|
Our nightly lodging varied greatly.
Some rooms had a bathroom with sink and
shower, others had a sink only, others
had a shower, but not a toilet. I
experienced about every combination you
can think of. Each night, you never knew
who would be brushing your teeth along
side with you.
This was never a problem (just a part
of the adventure), but to minimize any
inconveniences, it is a good idea to
work out a system to store and use your
toiletries. For example, I stored
various toiletry items in resealable
freezer bags, and then keep these
plastic bag inside a stuff sack when
stored inside my duffle. This way, I
would grab the plastic bag I needed at
the time (like the one I used for
flossing and brushing by teeth) and then
search out a sink to brush in, which was
not always very close at hand.
In this section, I won't be reviewing
toiletry items, instead describing what
I brought along, hoping to give you an
idea of what you might want to bring
along on a similar adventure.
- Resealable Plastic Freezer Bags:
You can buy these from almost any
grocery store. I usually purchase both
the one quart and the one gallon
sizes, and use both. These are great
for organization inside your travel
bags or backpack, and the plastic
makes it easy to quickly find what you
need.
- Bug Repellant: We didn't run into
any bugs on this trip, but I still
always carry some, just in case. I
usually use the 3M's Ultrathon, which
I have found to be very effective. It
comes in a cream form in a small tube,
making it easy to carry and use.
- Lip Balm: I use the Chap Stick
Ultra Moisturizing Lip Balm with SPF
30, to protect my lips from the sun
and elements.
- Sun Block: I use Neutrogena's
Sensitive Skin, SPF 30. It works well
and comes in a small bottle. I used
this to protect my face, ears, and
neck on this trip. Since I wore long
sleeves all the time, and didn't wear
shorts, this was the only protection I
needed.
- Hand Sanitizer: Keeping your hands
clean goes a long way to helping you
stay healthy on outdoor adventures.
Since soap and water is not always
easily available, I used Purell's
Instant Hand Sanitizer with Aloe,
Moisturizers, and Vitamin E. You can
get it in very small bottles, just
right for travel. I used this before
eating any meal while on the trail.
Because of this, I brought it along in
my backpack while on the trail.
- Ear Plugs: As noise can be a
problem when sleeping at some of our
lodgings, I brought along some foam
ear plugs to help reduce (but not
entirely stop) much of the noise,
helping me to better sleep. I also
wore them on the plane trip so that I
could sleep on the way.
- Shaving Equipment: Bring whatever
best suits your needs. If you bring
along an electric shaver, you will
need an electrical adapter.
- Floss, Brush, Toothpaste: Bring
what best works for you. I use a
travel-size tube of toothpaste.
- Soap & Shampoo: I brought along a
travel size bottle of shampoo, and a 2
ounce bottle of REI's Bio-Suds, which
I used to wash my hands and face, and
my clothing.
- Medicines: Bring enough
prescription medication for the trip,
as you probably won't be able to
easily get refills. Also bring any
over-the-counter medications you need.
Obviously, this list is very
personal, and what one person brings may
be very different than the next person.
Don't forget to bring anything, as you
may not be able to easily find what you
need when traveling. On the other hand,
don't bring too much. This balance is
not always easy, but it is something you
need to consider.
Read Snack Reviews |
|
