so, what's in the yellow bag?

[Daniel Kalal]

This is the checklist I used on my recent ride to Norway.  I know it might look ridiculously detailed, but it doesn't take long to use (most things are always ready to go) and I can be packed for multiple weeks in Europe in about ten minutes.  The packed yellow bag weights in at around eleven pounds.  A few things are kept in the pockets of my Roadcrafter suit.  As you can tell, I'm a believer in packing for layers.



   On your person (flying)   
c   watch   
c   smartphone w/pouch   
c   Print boarding passes   and trim them
c   Windbreaker   marmot, grey
c   change purse (orange)   
c   Canon Camera   check date/time for destination
c   Canon spare battery   in camera belt pouch (charged)
c   Pocket information card   laminated
c   Passport   keep in orange zipper pouch
c   Shoulder strap   
   In  wallet   
c   visiting cards   
c   driver's license   
c   Insurance cards   
c   Card - Visa Debit   
c   Card - Chase (IHG)   
c   Card - Chase (United)   
c   Card - Travelex Cash   
c   Card - Global travel insurance Card   cut /  laminate from .pdf file (just use clear tape)
   In the white bag   for air travel
c   pouch, nylon, white   
c   clip-on sunglasses   Haven w/lightweight case
c   earplugs (2 pair)   snack-size ziploc
c   Pen   ballpoint
c   battery pack: Micro-A to Type-A   5,200mAh, 2A (fully charged)
c   USB cable: Type-A to Type-C   to charge phone
c   Charger: Type-A   ventev, 2amp
c   1st level currency: Euros   in sandwich bag
   Black travel bag contents   
c   First aid kit   
c   passport photocopy   in side pocket
c   Conversion outlet-plug (2, each)   EU
c   Charger: Canon battery   dark, GX9
c   Charger: Eneloop batteries   white
c   Type-C SD card reader   Satechi
c   Type-A SD card reader   needed only for Surface Pro
c   Display Adaptor   needed only for Surface Pro
c   Lithium AAA batteries (4)   for Spot
c   glasses wipe   in very small Ziploc bag
c   USB cable: Micro-A   to charge battery pack
c   plastic waste bag   
c   sewing kit   in side pocket
c   SD card (spare)   prefer Transcend 32gb
c   Visiting Cards   in side pocket
c   zip-ties: small   in side pocket
c   zip-ties: longer   at bottom of bag
c   Flashlight, black LED   Â (1) AA fresh each year
c   red permanent marker pen   to mark map
c   Spare Glasses   
c   Glasses screwdriver   
   Orange travel bag contents   
c   Hair Brush   Clean under tap 
c   toothbrush   start with new
c   toothpaste   full bottle
c   shaving gel   full bottle
c   Shampoo   full bottle
c   floss   new pack 
c   GUM toothpicks   Â mini-ziploc
c   Ear plugs   
c   Razor   w/case
c   Deodorant   start with new
c   Pepto-Bismol   tablets
c   Advil   tablets
c   Anti-diarrheal   tablets
c   Fisherman's friend   
c   Detergent for sink   25
c   Sink stopper   
c   Moleskin   1 pair each in small ziplocs
c   Chapstick   
c   nail clippers   
c   Breathalyzer   France only
c   q-tips, cut and in small ziploc   mini-ziploc (cut 1/2)
c   Pen   this is an extra
c   small zipties (10)   in side pocket
   Roadcrafter Suit   
c   Aerostich R3   
c   eneloop pro AA batteries (2)   RH sleeve pocket
c   ear plugs (4)   RH sleeve pocket
c   flashlight, small   front zipper (check operation)
c   travel insurance documents   leg pocket (label w/sharpie)
c   Ferry documents   leg pocket (label w/sharpie)
c   International drivers license   leg pocket
c   The big-picture map   front pocket
   General Packing   
c   Gloves, light weight   
c   Gloves, heavy weight   
c   Socks (2 pair)   smart wool
