Setting Out For Europe

I was jazzed about this upcoming trip, even if I had to work for almost all of it. For months I’d been preparing by using exotic meeting backgrounds:

It’s like I’m already in Scotland!
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It’s like I’m already in Scotland!

I did the usual inventory of clothing and parts, and that included going through all my leftover cash from previous trips. Good idea to bring it back to the country where it could be used!

My cute little collection of money from Foreign Parts
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My cute little collection of money from Foreign Parts

On previous trips, my extra bike gear was placed in suitcases, which I had to deal with in my destination country by storing them, giving them away, or just throwing them into a dumpster. This time I tried another approach: Some lightweight duffel bags that I could fold up into the bicycle box when empty.

Very compactable duffel bags for flying with the bulky touring stuff.
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Very compactable duffel bags for flying with the bulky touring stuff.

An extra bag and mattress… But how to fit them in the luggage?
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An extra bag and mattress… But how to fit them in the luggage?

Everything that was too heavy to go directly in the bike box, or too bulky to fit in my backpack, could go into the bags. The first thing I stuffed in was my sleeping bag and mattress.

Then it was only a matter of spending one long, long day carefully disassembling Valoria and packing her into the oversize transport box. Thankfully I’ve had lots of practice. This would be the tenth time.

Partway through the final disassembly.
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Partway through the final disassembly.

This tangle of extra weight put the box over 70 pounds. Drat!
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This tangle of extra weight put the box over 70 pounds. Drat!

Okay, this time I need to remember how all these bolts go. Perhaps this photo will help.
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Okay, this time I need to remember how all these bolts go. Perhaps this photo will help.

The duck horn is on the ‘must not lose’ list for sure.
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The duck horn is on the ‘must not lose’ list for sure.

Almost done wrangling all these parts…
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Almost done wrangling all these parts…

Ready for closing, at last!
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Ready for closing, at last!

In the end I had the box, two big duffel bags loaded with gear, and a backpack stuffed with electronics.

Good grief. Is there usually this much stuff to wrangle?
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Good grief. Is there usually this much stuff to wrangle?

The baggage fees would amount to almost a third of my ticket cost, but it was worth it.

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