My Kit

This is mostly a practice blog to mess with adding pictures.

In 2005 I traveled to Sudan to visit Jason. That whole trip lasted 5 weeks during which time I only used my hand luggage.  I came to realize that if I could travel 5 weeks there was really no end to how long a piece of hand luggage could be lived out of. To that end, and because I will be traveling mostly overland on public transportation, a hand luggage is all I'm taking.

There were, however, a few problems with the luggage itself that I hope to remedy this trip. The first was the buses had sharp edges which opened a gash in the side of my case. The second was it had vents.  After quite a good search a few years ago I concluded that my best solution would be to build my own case. Initially I had hoped to have wheels and a telescoping handle but in the end, for various reason, did without.

zipper not as flat as hoped

The case is heavy duty, oil cured leather. The seams are glued with contact cement and then hand stitched. It is as big as a hand luggage is allowed to be. It has the added benefit that it can be used as a pillow in a pinch.   The one possible down side I can  foresee are problems with damp clothing in a bag with no vents. The leather is not waterproof but is better than ripstop nylon.

On the back is a tab with a hole and a buckle so that my belt may be used as a shoulder strap.   







Out fitting me will be:

•   A derby hat at the top. I had a cheap derby about 14 years ago so this is really just an upgrade.
•  The jean jacket I took last time. It is warm enough for where I'm going and has good pockets that button. In the left pocket is the passport and in the right my camera.
• For my feet, Red Wing boots. Last time I wore Justin boots with leather soles and came out the bottom after 13 weeks. These will last.
• A belt.(not shown)

Now for the case itself

• The shaving kit has two sides. In this one are

1. In the soap box, band aids and toothpicks
2. In  the pill bottle, Q tips--I'm very picky about clean ears.
3. The white box has some old malaria medicine just to hold me till I can buy some more.
4. The small pills are Imodium AD
5. Dayquil and nyquil and lozenges

• On the other side

1. Razor
2. Comb
3. Aleve
4. Floss
5. Toothbrush
6. Bar soap
7. Old Spice deodorant. It is not really my brand but came in a good size and didn't have to go in my clear bag.
8. Also a towel in the mesh pouch outside for cleaning my glasses.

 Already mentioned was the passport. Behind that is my yellow UN vaccination book. While the book is important what it signifies will save your life.
Also shown an AA LED Maglite and my Bible.




 To be able to compose on the road, an old pda Palm TX with a folding keyboard. It has a hard case with 2 places to store my spare memory cards for my camera.

 Also previously mentioned, a camera in this case a canon s95.

Keeping all that charged and communicating unfortunately takes a snarl of wire.






And finally cloths.

• 8 9 pair pants (1 Sunday)
• 9 11 shirts (1 Sunday) ......I had room so I added 1 pant and 2 shirts
• 10 pair new socks (that's how many came in a packet.)
• 12 underwear. (2 packs)

And because the TSA says so on top in a clear bag

• Shampoo
• A mostly used-up bottle of cologne
• Glasses cleaner
• Toothpaste
• Neosporin
• Eye drops and wet wipes at the top there

If I need anything else that I can't get there, I sure don't know what it is. Well some cash money will be helpful too.
Next up Africa. Peace. Leon