c   Underwear (2)   
c   Long sleeve undershirt   light-weight
c   Pants (2)   
c   Shirts (2)   
n   swimming suit   not this trip
c   Polar-tech  pullover   L.L. Bean, grey
c   Electric vest   
c   windstop pullover   Aerostich, tan
c   Shoe bags   black nylon
c   Hat Tilley   clean 
c   Silk Scarf   Aerostich
c   zipper pouch, yellow for maps   for maps and currency Ziplocs
c   map - north scandinavia   in yellow zipper pouch
c   map - south scandinavia   in yellow zipper pouch
c   map - denmark   in yellow zipper pouch
c   map - germany   in yellow zipper pouch
c   map - czech   in yellow zipper pouch
c   map - alps   in yellow zipper pouch
c   2nd level currencies   snack-size ziploc for each w/label, w/maps
n   Kansas flags (4)   keep in Ziploc bag
c   Duffle tie-down straps   Yellow
c   Ziploc bags (2)   quart size
c   Laundry bag (mesh)   white
n   Face shield   if needed
   In a ziploc bag (1 gallon)   for quick access at Agostini
c   Spot   4 AAA batteries loaded
c   RAM - Spot mount   zip-tie and rubber gasket
c   Garmin Oregon GPS   w/Eneloop Pro AA batteries
c   RAM - Garmin mount   w/hardware
n   Tire Pressure Gauge   repack under the seat
c   Long slender ziptie   for Spot carrier base
c   Tool bag straps (3)   
c   Dryer sheets (2)   For helmet storage
c   white tape   for helet holes
   Motorcycle related   
c   tool bag w/tools   
c   Tire repair kit   keep in tool bag w/grease pencil
c   Zipties   Small and long (like-sizes tied together)
c   Duffle-bag, yellow   Small Ortleib for the ride
   Normally Kept at Mandello   in blue bag
c   Helmet w/bag   Arai Profile (purchased 2010)
c   Replacement helmet shield (not)   Arai SAQ
c   Key fob checklist (not)   
c   Boots   Sidi, On-Road
c   Water bottle w/carabineer   Nalgene, blue
c   Tire Pump and gauge   in red bag w/cords
c   Power cord, 12 volt   Powerlet-to-battery
c   Ferry tie-downs   
   Activities before leaving   
c   Hold mail (last day it's delivered)   save confirmation number
n   Purchase local currency   Bank of America (FedEx signature)
c   Notify Chase Credit   
c   Notify Visa Debit   
c   Prepare Garmin Dakota 20   load Europe maps and label the case
c   Garmin POIs   use POI loader for hotels and Guzzi shops
n   Lawn service   no action taken
c   Wash silk scarf   
c   Prepare Roadcrafter   Wash-and-waterproof, lubricate zippers
c   Vignettes for autobahns   Order online
c   UHC Global Insurance   schedule coverage time period
c   Activate Spot account   for public tracking
c   Set dates for SpotWalla   https://spotwalla.com
c   set camera time-zone   Use London for general purpose Europe
c   use ear drops and trim nails   
c   wallet   water-proofing spray
c   shoes   cleaned
c   shirts   check for integrity
c   shoe laces   check for integrity
c   pants   check for integrity
c   spreadsheet: Vehicles.xls   prepare Agostini tab
c   Pack in large Ortlieb   small Ortlieb is packed flat at bottom of larger
c   set electrical outlet timers   home security 
   prepare phone   
c   AT&T  data, confirm plan   International Day Pass ($10/day usage)
c   travel documents   use prefix: a
c   phone maps   update
c   maps, roads travelled   update files
c   Language chart   check for new languages

[Daniel Kalal]

one note:  In the photograph, those light brown things on the rear rack are the two Stelvio driving lights that I removed and taped to the rack with packing tape.  Both of them had structural fatigue failures and I caught them both just in time before the lights went bouncing down the road (not a bad thing, perhaps).

