Here we go...

Just two days before lift off!

This trip is in 3 pieces:

1. Flying west to the Far East to explore Japan for a little over 3 weeks;

2. Joining the Cunard Queen Elizabeth for just under a month as she travels east to explore the west coast, and

3. Jumping ship and hopping aboard The Canadian for the final leg.

But first to pack!

It is interesting what will make one anxious! 

I was all set to just take a large (70l) ruck sack, then read the suggestions of my itinerary. Which is...use luggage forwarding and carry a day pack. For whatever reason, that put me over the edge (that and the very precise timing of which bus/trains to take). Not to mention, what would I do with the clothes for the ship? VERY different attire!

At first, I thought I could leave a suitcase at either the first hotel, or last one in Tokyo. Then I thought of shipping the bag straight to the ship. Even got so far as connecting with the shipping company. Even THAT was going to prove complicated, as I was leaving so far in advance of my joining the ship. 

So I did the next best thing. Invited my youngest niece to join me aboard the ship for the first leg. There’s using my noodle! She is very kindly bringing a suitcase for me.

Back to packing. Now that one suitcase has been eliminated, I went off to get myself a day pack. For the uninitiated, it is the size of back pack we used for school. Maybe a smidge more volume & more comfortable to wear. Once I got it home, I started ruminating...could I fit the day pack INSIDE the ruck sack & the camera bag inside the day pack.

Before you think I was trying to make things more complicated than they need be, I was trying to figure out how to make things easier...really.

Then I re-thought the whole thing...how many days between access to laundry facilities? A maximum of ten days! I had a good stare at the day pack & decided to give it a whirl.

Two weeks ago, I left for a week in Horsham (UK) & packed for ten days. No problemo.

The down side, I suppose, is no room for any purchases along the way. Although, the convenience of luggage forwarding may take of that...

Off to continue packing my bag for my pack mule...er...niece.