Four most essential bring-a-longs

Countdown -181 days

If you had to narrow it down to just four most essential things needed for a trip such as this, what you think was most important?



Yeah, me too.



Somethings are obvious, but let's see if my list and your list match. And certainly if you an idea that really should be on my list and isn't, please lemme know.








1. Road Atlas


Clearly a GPS is far more convenient and useful, but let's stick to basics. You are in unfamiliar territory, moving (hopefully) at a rapid rate of speed, and constantly being tempted by the scenery and surroundings. The last thing you want to discover is that you've gone 50 miles in the wrong direction and now need to back-track to get back on course. Short of a GPS, a co-pilot (and we are all well aware of how much a wife knows about navigation and how little men know about the same) or a photographic memory....bring a road map. Heck, even most state-sponsored rest areas give away official maps for free these days. Otherwise plunk down $20 and get a Rand McNally. You really want to be without one when you roll up on that big orange "Detour" sign in remote Idaho with no clue where you are?



2. Cell Phone



You won't need to chat with your buddies, or check in with the spouse or the kids. But you will really want to have access to help in an emergency. You'll need it to get 911 help or if you need to just make sure your hotel reservation is still being honored while you wait out a storm under some overpass for a few hours. Let's face it, cell phones have changed our lives completely in the past 10 years or so. We all know people who will turn around and go back home to retrieve a cell phone even if they are just going to the grocery store. We also know people who seem to have their phones permanently attached to their faces. If you consider yourself even close to being 'wired' all the time, I can't imagine you planning to take a trip like this without a cell phone.




3. Money


Duh. But what I'm talking about is cash. Good ol' American greenbacks. Yes, you may use just a debit card for all your purchases now, but if you pull up to the ONLY gas station in Red Deer, Alberta at 9:30 at night, and the sign at Clem's Kwik Gas N Go says "Cash Only" you'll be happy you brought some along. And yes, American money spends well all over the world. Yes, you should use local currency (in this case, Canadien), but in the absence of that, A couple of Hamiltons, Lincolns, Jacksons, and maybe a Grant or two will work out fine for you.





4. Tool Kit



Another "duh" moment, but let me try to explain this one a little. I'm an over preparer (who'da thunk it? I starting planning this trip more than a year ago. I tend to over do it.) So when it came to assembling an emergency tool kit, I have to keep my wits. I can't take everything. For example, my motorcycle tires are tubeless. That means if I have a flat, I just need to plug it and go. I DON'T need to bring along tire tools to remove the tire from the wheel. If I was making this trip across vast expanses of gravel or dirt, I probably would bring along a spare tire, just in case. So that might work for you, but not for me. In the case of total tire failure (blowout, sidewall damage, etc.), my cell phone will be the best tool I can bring along. But short of those major issues, really all you'll likely need will be various sized screwdrivers, a ratchet & socket set, some general purpose wrenches and a pair of pliers. But don't forget about a handy all-purpose tool and perhaps a knife or wire stripper and some electrical tape. For whatever reason, I tend to have electrical issues, so I prepare for those the most often. Realistically, a standard portable tool kit found in any motorcycle supply catalog will do you well. Just be sure to add a spark plug wrench. Sucks to be stuck on the side of the road with everything you need *except* a way to get the damned spark plug off in order to replace it. Yeah, and a flashlight. My favorite is one of those lights that is powered by shaking the whole unit for a few minutes. All that shaking also lets you get a mini-workout and dispels some of that nervous energy and adrenaline rush you get when you discover there's a problem and it's all up to you to diagnose and correct. With no one else around. In the Dark.

During. Bear. Season.