Travel Bags

[Howard]

I've been having a think about your packing challenge, Cherri, and here are my thoughts, for what they're worth:

1.  Use vacuum sacks to compress your rolled-up clothes - they considerably reduce the volume that clothes take up.  (Our daughter Julia found these very useful when she took her gap-year in Oz: fitted her entire wardrobe and accessories for a whole year into a single 70 litre ruck sack!)  Here's the sort of thing I'm talking about: http://girlstravelclub.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=189&osCsid=0

2. Miniaturize where possible: take a small sample-size tube of toothpaste, for example, instead of a standard-size one; shampoo sachets instead of bottles; cologne/perfume samplers instead of ordinary bottles, etc.

3.  Pack lots of small bags, rather than a smaller number of large ones:  it's easier to fit luggage into a car by doing so - you can more easily fit small items into awkward spaces than large ones!  (Important:  make a count of all your luggage items before you set out, and wherever you stay, count them all out and count them all in - that way you can be sure not to leave anything behind!)

I can't remember if your car has a hard top?  But even if it has, I don't suppose they make roof boxes for sports cars, do they?

Also, don't forget that Rupert (Cheap Charlie) and Annette (Snork Maiden) make long trips in their Smart (see http://www.ukusforum.com/index.php/topic,210.0.html for example), so they may well have a few tips as to how to fit things in.

[Howard]

Another thought:  your rally will doubtless have a number of single men in it?  It is a truth universally acknowledged that blokes travel lighter (why, Ranulph Fiennes crossed the Antarctic with just one pair of underpants, and used to boast that the only personal possessions he took on his expeditions were his toothbrush and Bible!) - is it possible that they could lend you some space in their cars?

[steveg]

Ranulph Fiennes crossed the Antarctic with just one pair of underpants

"With" being the operative word - the pants walked by themselves I would have thought!   

 

Steve

[Lotus Freak]

you're a good 'un Howbo fantastic idea about the vacuum bags and getting some one else to carry my bags around. I will definitely see who will be nice enough to oblige me, as there will be plenty of single blokeys. Surprisingly there are quite a few couples who will be in attendance. The idea about packing everything into smaller bags is ace! It will be a lot easier to shove things into the little nooks and crannies.

I forgot about Rupert and Mrs travelling in their SmartCar. They pretty much have the same amount of room as we do in ours.

oh Rupert.....

as for the little shampoo/conditioner stuff...this is why I've been slowly knicking hotel freebies