I total, I've had five driving light failure on various Stelvios.  Bolts that shear and brackets that fracture.  Before this trip, I told the guys at Agostini that if the lights fall off, I'm not going back to pick them up.  Well, I did bring them back, anyway.

[Cam3512]

Fascinating.  So no checked bag on the flight,  and you’re riding with everything you carry?

I take it no saddlebags due to width/weight in case you drop the bike?

Gotta title your book “Little Yellow Bag...”

Thanks,

Cam

[chuck peterson]

As one who is constantly looking for his keys, that's amazing...

[Daniel Kalal]

Fascinating.  So no checked bag on the flight...

Helmet, boots in Mandello, but I still pack the Roadcrafter.  So, I do check the lot--no carryon.

[Lannis]

I like all of that; WAY more electronics than I have, but then we DO need to see your pictures.

Ten minutes?   Hmmm ....  checking all those batteries, charging all those batteries, oops, I don't have a new shampoo bottle, gotta buy one,  oops, maps aren't up to date, can't believe I used my last big ziptie on the last trip, these old earplugs are kind of nasty, better send off for some new ones, where the hell is that 'Charger: Type-A   ventev, 2amp', bet I left it in the last motel, oops, the travel insurance card is out of date, gotta get a new one, print it, and re-laminate it .... and the "pre-trip home-prep" activities would take me two days.

Matter of fact, the whole list IS taking me about a week-and-a-half, 'cause Fay and I are taking off to see the USA in a couple days and will be out for a month.  And that's with a fourth of the batteries you have ...

It would take me 10 minutes just to find the missing "Roc" strap to strap the pack on the back of the bike!!!

Lannis

[Roebling3]

Lots of practice helps. Especially if you're carrying all that gear for recording/communicating. 
I'm way too absent minded to pull that off. I'd love to follow. Pick up errant lighting bits. Learn a new way to some where. Smell the roses, so to speak.  R3~
Methinx Cam is dreaming of retirement.

[ken farr]

Daniel:

  What are visiting cards?
  The breathalyzer, for France?


Thank you in advance:

kjf

[Rich A]

The definition of traveling light! A couple of questions: (1) do you wear your riding boots everywhere, i.e., no other footwear? (2) I didn't see a towel/rag/wiper in the list--I'd think one of those would be handy.

[Daniel Kalal]

The definition of traveling light! A couple of questions: (1) do you wear your riding boots everywhere, i.e., no other footwear? (2) I didn't see a towel/rag/wiper in the list--I'd think one of those would be handy.

There's a pair of shoes in the bag.  I guess it's not on the checklist since I'm not likely to go to the airport barefoot.  The boots are in Mandello.

[Daniel Kalal]

Daniel:

  What are visiting cards?
  The breathalyzer, for France?


Thank you in advance:

kjf

Business cards--without the business.
French law for checking blood alcohol.  All drivers need to have it.  This law might now be relaxed.

[Cam3512]

Do you have a place in Mandello, or stage everything at Agostini's?

[Muzz]

Thanks for that very carefully thought out list Daniel. I carry a lot of that on tour but there are some items there I see that I have taken a note of.

After our first trip to Europe we did in the 90's three items you pack stand out that I would reinforce.

Sink stopper
Detergent
Quick dry underwear.

[Rich A]

There's a pair of shoes in the bag.  I guess it's not on the checklist since I'm not likely to go to the airport barefoot.  The boots are in Mandello.

Thanks--the list has been helpful tho' I'll never see anywhere near as many mi/km as you!

Rich A

[SED]

Daniel, thanks for the detailed list - it gives a lot to think about for the next time I go.

And thank you for the detailed travelog to Norway and Sweden.  The combination of photos, culture, history and practical advice means that I read every word.  I love your travel photo essays.  Thank you!
Shawn

[Rhodan]

Daniel, thanks for the detailed list - it gives a lot to think about for the next time I go.

+1    And ditto what everyone has said about your pics and info.  I always open up a thread you've started.

[Darren Williams]

Mr. DK is my "travel light" hero!   

And all his ride reports and photos are first class must enjoy.