Expedition Check-lists

July 11th, 2009

It is important to have the right equipment with you when embarking on a long journey. Below are the check-lists I use to ensure that I don’t forget anything important. Although this is a fairly comprehensive list of items and covers most eventualities it is up to each individual to decide what is important to them and what could be classed as a luxury item.

For instance I left for Timbuktu with the bare minimum. No tent, no sleeping bag and relied on my gortex survival bag. However, after a month or more “camping” without these items I had my wife Diane bring them out to me when we met is Southern Spain. I will be taking them from the outset on this trip to Africa.

 

Documentation and Financial Provision.

  • Passport. (Plus laminated copy).
  • Vaccination record book & yellow fever certificate.
  • Flight details.
  • Many extra passport photos.
  • Visa’s for countries to be visited.doc-6001
  • Travel insurance details (certificate).
  • Cash - Sterling, Euros, US Dollars and local currency.
  • Credit and debit cards.
  • Route plan.
  • Contact cards with website details.
  • Writing equipment and materials.
  • Address book. 
  • Driving licence (if required).

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Clothing.

  • Cycle helmet.
  • Baseball type sun hat or wide brimmed hat.
  • Warm wooly hat.
  • Mosquito net head cover.
  • Sunglasses.
  • Cycling glasses with different tints.
  • Full protection sandstorm, wrap-round glasses.
  • Bandoleer.
  • Cycling top.
  • Polo shirt or dress top.img_0001a-copy
  • Fleece top.
  • Down vest (or thermal  base-layer).
  • Waterproof top.
  • Cycling gloves.
  • 3 pairs of underpants.
  • Cycling shorts.
  • Grey shorts with lots of pockets.
  • Long grey trousers.
  • Long-sleaved shirt.
  • Cycling tights or thermal trousers.
  • 3 pairs of socks.
  • Shoes.
  • Small Rucksack.
  • Handkerchiefs.
  • Sewing kit.
  • Elastic leg ties. (To stop the mossies climbing up your legs).

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 Transportation.

  • Bicycle - fully prepared with new tyres, chain and sprockets.
  • Cycle luggage - 2 rear panniers, 2 front panniers, bar-bag and saddlebag.
  • Spare inner-tubes.
  • Puncture repair kit.
  • Pump for tyres.
  • Tyre levers.
  • Spare chain links and link extraction tool.img_0007a-copy
  • Replacement spokes and jocky wheels.
  • Chain lubricant.
  • Grease and applicator.
  • Bike cleaning kit.
  • Chain cleaning kit.
  • Spare brake and gear cables.
  • 2 cycle locks.
  • Packaged tool kit. Inc. screwdrivers, pliers, allen keys, spanners, etc.
  • Chain whip & lock-ring tool (to remove rear sprockets for maintenance).
  • Cone spanners and/or pedal spanner.
  • Cycle lights.
  • Elastic luggage straps.
  • Latex gloves.
  • Cable ties, spare bolts, spare brake-blocks, etc.
  • Electrical tape.

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Accommodation and Daily Living.

  •  Tent.
  • Lean-to shelter / groundsheet.
  • Ground mat or ‘thermarest’.
  • Sleeping bag.
  • Mosquito net.
  • Mosquito coils and holder.
  • Cooking stove (inc. matches or lighter).
  • Fuel for cooking stove.img_0008a-copy
  • Cooling pot.
  • Cutlery.
  • Knife and/or tin-opener.
  • Plate and mug.
  • Scouring pad.
  • Washing powder and/or soap.
  • Headlight torch.
  • Alarm clock.
  • Wristwatch.
  • Towel.
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste.
  • Razor and shaving soap.
  • Nail clippers.
  • Toilet paper.
  • Plastic sheeting.
  • Clothes pegs & washing line.
  • Multi-charger.

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Navigation.

  • Maps of countries of passage.img_0006a-copy
  • Internet guides as required.
  • Compass.
  • Spare compass.
  • Lonely planet guide or equivalent.
  • List of useful internet sites.

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 Safety & Emergency.

  • Whistle.img_0005a-copy
  • Emergency contact information.
  • Emergency medical card, showing allergies, blood group, etc.
  • Hunting knife.
  • Pepper spray.
  • Spare batteries.
  • Mobile phone.

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Water Provision.

  • 2 cycling water bottles for bike.img_0004a-copy
  • 2 Sigg bottles. 1 litre each.
  • Collapsible water-bag or ‘Camel-back’.
  • Water filtration kit. Kayadyn.
  • Water treatment - iodine
  • Anti-iodine tables (water neutralisation).

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 Recreational.

  • Towel.
  • Swimming trunks.rec-at-600-copy2
  • Swimming goggles.
  • Reading book.
  • Phrase book for countries of passage.
  • Camera / video and case.
  • Monopod if solo traveller.
  • Music and spare batteries.
  • Playing cards or similar. 
  • Small short-wave radio.
  • Frisbee.

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Medical.

  • Vaccination card.img_0003a-copy
  • Health insurance certificate.
  • Yellow fever certificate.
  • Anti-malaria medication.
  • 3 courses of anti-biotics.
  • Large first-aid kit.
  • Small first-aid kit.
  • Emergency dental kit.
  • Anti diarrhoea remedy.
  • Anti-histamine tables.
  • Anti-inflamitory tablets.
  • Anti-worm tablets.
  • Sun block.
  • Paracetamol (other pain-killers).
  • Vitamin and/or iron tablets.
  • Throat lozengers.
  • E45 and savlon cream.
  • Lip lubricant.
  • Insect repellent.

img_0003a-copy-21 

Image link Click here for Checklist 1 Documentation
Image link Click here for Checklist 2 Clothing
Image link Click here for Checklist 3 Transportation
Image link Click here for Checklist 4 Daily Living
Image link Click here for Checklist 5 Navigation
Image link Click here for Checklist 6 Safety & Emergency
Image link Click here for Checklist 7 Water Provision
Image link Click here for Chekclist 8 Recreational
Image link Click here for Checklist 9 Medical

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