Packing

This five days to go before the flight to Zagreb means concentration on packing has been the main activity. A non-comprehensive description follows.

There have been loads of different choices to make between combinations of equipment that will do the same thing. I'm not sure even now that the fiinal decisions has been made on everything, but the main choices are fixed.  The main decision has seen kitchen being given priority over protection. This means that the tent has been abandoned for a combination of lightweight tarp (Mountain Lauren Designs Grace in Cuben fibre) and bug net.  Comfy Thermarest sleeping mat has been dropped for a more basic sleeping mat. 

The upside is that cooking and kitchen equipment has been expanded. I'm taking two stoves for cooking flexibility and more spices and condiments than reasonable. Sleeping bag was rejected for a sleeping quilt (a Nunatak Arc Alpinist) with a silk liner. My thinking is that the liner will be enough if it's hot.  I'm also taking my favourite down pillow from my bed at home.  Testing of various bedding combinations (mat/bag/pillows) showed the comfy pillow the biggest factor for a good night sleep!

Clothes are limited.  One Icebreaker, one running vest, and one cotton tee shirt (as nightwear). Super light and compact down vest. A windproof and a waterproof jacket. Two pairs of underwear, two pairs of cycling shorts (one padded the other baggy), running shorts (double as swim trunks), one pair of convertible Long pants. Buff, cycling gloves, Shimano clip-in cycling sandles, one pair of sports socks.

Lots of gadget (of course). iPhone, iPad, camera (with mini-tripod and selfie stick), Garmin cycle GPS, USB chargeable toothbrush(!), USB power packs (2).  All chargeable via the bikes front-hub dynamo and/or solar charger on the rear bag.

I'm travelling equipped for style not speed. All of this packed into Ortlieb Front Rollers(2), Back Rollers(2), Medium Rack Pack(1) and Ultimate 6 Handlebar Bag. These carried on a Tubus Cargo Evo rear rack and  Tubus Tara front lowriders.

The IS a kitchen sink.

Pictures unpacked and packed follow.

Route Update

There are many options most important being where to start from. I would really like to visit the Plivice Lakes as a starting point. There is not really time to divert south to Plitvice by cycle without compromising some flexibility on overall timings. There is, apparently, a bus from Zagreb but cycle accommodation is uncertain. I've therefore planned two alternative routes. They meet at Rijeka. I will turn up at the Zagreb bus station on the first morning and if I can get my bike and myself onto the bus then I will go to Plitvice. If not, I will start from Zagreb. 

I have made a number of changes to my initial route ideas. I am now going to take a ferry from Istria to Venice. Current thoughts are the Ravinj-Venice route but there are several options. The route around the north of the Adriatic looked flat and uninteresting, and a ferry journey seemed to me to be more exciting. I've also cut out Milan and I'll now follow the southern edges of the Italian Lakes: Garda to Bergamo to Como to Lugano. 

All the route has been mapped into my Bike GPS and copied into Google My Maps. The link for those with google account/Gmail, and who would like to see the detail is https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zy4ZrS0HnL5A.k5MH9_srvlyc

Packing is developing. Biggest debate is which sleeping bag/quilt and which sleeping mat. Otherwise everything I am planning to take forms a large pile in the house!