This packing list is mostly the same as last year but there are a few changes. 

My sleeping bag is new and much heavier than the sleep sack that I froze in last summer in the high mountains of Wyoming. My new sleeping pad is much more compact and infinitely more comfortable than the one I used last year. The air valve on the old one stopped working so a new pad was in order. I am also bringing a little inflator gizmo that only weights a few ounces.

I am only bringing flat bungie cords this time. My touring friend Corey convinced me of their general usefulness in Canon City, CO last summer. I am not bringing a cargo net as I have in the past.

In a concession to my spinal stenosis, I am bringing a collapsible cane that I bought at REI recently.

 I am bringing a Brinks cable lock that I bought in Fort Scott, Kansas last summer. A U-lock is much more secure but it’s a bit useless with bike bags in the way. With the cable lock, I can lock my bike to a picnic table in camp which has the added benefit of keeping the bike from falling over.

Unlike touring out west, food and water are readily available in the east. I still needed to bring extra water on the C&O Canal which does not have potable water this year. Also, I packed some emergency food just in case. This included a jar of peanut butter and jelly (pre-mixed), some Clif bars, a couple of packages of tuna, and assorted fruit items.

I managed to break the power pack I bought for last year’s tour. It had a charging connection that was flimsy. It broke off. I’m glad it didn’t happen during the tour. The new power pack uses a cable to connect to a power source.

On Bike

• Large Ortlieb roll top panniers (2)
• Small Ortlieb roll top panniers (2)
• Medium Ortlieb handlebar bag with map case
• Helmet with light mount
• Bell
• Mirror
• Saddle cover
• Adventure Cycling Association maps
• Water bottles (2)

Electronics

• Iphone
• Headphones
• Power pack
• Light and Motion headlight
• Taillight
• Chargers/cables for all lights, camera and phone

Clothing

• Sandals
• Rain jacket
• Rain pants
• Shirts (2 synthetic, 2 cotton) 
• Bike shorts (2) and shell
• Bike gloves
• Cool weather gloves
• Off bike shorts and belt
• Floppy hat
• Sunsleeves
• Swim trunks
• Bike shoes
• Buff
• Bandana
• Socks (3 pairs)

Personal Items

• Dr Bronners soap
• Microfiber bath towel
• Microfiber washcloth
• Toothpaste
• Floss
• Comb
• Tooth brush
• Razor
• Shaving cream
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Prescription sunglasses
• Backup prescription glasses
• Magazine
• N95 mask

Miscellaneous

• Duct tape
• Zip ties (4)
• Flat bungies (4)
• Clothes pins (4)
• Chain break
• Spare link
• Wire for holding chain (I forgot this.)
• Multitool
• Fiber Fix spoke
• Spare tubes (3)
• Patch kit
• Tire levers (3)
• Pump
• $1 bill for tire boot
• Spare tire
• Lube (2 kinds, wax based for the chain. Oil based for everything else)
• Chain cleaner
• Rag
• Spare brake cable
• Spare shifter cable
• Lock

Camping Gear

• Tent
• Stakes
• Ground cloth
• Sleeping bag
• Camp pillow
• Sleeping pad
• Fan inflator for pad
• Inflation bag for pad
• Spare AAA batteries for pad inflator (2) (I forgot this. I ended up using the inflation bag on my last camping night. It worked well.)
• Dry bag
• Rope
• Swiss army knife

Medical

• Brio
• Latanoprost
• Ibuprofen
• Ibuprofen PM
• Albuterol
• Antihistamines
• 81 mg aspirin
• Collapsible cane

Food

• Clif Bars
• Electrolyte tablets
• PB&J
• Some kind of flat bread (for PB&J) 
• Spare water
• Lightweight utensils
• Apples and bananas