Here's the crap I'm bringing with me.

After spending tens of minutes checking out blogs similar to this one, I saw that almost all of them do a detailed dump / inventory of all of the gear they brought with them. In keeping with this time-honored tradition, I've posted something of a gear inventory.

As you see in the photo, I've got the essentials squared away. I won't go into excessive detail, but I've got a 40F down quilt, a not-so-fancy Thermarest foam pad, and a very-very-fancy Thermarest air pad. (The foam pad acts like a ground sheet, essentially. I sleep on my side, so there's no way I'd be able to handle just the foam pad.) I have an inflatable pillow, a super light camp sheet / liner, all of which goes inside of a mesh bivy sack. No tent, as rain isn't really something that happens in central California in July. 

I'm riding a "one piece at a time" Trek 520 touring bike. It's got a Thule rack, a Shimano Hub Dynamo, and a super sturdy set of Mavic A319 rims. On it, I'll be mounting two Ortlieb Backroller Classics (40L capacity, total) as well as a small backpack across the top. I've also got this cool little handlebar bag made out of recycled tubes. I'm pretty sure I don't need nearly all the space I'll have, but it's not heavy, so I guess I don't really care. 

There's a pretty substantial pile of knickknacks that I won't launch into, completely. Namely, tools, spare parts, toiletries, camp towel, etc... Though I am bringing three changes of riding clothes, a set of "gym" (camp) clothes, and a set of somewhat-presentable normal clothes.  

I'd like to take a photo of the sweet jersey the good people at Casa Di Amore bought for me, but it hasn't arrived yet. (It's in the mail.) It maaaay show up the day I leave, but I've given my room mate explicit instructions to overnight it to Half Moon Bay, where I can just pick it up at the post office. (Sorry, guys!)

I've never actually done a long trip like this on a bicycle before, so I guess I'm looking forward that aspect of this trip. I'll  definitely be posting my daily mileage / location to Strava, which you should be able to see to the right (if you're viewing this from a computer --if not, install the app and follow me), and I'll attempt to post a daily log of whatever each day brings me. If you're dying for up-to-the-minute information, and have my phone number, shoot me a text.

[Raises glass]

May I not screw this up. 

[Drinks]