A bit closer to going!!!!! :)
There's gotchas anywhere you look. I guess just handle them.
I'm leaving in four days? Weird!
Looking at my food and drinks, I can see that I have some Italian genes... tomatoes, sardines, garlic, coffee! :)
Jejej, looking at some of my notes from when I arrived in Capesterre Belle-Eau... Didn't expect to stay this long!
Just taking one copy of my book, hardcover. I'd thought earlier of taking a bunch of copies in hardcover and paperback to hand out, but they're quite heavy. Not sure what I'm gonna do with the other copies I have here, I guess just leave them behind somewhere.
Gonna take my Eagle Eyes goggles, of which I now have a bunch. Hope they don't break during riding!
Weird, old phone light goes on when I plug it in. I thought it didn't charge? Or am I misremembering the problem? Maybe it dried out?
Oh, maybe it doesn't charge properly even if the light goes on?
Charged up to 2%.
Seems to be going on...
Even has the correct time.
Seems to work fine...
Like getting a free phone!
One that I think works with the wireless bands that they use in other countries, instead of France/Guadeloupe. Extra useful!
Also, one that runs normal Android instead of Huawei. Another extra! :)
Maybe it makes sense to hoard? :)
Jejej, instead of the light & tight ride that I'd been envisioning, I think it's going to be a slow slog overloaded with stuff I should've but didn't throw out! :)
Phone seems to work just fine, still charging.
I'm still working on many of the same things as I was back when my old phone worked. Planning travel to next destinations, mainly. COVID messed things up!
At least I finished some of the projects I'd been working on last time I used my old phone!
Phones have advanced noticeably over the last few years. The most noticeable difference for me is how much faster they now charge. The phones themselves also run faster, and have far more cameras, sensors, and other features.
Down to my last bottles of insect repellent!
Finding ways to pack at least somewhat lighter & tighter! You adjust as you go, and I plan to keep doing so later on.
The more I pack and use, the more I feel ready to go!
Still consistently feeling in agreement with my decision to go!
Already starting to feel some pressure to make it out on time! :)
Moving more things into the processed pile, my bags, the garbage, etc.! One thing at a time! :)
Hmmmm... I have like ten or fifteen pounds of groceries... Way heavier than I'd usually want to carry. Potentially enough to cause some bike issues, but also some delicious groceries. What to do?! :)
Jejej, now I have two phones to check... Double the addictive power! :)
I'm moving my fairly heavy (five pounds or so) winter jacket with a stuck zipper into the probably-not-taking pile. I don't think I'd need it for bike touring in the Caribbean while staying indoors. Useful for camping, which I did before.
Already feeling far too heavy, my pack-in-progress. Aiming to dump tons more stuff.
I'm at least getting somewhat more comfortable disposing of things that I'm confident enough I won't need. E.g. I think I can live without my phone manual in fifteen different languages. :)
Feels kind of fun to recombine/refactor, throw stuff out, etc., in preparation for bike touring. Sort of like computer programming for mechanical things.
Old phone works! Now at 100% charge!
At least much of my remaining baggage weight is easily disposable, e.g. food that I can use.
I think I'm now at the stage of packing where it's technically feasible to go, but still somewhat impractically heavy.
Around 3 PM, January 18, 2022: I think I'm ready enough logistically to go! :)
Took me somewhat longer than expected, but I guess I should expect that.
I'm about where I thought: I can carry it, but just barely. I think it's around the upper limit of what I could take, maybe slightly beyond. I think there's a natural tendency towards those frontiers. I'm going to aim to lighten up!!!!! :)
