what to bring.... and I'm off

gear list – Denmark June 2007

front left pannier:

large pocket –

2 pairs of shorts
1 pair of thermal underwear
4 pairs of underwear
1 long sleeve riding shirt (wicking)
2 short sleeve riding shirts (wicking)
1 t-shirt (wicking)
lock and cable
toiletry bag – 2 4 oz. soaps, herbal bug repellent, plastic mirror, band aids, multivitamins, small sun block for face, first aid kit, sewing kit, eyedrops, toothbrush, floss, razor, allergy medications

front pocket –

clothesline and clothespins
wash rag
scrubbing pad
sun block


front right pannier:

large pocket –

swim suit
4 pairs of socks
towel
handkerchief
sheet and pillowcase
raingear
wet wipes
large duffel bag
camp stove

front pocket-

riding gloves
Velcro straps for pant legs
foam pieces for handlebars (4)


left back pannier:

smaller pocket-

plastic mug
bike lights
headlamp
utensils
small aluminum pot
aluminum pot gripper
some food items – granola bars, peanut butter, tea, candy bars

large pocket –

fleece gloves
fleece socks
wool hat
fleece jacket
tent
sleeping bag liner
tent liner

back right pannier:

smaller pocket –

fender
bike pump
bungee cords
bike tube

bike tool bag containing:

socket tool, multi tool, adjustable wrench, chain tool, tire changing tools, pocket knife, small roll of duct tape, tire patches, assorted bolts, clamps, and chain parts

chain lubricant
chain brush
dirty rag for cleaning chain

big pocket –

sandals
thermarest pad
sleeping bag
inflatable pillow
brake and gear cables
extra spokes (3 back, 2 front)

lunch box

food
camera and batteries
important documents (passport, plane ticket, money, etc.)
sunglasses

daypack- put between back two panniers for food, water, etc.

bike

2 waterbottles

and myself.....

less than a week to go and i've got some kind of viral infection. curses! they better get their microbe selves out of my body by the weekend or else. Booked the hostel in copenhagen with over 1000 beds. a veritable city - no wonder it's called 'copenhagen city'. i took the day off today, second to last day of classes. tomorrow should be pure recreation - sorry president bush, this one's for the students. many will go to different schools next year. perhaps some will not really remember kindergarten when they are adults. i really don't. then again, no one asked me to read and write and identify three dimensional shapes most adults would have a hard time with. more later...

less than two weeks now. there's a wonderful neighborhood just on the other side of lamar, just the way i like it. green, big trees, confederate jasmine blooming, massive hills with great views across. it's been a mini denmark of sorts, minus obvious factors. i'm returning less phone calls and vice versa. i must be the witness first to joy, hold it for a while in my hand.

so, i'm going to denmark, in less than 23 days. everything's pretty much ready, down to the special socks and lightweight tent. A few weeks ago I had surgery for the first time (apparently getting one's wisdom teeth out doesn't count). I've been sick since November, so having surgery on my sinuses was like some kind of miracle. I am, however, supposed to take it easy, working my way back into exercise slowly. I am leaving in 23 days nonetheless for a month long trip across a relatively flat albiet windy terrain in the southern scandanavian vicinity. I am so excited, not really believing the trip is for real until I step on the plane to go. This happened last time, 10 years ago almost to the day, when I went to Europe for the first time, also alone, also biking, to Norway and Denmark, and had a mind-altering beautiful experience despite the physical exertion and stress of managing a trip as I went along. Some points I will not be missing:

1. Mon - bright white limestone cliffs with blue blue water
2. Bornholm - island between Sweden and Poland with lots of artisans, beaches, and bicycling trails
3. West Jutland - the North Sea and wild dunes and birds and lots of wind.

That is no definitive list by any means. Whole regions look fantastic. Actually, there's not a lot that looks like I should avoid it at all.

Anywho, all this is keeping me sufficiently distracted from the present as I finish teaching my first year of kindergarten. Track and field days, a field trip, a class ceremony, end of year assessments and testing of what I hoped they learned this year so far. I am just glad to not be feeling sick and out of it.