Zen and the art of packing

It starts with a list. And then the list gets edited. And then forgotten things are added to the list. And then you try and put it in a bag. And then you leave your washkit on top, for the toothbrush, inevitably the last thing to be packed. And although you're charging all the electrical stuff now, you're probably going to wind up taking the charging leads too. Wonder where I can stuff that? Have you brought the...? Did you remember the...? And so on.

Dreadful weather here and guaranteed rain in the Lake District, despite occasional warm temperatures and sunshiney moments at the moment lead me to want to take a lot of the warmer things with us. Fingerless gloves, thick socks, and definitely, definitely the down-like mid-layer jacket! But the hopeful part of me has also packed the flipflops.

• UK to Canada, we took a big bag each, a rucksack and a bicycle carrier. Mode of transport: plane.  Time to pack: 2 weeks approx.
• Vancouver to Big White, we took a big bag each, a rucksack and a ski bag each. (And ski boots.) Mode of transport: greyhound bus. Time to pack: 2 days.
• Going to Hawaii from Vancouver we took a rucksack each (for two weeks stay). Mode of transport: plane. Time to pack: 1 evening.
• Returning from Canada we had a big bag each, a rucksack each, a ski bag each and a pair of ski boots. (Picture below.) Mode of transport: plane. Time to pack: 2 days (And much stress!)

This weekend (found the coolbox)

This weekend, where we will be away for no more than 72 hours, we each have a large bag, I have a rucksack, and there is a massive bag of climbing gear, pillows, sleeping bags and a coolbox. (Yet to be found from its hiding place.) Crackers.

Luggage for the Canada - Manchester journey.
For scale, those long bags are almost two metres in length.