Most of them are on the packing list (see Packing Guidelines) but I'll reiterate here just so you don't think you can do without.....
1)Therma rest type pad... the thickest one you can buy. I used to swear by air mattresses, they are very very comfy EXCEPT when you get a small hole in them from folding them up over and over each day. ALC 4 I awoke 2 days in a row to find my air mattress as flat as a pancake (my back was not happy). Luckily one of my friends partner was traveling down the route with us in a car so he was able to stop by a Target and buy me a new one. Ever since then its been the REI brand version of the 3" thick (or is it 4"?) thermarest pad. It's perfect, self inflates and will inflate even a bit more if you blow more air into it before you go to sleep. Plus they're not as heavy as the plastic air mattress (which your gear truck Roadie will appreciate).
2)A ground tarp-- for UNDER your tent. If you have gnarly hay fever like Michael and I, you'll want a layer between your tent and the grass we will be sleeping on. Otherwise, you'll wake up with nice puffy allergy eyes... well ok they might be puffy anyway, but at least they won't itch!
3) 2 More pairs of cycling gloves besides the ones you already have! One pair will last you all week, but just think about how many times you'll be rubbing the snot out from under your nose in those 7 days.... get the picture?
AND speaking of gloves!- when you pull into a rest stop, take your gloves OFF, stick them in your back pocket and THEN go get some food. Don't put your food in contact with your gloves...for the same gross snotty nose reasons. DON'T wear your gloves into the porta pottie, and then go grab a banana or orange from one of the rest stop roadies and start eating. TAKE THE GLOVES OFF! We always have a nasty case of intestinal "problems"each year, due to people not taking those nasty gloves off when they use the restroom, and then going to eat food with the gloves on. GROSS, I know, so don't get sick!!
4) A Headlamp (not a hand held flashlight). Much easier to see what you're in for as you enter the porta pottie in the middle of the night, also easier to USE the porta pottie when both hands are free and your not balancing a flashlight on your lap! And oh yes please DO NOT LET THE PORTA POTTIE DOORS SLAM SHUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. Close them quietly behind you. :-)
5) A couple of large (like the 33 gal size) garbage bags. You can put your bag into it at night so that the dew won't make the outside of the bag all wet. They fold flat if you do it right so they won't take alot of space in your bag.
6) A small "loofah" type sponge to really get the road grime off of your legs in the shower.
7) A small backpack or tote bag to carry your stuff to/from the showers... don't forget a camping towel too! (the quick drying ones... the regular cotton ones won't dry out in time before you pack it!)
8) Shoes or Sandals for walking around in camp (I wear Keen clogs, but Crocs work well too!)
9) A fleece jacket/pullover, warm socks, and a hat (beanie/knit type). It does get cold when the sun goes away.... and when you're up before the sun is. Ugh!
10) 3 or 4 Large Binder Clips (y'know the black ones they have a work?)- great to use as clothes pins and they're much sturdier. There will be some stuff you will want to hang on your tent (like that camp towel)
11) (if you wear them) SPARE CONTACT LENSES!! and of course your eyeglasses.
12) Sunscreen! Don't rely on the rest stops to provide it, they'll have some but are usually out by the middle of the week. Kinesis makes a great alcohol free spray on sunscreen that I used today (98 degrees in Sausalito!) and the Sports Basement carries it.
13) Medical stuff (prescriptions, allergy medicines, inhalers.... ) I'm sure you're saying "DUH" but believe me people (both HIV+ and HIV neg) have forgotten some IMPORTANT drugs in the past and have had to pay for the mistake. I also bring Tylenol PM (one tablet only to fall asleep and yet not be groggy in the morning), it helps with any muscle soreness the next day as well.
Ok... I think that's it for now, I'm sure I'll think of more in the next 2 weeks but here's a start.
Now go relax. :-)
