Final Packing!
Yes, despite any number of delays, we are actually leaving. We will be driving away from our home in Nevada City, California on April 11th and head east to Baltimore where our truck and camper will be shipped to Germany on April 29th. Last minute packing is in progress as we figure out what we’ve forgotten and organize a place to put it. The process of preparing for a three-year trip can be intimidating, but the key is that once everything is packed, you must be able to easily find things. Where is the charger for the color printer or the replacement water filters or the spare clips that hold the mud flaps up in deep water? We have made extensive lists in the computer, allowing us to type in a word like “filters” and all oil, water and fuel filters, (maybe even the coffee filter), will show up with their location. On a long overland trip, organization is the secret to happiness. You can go crazy unpacking whole compartments, looking for something that’s in a totally different place. (There are 9 external storage compartments, many with multiple labeled boxes, and about 20 inside the camper itself.)
A couple of recent television interviews were fun, in case you missed them. Disregard the short commercial before the segment on us.
http://gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com/video/8709985-the-turtle-expedition/#.UVIhgCXCYaI.facebook
Computer lists are a good way to organize clothes and equipment so you can find what you need quickly.
This is not a weekend trip. We must have clothes for four seasons to their extreme, from bathing suits to dress clothes to weather below -60°F.
Books and maps are important resources and they take a lot of room.
The kitchen is a challenge to pack and organize. Cooking our own meals most of the time is part of staying healthy on the road.
Organization and maximum use of space is critical in a small camper. 35mm film cans hold spices that can be refilled as needed from the “pantry”.
Laundromats are not the norm, so we must have clothes, sheets and towels to last at least 4 weeks. Our next washday may be a river along side the road.
Yes, The Turtle V is our home. Photos of family & friends and favorite places add to the comfort of living is such a small space for months at a time.
God speed Gary and Monica. Have a wonderful adventure and I will miss seeing you at the overlandexpo this year! I look forward to the updates. Cheers!