The Packing Issue
Trip Start
Apr 30, 2009
1
2
17
Trip End
Jun 05, 2009
Canberra, Australia
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The problem with packing NOW is that we have new suitcases. They're big, robust, silver, hardcase, have multi-directional wheels... they all but have their own damn wings. AND they hold too much stuff.
So, we'd already packed. We were frugal. Then, out of interest because we thought we should, we borrowed the scales from the neighbours (thanks Anne & Pieter) and weighed our ultra-luggage. Good news... we would've made the first class cut-off allowance. Bad news... we never get upgraded, and to make it worse, we're flying Jetstar to Japan (yes really... it was a cheap fare, who could refuse it?). So, in our lounge room today, 8kg of stuff had to go.
GO WHERE????
I mean... really. I dare anyone to travel for six weeks through the arctic, then onto L.A. in summer and back to Vancouver where it just rains and rains, and do it on 20kg per person. True, we do have 10kg worth of gifts, but it is quite tricky to pick up vegemite, caramello koalas & Aussie footy jumpers along the way.
So, scientific-style, we began weighing things to see what just HAD to stay behind. Yes, i know you're all screaming 'SHOES', but no. I have very good reasons for all seven pairs. The fact that i got it DOWN to seven is a true packing miracle in itself. And anyway, Brad's book weighed a whole kilo. His thongs weigh 1.2kg. He has HUGE feet. So if you add up the weight of my shoes, the quantity is not an issue....except for the Alaskan glacier hiking boots. And they ARE coming, because the faux fur matches my Alaskan parka. I mean really... what are you SUPPOSED to wear in Alaska... thongs?
So here's where we're at. We've made it to 20kg for each suitcase. My carry-on has three pairs of shoes in it and 4 books, travel documents and our wildlife-ready camera. Brad's has the laptop, in-flight toiletries (thanks Cid), glacier-ready binoculars, his 1kg book and his 1.2kg thongs. We're tying jumpers around our waist and i may well need to strap excess baggage, like all the timtams people have asked for, onto my body a la 'Border Security' style. Thank goodness for Canadian Air on the way home!!!!
So, we're ready, set, go. See you in Osaka!
Comments
Whew!
As long as you got to bring all seven pairs of shoes, it all works out. Of course you could ship the extra stuff back home if you really needed to. :)
packing
His thongs weigh 1.2kgs?
The rest of him doesn't weigh that much!