Are You Ready For This?
 
                                    Seriously!!! This is straight out of Marry Poppins. Look at ALL this gear & look at the picture.
 
Gear: 55 litre backpack + 18 litre day pack
 

Joe Wishon: January Launch – E Squad
 

  • 2 collared shirts
  • 1 pair nice pants
  • 1 pair REI zip off pants – (button broke 1st week)

    • Never used zip off pants before, figured I’d give it a try. They’re pretty awesome. Que Palado! Or Que Chivo! As the El Salvadorians would say.
  • 3 pairs socks – SmartWool (Thank you Bill & Susan)
  • 5 pairs boxers – (3 of which are 25 bucks a shot. ALL traveler’s swear by them. Not your average boxer)
  • 8 regular T-shirts
  • 2 long sleeve shirts
  • 1 pair of work gloves
  • 2 hats (one baseball style & one wide bring like some outbacking Aussie dude. Friends… you’ve seen my skin color… don’t care how I look in it, I burn in 0.2 minutes)
  • 1 pair running shoes
  • 1 pair of Keen sandals (like a Teva but better looking and heavy duty)
  • 1 pair flip flops
  • 2 shorts
  • 1 board shorts
  • 1 Gortex rain shell
  • 1 backpack rain shell
  • 1 belt
  • 1 watch – cheapy from Big 5 (It has a WR on it for water resist, I like to think its for World Race)
  • 2 sticks deordorant
  • 1 big size toothpaste
  • 2 toothbrush
  • 2 shaving cream
  • 1 mach 3 razor
  • 10 mach 3 razor blades
  • 1 towel (Go find the oldest towel in your parents closet….perfect. Cotton but compresses)
  • 2 pairs cheap sunglasses ($1.79 at Harbor Freight! Thank you Darlene & Mongo)
  • 1 wallet
  • 1 tube of sunscreen
  • 1 tube of Jungle Juice Bug Repellant (98% DEET!!! If I grow a 3rd lung it wouldn’t surprise me)
  • 1 pack of normal Bug Repellant wipes (30% DEET)
  • 1 deck of cards
  • 1 Leatherman type thing – 12 tools in 1 (Thank you Darlene & Mongo)
  • 1 Ipod with charger
  • 4 pairs of headphones (Yes…4…watch the trading floor on these puppies)
  • 1 travel speaker for Ipod (Thank you Andy, LOVE YOU buddy)
  • 2 journals
  • Pack of 10 pens
  • Pack of colored pencils
  • 1 travel Bible
  • 1 Dell Computer & charger (Thank you Circle Foods!)
  • 2 flash drives/jump drives
  • 1 stainless water bottle
  • 1 water purification pump (About the size of 2-3 avocados, can clean any water, up to 200 gallons on single filter. Don’t plan on using it but just in case. Water is kind of important!)
  • 1 mosquito headnet
  • 1 sleeping bag
  • 1 sleeping bag liner
  • 1 sleeping pad (this thing is AWESOME, built in pump you just step on to fill)
  • 1 pillow
  • 1 two person tent
  • 1 tent footprint
  • 1 tent rainfly
  • 1 camera with charger (Thank you Mom!)
  • 1 bundle of paperwork

    • I’ll call it a package I guess, passport, vaccinations certificates, important numbers & travel documents, copies of passports, international medical insurance, etc.
  • 1 World Race Logistics Phone

    • Phone can handle two SIM cards, always have one international SIM just in case, pick up a local SIM & phone number when I enter each country
  • 1 headlamp with extra batteries
  • 2 compression sacks

    • Lifesavers! These things take your clothes and smash them into dense bundles.
    • Humid destinations takes care of the wrinkles quickly
  • 3-4 general stuff sacks (Helps keep you organized)
  • Handful of larger freezer bags
  • Handful of small ziplock bags
  • 3 pairs disposable earplugs
  • One Frisbee / Plate   

    • Drilled a hole in it so I can attach it to the outside of my pack
    • It’s also my plate, ate Mac & Cheese off it in Florida before launch
  • 1 collapsible cup
  • 1 spork (this thing is made of aircraft grade metal – unbreakable & light as a feather)
  • 4 carabineers
  • Medicines and Vitamins

    • 360 Multi-vitamins, 90 – Fish Oil, 1000 “others” (Thyroid, Malaria, etc)
  • 1 sewing kit
  • 1 repair kit (sleeping pad, tent, pack, etc)
  • 1 International traveler plug adapter with fuse (Blessing!!!)
  • 1 fleece sweater with Uncle embroidered on the chest

    • My beautiful brother and sister-in-law are expecting twins in February and my younger brother made these for the whole family, naturally mine saying Uncle. Uncle Joe!!!
    • Can’t wait to meet them in a year!!!

 
 
 
I had to write this blog. The entire living room floor was covered in gear and I’m looking at my pack like…. Hmmm….
 
I’m sure I forgot some things
I’m sure I’ll shed some things along the way
I know I’ll add some things along the way
 
Wouldn’t be out here without all your support!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
More blogs to come