The time has come. We have received our shots and have malaria pills for when we reach mainland Mexico. Two days ago Andrew, Dave and I packed our gear. To carry all our stuff Dave and Andrew have panniers (bicycle saddlebags), and I am using Dave's trailer which he pulled coast to coast two years ago (Andrew also completed a trip across the U.S. a few years before Dave, while this will be my first ride longer than an hour and a half). Besides helmets, water bottles, cycling gloves, and maps, we have basic camping gear - two tents, a stove and pots, sleeping bags and mats, and a first aid kit. We are each equipped with tools for minor bike repairs, several spare inner-tubes, an air pump, plus one spare tire which squeezes awkwardly into my trailer. Since our carrying capacity is greater than travelling on foot, we are afforded some luxuries - books, including a workbook to improve my Spanish, an extra pair of shoes, a cellphone (which I will use until we cross the border - call me!), and nail clippers...stuff I would never take backpacking. Still no pillow though.
Last night we packaged our bicycles into boxes for the train. This required removing the front wheel, handlebars, and saddle, and placing them alongside the bike in the box. The rest of the space was filled with panniers, my disassembled trailer, and bike shoes and helmets. We filled three more smaller boxes with our gear and taped everything closed with "Yapp" and our final destination written on the outside - our boxes will be checked all the way to San Francisco. We are each using a pannier for our carry-on bag. I've stayed up all night to take care of a few last-minute things, and so I can sleep on the train. The boxes are in the minivan, we've had the last shower for a few days, and we are ready to go!
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