Jun 17 - time to pack

It was raining.  It is raining.  I broke down the bike and got it packed.  Of course I'm still playing around with that.  It's what I do.  There are at least a couple of things that I'd rather have setup better.  I also started organizing clothes and other items.

I did spend some time on the route, downloading the most recent tracks and converting them over to my favorite plotting tool - ridewithgps - and copying the original routes and the tracks to my two garmin 705's (backup, y'know !).  I edited the xml route files to make the names more distinguishable when they're displayed on the garmin.  With 17 stages and a route/track per stage, I don't want to get confused.  I also ensured that I have micro SD cards with the Italy map.  That was pulled down from open source last year.  I have the full Europe map with me if I need it.

I traded a bunch of emails with the fellow at SpotWalla and did some testing.  Peter Grant, Guy and Vytas are out doing a 600k out of Ottawa and are running three different approaches.  The cell track shows its limitations with almost a 100k jump from point to point yesterday.  That might have been battery life or lack of coverage; don't know.

The hard case holds all of the bike except the handlebars.  I could work those in but they fit nicely into any other bag and there's less risk with damaging the brake/shifters.  I'm planning on taking the soft case at this point but might take Sandy's big suitcase.  Almost any other large suitcase would work for handlebars, shoes, helmet and clothes. 

Last year when I traveled, I also had the rear rack.  This year I'm using that extendable bag that hangs of the seatpost.  Less packing but slightly less convenient and less room.  Slightly less weight.  Lots of compromises !  I could use the front bag but won't.

I'll try to mostly finish up packing today leaving tomorrow open.

Onward ...