on. 
• Another relative of the compression bag; Ziplock bags. Also, your friend.
• Fold your rain gear so you can get it on fast. Why Velcro, button, and zipper everything? You are asking to get wet while you bunny hop along the road trying to get your legs in the pants. 
• Leave space for souvenirs and shirts. You know you will have them.
• Always carry emergency medical and contact information on you and on your bike.
• Always carry several bandanas. They come in handy for everything. Here are some suggestions: http://www.cyclematters.com/motorcycle-product-reviews//clothing-accessories/other-clothing-accessories/motorcycling-bandana-windshield-heatshield.cfm
• Always carry several large trash bags with you. They take up no room and come in handy in the rain and the cold. 
• So what if you wear the same clothes more than once. If you are riding alone, no one will know if you wore it before or not. Chances are, if others are riding with you, they are wearing their clothes more than once, too. 
• Allow the passenger, if you ride with a passenger, to pay tolls, show parks passes, etc., so the driver can focus on handling the bike. I carry a small purse attached to my belt loops (see photo) with the cash and cards we may need. My husband pulls up a little beyond the person at the toll booth, etc., and I take care of business from the back.

                                   

                                    

• 1 extra pair of jeans
• 1 pair of capris for evenings, eating out, or when I need something to wear while washing both pairs of jeans. Shorts work here, too.
• 1 linen shirt (I wear this to protect me from too much sun, if necessary. It is rolled and on top in my bag for easy access.)
• 2 pairs of socks
• 2 bras
• 9 pairs of thongs (Thongs take up the least room…and you really can get used to them)
• 1 nightie (I take a black slip nightie…takes up the least packing room, and it’s fun to look feminine at bedtime after a long day on the bike.)
• 2 cami tops
• 2 tank tops
• 2 short-sleeve t-shirts
• 5 sleeveless t-shirts
• 2 long-sleeve t-shirts
• 1 swimming suit
• 1 pair flip flops
• 1 travel hair dryer (This could be eliminated because most hotels have hair dryers now, but I like mine better.)
• 1 styling brush

                                  

                             

                              

                              

                                 

• 3 pairs disposable contact lenses (adjust quantity as needed depending on length of trip)
• Contact lense case (Since we both wear contact lenses, my husband packs the contact lense solution in his bag…I have the shared toothpaste in my bag.)
• 1 tweezer
• 1 small cuticle scissor
• 1 fingernail clipper
• 1 pencil sharpener (for eye/lip liner pencils)
• 1 toothbrush
• 1 dental floss
• 1 razor
• 1 nail file
• 1 small mirror
• 1 make-up remover
• 1 eye make-up remover
• 1 allergy eye drops (You may not need these. I do.)
• 1 Advair (Asthma medicine. You probably don’t have this to pack. Lucky you. More room for other stuff.)
• 1 Conditioning Mousse (You may not need this or use something else)
• 1 Shampoo (I know they have these at the hotels, but this is one of my little luxuries.)
• 1 Conditioner (See above. Enough said.)
• 1 Body Lotion (Hey! Your skin gets dry on the bike and that little bottle in the hotel isn’t enough for two. If you don’t need it, you have more room.)
• 1 small hairspray
• 1 deodorant
• 1 face cream (Don’t go there. I need this, period.)
• 1 blush
• 1 foundation (I try to find the smallest size. Bottles leak. Cream doesn’t)
• 1 eye lash curler
• 2 mascara (Sometimes I take only one mascara, but then my eye lashes are either long or plump…but not both.)
• 1 eye liner pencil
• 1 eye brow pencil
• 1 lip liner pencil
• 1 lipstick
• 3 eye shadows
• 6 make-up brushes
• 1 comb
• Cotton balls and Q-tips
• 9 days of meds (I found these great little zipper top bags at the pharmacy for pills. Much easier to pack than bottles or those plastic daily pill cases.)

                                

                                

                                  

• 2 sets of rain gear (his and hers)
• Maps
• Travel and hotel information
• Two decks of cards
• 1 6-pack cooler, the kind that folds up (This is handy for carrying food and snacks)
• 1 small cutting board (great for cheese, crackers, and a bottle of wine in the evening)
• 2 bottles of water
• 4 large trash bags
• Extra Ziplock bags in assorted sizes (these come in handy for all kinds of things and take up very little space.)
• Sunblock
• Advil
• Imodium
• Gum
• Wet Wipes
• Kleenex
• Hand sanitizer
• Bandanas
• Bungee cords
• Small camera
• Cork screw