Road Necessities

This is a little different from other posts. After my knife post, I've gotten questions about what else should be carried when traveling. Honestly, I can't be of much help when it comes to the long weekend in Vegas with your girlfriends or a week at the beach with the family. Anyway, there a bazillion places to get those checklists. However, for people interested in what Lithus and I make sure we have at all times, here you go...

• The aforementioned knife
• 100% DEET. Seriously. Not bug spray. Military grade, 100% DEET.
• Alcohol wipes. These are far more versitile than baby wipes. They can be used to freshen up; to disinfect a cut; to sterilize a blister. Oh, and hotel remote controls. Ewww...
• Cash. Get into small enough towns and you'd be surprised how many places don't have ATMs.
• A hat with a good brim. In rain, in sun, in cold, in heat. Love your hat.
• Plastic ziploc bags. Gallon size. For storing spill-y things. For packing wet things. For covering your hands to scrape things off of other things.
• A well-stocked "medicine cabinet." I use a make-up carry given to me for being in a dear friend's wedding. It's all where we need it when we need it. Personalize it. What does that mean? It means along with advil and tylenol, ours has migraine meds, motion sickness meds, and pepcid because it would really really suck for the two of us to be somewhere and not have those.
• "Hike out" clothes. This is the outfit you put on when everything has gone to shit and you have to get out of wherever you are under the worst possible conditions. Long sleeve ~ but lightweight ~ shirt, comfortable jeans, boots that you have already broken in, your hat, and your knife.
• A great, dressy outfit. Eventually, you will get back to civilization. You will get somewhere where you don't have to be dressed in bush clothes. This evening is completely worth hauling around clothes you won't wear every week.