Machka 

I'm off to tour Europe for a month on Sunday!

I'm getting a little bit excited ... but am still experiencing some packing frustrations to help me keep my mind off the excitement of the trip.



Anyone else going anywhere this month?

audsnico

My big first tour to Australia starts in less than 2 weeks O__O

Europe sounds fun, which countries are you visiting?

Machka 

England and France for sure ... quite possibly Belgium, maybe Germany and Switzerland. We'll see how it goes.


Where are you starting in Australia? It's starting to warm up over there. A week or two ago, it was kinda chilly (+5C) in the Melbourne area.

valygrl

jealous jealous jealous.... sigh. have a great time machka.

i'm going to try to squeeze in a 2 week tour in my new home state of CO, starting in about a week. Haven't done anything long in a loooong long time. too much work this year.

LindaB

What are your packing frustrations??

I'm headed to Oregon in a week for a one week tour along the Columbia River, then in September to Spain for three weeks on the Camino de Santiago (Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela). Still have routes to work on!

Machka 

My packing frustrations have to do with flying, and especially flying in and out of Heathrow.

I'm flying with Air Canada, which is fine ... I'm allowed two bags of carry-on and a "purse". Of course, they've got the usual restrictions - nothing sharp, nothing liquid in containers larger than 100 ml, anything liquid in containers less than 100 ml in one clear plastic ziplock bag (must be sealable), but no more than one clear ziplock per person which must be removed from carry-on luggage and placed separately in a screening bin at airport security, etc. etc. This ziplock bag cannot be more than 1 litre in size, and must not be overfilled. (oops - I've got go and repack something - I think I've got more than one ziplock bag)

https://www.aircanada.com/en/news/travel_advisory3.html


BUT, if all that wasn't complicated enough, I'm flying into and out of Heathrow which adds a whole new element of complication. Although I'm still flying Air Canada, when I fly out of Heathrow, I'm down to one bag of carry-on and no "purse". Not to mention that Heathrow has a whole other set of rules.

I didn't realize this, but the airlines have different rules than the airports. When you fly to Spain, be sure to check BOTH your airline and your airports ... they could very well be different.



BTW - Have a great trip to Spain!! My routes are up in the air too ... sometimes winging it is best.

audsnico

Starting with a dive trip in Cairns. So hopefully the warm weather will just follow me down the coast. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure I'll be riding into a trade wind at least until I get out of Queensland

Shemp

Very cool. Hope you and all your gear end up in the same place!

andypants

Leaving from here to NY Tomorrow as well. First long trip. Good luck to you.

Bekologist

blitzes into the woods... riding around Hood Canal and out into the southern Olympic mountains. then up over the Cascades to the east, for the Perseids Meteor showers Aug 11-14th.

If anyone is out camping then, LOOK UP! best viewing to the NE later in the evenings. peak on the 13th.

permanentjaun

Best of luck and enjoy yourself....

Machka 

So ... I just weighed up all my stuff. My bicycle is 27 lbs, and my gear is approx. 40 lbs. Total: 67 lbs.

Each pannier is 12 lbs (5.4 kgs), my Carradice is 10 lbs (4.5 kgs), and my handlebar bag and waist pouch are about 6 lbs (2.7 kgs).

This is good!

With Air Canada, I'm allowed 2 checked bags, of 50 lbs each. My bicycle box will be oversized, of course, but my other one should not be oversized and neither will be overweight.

centexwoody 

I flew thru Heathrow last fall - had to change from American to Lufthansa so had to get all my luggage and then drag them between terminals. Then the airport is so cramped for space that they would not allow me to go through security and re-check my bags until an hour before my second flight on to the Continent. I've never encountered that before and it was PITA because there's no place to sit and no place to leave one's bags. Finally changed some dollars to fifty-cent pieces and sat in a little cafeteria.

At least you were smart enough to stay with one carrier (Air Canada) so you should be able to avoid some of the hassle I mistakenly put myself into.

Have a great time! This past June was HOT in Germany with little rain so should be great for touring...

Woody

Lolly Pop

Heathrow is a hassle. Machka why not organise your gear to meet Heathrow standards as you leave Canada, ie. checking all but one carryon?

Liquids are allowed in your checked luggage, just no one container in excess of 100ml in your carryon. Hope that helps. Have fun!

Where are you flying to from Heathrow? France?

Tom Stormcrowe

I'm jealous, Machka! Have fun and ride safe!

Machka 

I'm in Belgium! I flew to Heathrow, then we took the train, ferry, and more recently have been travelling by bicycle.

I must say ... short travelling days are the way to go!!!!! Much less stressful.

Sholto

I'll be doing a supported tour from Miles to Mooloolaba in a couple of weeks, followed by a bit of touring around the Sunshine Coast before heading back to Brisbane.

audsnico - you're right to expect generally SE winds in Queensland. However the coast is mostly flat.

audsnico

Do you know, by chance, if the winds taper off a little bit as I move out of Queensland? I think if I have that to look forward to it will be a little easier At least my first couple days up to the Daintree will be with the wind at my back, I suppose.

I'm pretty pumped, just 2 days till I leave!