Another list-Traveling With just my Backpack

A few months ago I posted on Twitter that I was pondering what I would I take with me on a bus trip across the United States if I traveled with just my backpack.

Now I am wondering what if… instead of a bus trip, maybe a train ride cross country OR maybe on a motorcycle trip-I have my license and even though I haven’t rode in awhile, I am sure I remember – now THAT’S an idea!)

Now, I’ve never actually done this, traveling across the country, (not yet, anyway) so some experienced travelers and backpackers might slam my list, but this is how I’d start out…

Sandy’s Backpack List for Traveling Across the US:

• Snacks…cheerios and trail mix.

• Books…I think I’d have to have it set up so I could rotate them. Depending on how long I’d be traveling I could send s few home and have new ones shipped to me as I traveled from place to place. Plus, since I’d visit every bookstore I came across, I’d be buying books, too. I read 99% non-fiction and read whatever strikes my fancy. I’d start with two books on my ‘to read’ list and then go from there.
  • U-Turn: What If You Woke Up One Morning and Realized You Were Living the Wrong Life?
  • Awakening the Heroes Within: Twelve Archetypes to Help Us Find Ourselves and Transform Our World

  (Yes, I know I have my Amazon Kindle listed below, but I still love the feel, the smell and the experience of holding real books in my hands. Sometimes it is the only way I can relax.)

• Electronic gadgets...Laptop, air card, Kindle, iPod,cellphone, Flip UltraHD Camcorderand chargers (This may be too much, but if it was I could always pack some of them up and mail them back home.)

• Other ‘me’ essentials…Yellow legal pad, two purple pens, oil pastels, pencil, pocket pencil sharpener, a ruler and a sketch pad. (these are non-negotiable!)

• Toiletries…Well, first I’d make sure I had short, easy to manage hair (any excuse to cut my hair is a good one), I’d wouldn’t be wearing any make up (again, any excuse is a good one), I would want to keep it as light as possible and I would buy or replace what I needed as I went along. I’d start with a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, travel size shampoo/conditioner, hair gel, deodorant, powder.

• Clothes…in addition to what I was wearing: two pairs of jeans, two long sleeve t-shirts two short sleeve t-shirts, one sweatshirt, one ‘dressy’ blouse, four sets of socks/underwear/bras, a lightweight jacket, one pair of lounge/pajamas and a baseball cap. No fancy clothes, pure travel comfort.

What do you think? Did I over pack? Under pack? What would you take that I didn’t?
Bus? Train? Plane? or Motorcycle??? (go ahead, choose motorcycle, I know you want to)