Normandy Bed and Breakfast Rosebud in Honfleur

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A variety of bed and breakfasts, inns, small hotels and guest homes abound in Normandy. Just like anywhere else, some will be what you imagine and some not so much. Honfleur is a charming home base for Normandy exploration and home to our favorite bed and breakfast in the region, the Chambres d’hôtes Rosebud. A short stroll from Le Vieux Bassin and the heart of the city yet on the outskirts making getting back on the road a cinch.

A home redesigned, one slow room at a time makes this our favorite Normandy bed and breakfast.

Madame Barberi-Le Cesne Françoise raised her children in this home while she worked full time. As her children grew up and moved on, she painstakingly renovated one room at a time creating this Normandy bed and breakfast as it is today. When the first room and then second became available, she balanced working part-time with running the B&B. With all the rooms complete, she now runs Rosebud full time.

The gardens are elegant. A massive stone wall and metal gate hide the home and driveway. You don’t know what to expect as Madame opens it. And it is magical! Wisteria, lavender and herbs, clematis, peonies, lilies, manicured shrubs, and fruit trees greet you. The garden feast continues with the addition of varieties of palm trees, hidden corners with sling back chairs for relaxing in, and paths for wandering. When we arrived, the garden was busting with Iris’, tulips and daffodils. Year-round beautiful weather in the garden invites you to enjoy breakfast surrounded by blooms.

French Garden

French garden glamour shot

Each room’s design is indeed a labor of love.

They reflect Madame Barberi-Le Cesne Françoise’s love of art and beautiful things–she is an artist herself. For the design-savvy traveler, this French bed and breakfast’s decor is no disappointment! Each room is treated as importantly as the master bedroom of the home. Layered pieces of fine art adorn fireplaces and nooks; sculptures sitting atop the dresser have an aesthetic purpose and guide the eye to somewhere else in the room. Art books with pages marked indicating pieces located in the region’s museums and castles are stacked upon the room’s writing desk and side tables. Layers and textures in the rooms’ decor bring the senses to life. You climb into soft luxurious bedding topped with a faux fur throw blanket at the end of a hard day of viewing art, strolling, and dining.

Comfortable bed in Normandy Bed and Breakfast Rosebud, Honfleur, Frace

Faux fur and soft sheets call to you after a day of viewing art, dining, and strolling

French breakfast at Rosebud is heavenly.

Breakfast is delightful. Fresh juice, pastries, croissants, jams, yogurt, and fruit delivered as you sit down. Madame will ask you your tea or cafe preference, and if you would like meats or cheese, and wait for it… if you would like, and more importantly, how you would like, your eggs cooked! In France! At a Normandy bed and breakfast! Not for me, but for each his own.

There is a small covered garage for parking diagonally across the street. We parked our motorcycle right in the garden behind the home. Madame Barberi-Le Cesne Françoise is charming, and a stay at Bed and Breakfast Rosebud is how a stay in France should be–a feast for the senses.

Breakfast Rosebud's back garden

Our BMW GS Moto parked in the Bed and Breakfast Rosebud’s back garden

Stay here for a few nights and linger. Full disclaimer – I have no affiliation with this b&b and receive no compensation for recommending you stay here. I just love the Bed, and Breakfast Rosebud want to share it with you.

Honfleur, France – A Charming Normandy Base

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With slate and timber architecture and picturesque harbor reflections, Honfleur, France has always been a magnet for artists. Claude Monet, Gustav Courbet, and Eugène Boudin developed impressionism with Le Vieux Bassin (the old basin) as inspiration. A Parisian friend suggested Honfleur, France as a nice Normandy base and she was so right! This city is located across the river Seine from le Havre, and just a scenic drive away from the beaches of Normandy and the Cavaldos cider (cidre in French) region. After a few glasses of cidre we wandered around and watched the plein air painters in action.

Reflection of Normandy base for exploration, Honfleur's architecture in the harbor water.

Honfeur’s Le Vieux Bassin, or the Old Basin is home to sailboats, cafes, Normandy architecture, and a carousel

Honfleur Exploration and Beyond from this Normandy Base

Honfleur has plenty to see, eat, drink, and enjoy. The city is home to a few small museums including Musée Eugène Boudin which features the works of impressionist artists, and Musée de la Marine telling the story of Honfleur’s maritime history. France’s largest wooden church, Saint Catherine’s, also calls Honfleur home.

Le Vieux Bassin (the old basin or harbor) is the heart of the city. Once a merchant and fishing port, the harbor is now home to yachts and sailboats. Restaurants that tempt the taste-buds line the sidewalks and show off buckets of mussels and fresh fish. Don’t arrive ravishingly hungry–you do not want to stop at the first place you pass by. The view is worth so much that not all restaurants here are up to par. That being said, the ones that certainly deserve your taste buds’ attention. We had a fantastic dish featuring skate (ray in French). I have seen Jacques Pépin prepare it on his cooking show and watched my husband toss many a skate back into the Atlantic Ocean when fishing on Long Island, NY. This fish smothered in white wine, butter, and caper sauce is nothing short of outstanding!

A look at an old building in Honfleur, France, Normandy base for exploration.

Slate, stucco, timber, and brick Normandy architecture throughout the city of Honfleur

Bed and Breakfast Rosebud

Honfleur is home to a host of bed and breakfasts, inns, small hotels, and guest homes. Our favorite stay is at the Chambres d’hôtes Rosebud. A short stroll from Le Vieux Bassin and the attractions of the city yet on the outskirts enough to make getting back on the road a cinch.

Le Havre

Just across the river by bus or taxi is France’s second busiest port, Le Havre. Musee d’art moderne Andre Malraux (MuMa) is the shining star of this city for any impressionist buff. The museum was initially built in 1845 and was utterly destroyed in the bombings of World War II. Re-built in 1951, and then restructured between 1995-1999, the museum is now a clean, contemporary building allowing the country’s most extensive impressionism collection of art to speak for itself.

Cider Trail

The Calvados region of Normandy is home to some of the world’s best cider. The Normandy tourism board has worked with the orchids to create wonderful itineraries of visiting and tasting along this 25-mile route through Pays d’Auge. Many of the mills require appointments so stop by a tourist info building to get things off to the right start.

Hens at Cider Orchid in Calvados, France, easy to reach from Normandy base Honfleur.

Hens clucking around outside of a cider mill in Cavaldos

D-Day Landing Beaches of Normandy

There are five main D-Day Landing Beaches: Sword Beach, Juno Beach, Gold Beach, Omaha Beach, Utah Beach. The beaches and towns along the coast are dotted with cemeteries, museums, and memorials. They are all moving, and it can be an emotionally draining day. If you are visiting the region to pay homage to a loved one or looking to view something specific start with the particular site you came to see so that you are not too exhausted. I also recommend hiring a tour–private or group–if you are looking to gain something specific out of your experience as it can be overwhelming. If you are visiting to pay your respects and learn more about this historical place and time you should be fine on your own. Either way, visit a tourist info point first to gain your bearings.

D-day landing beach in easy to reach from Normandy base of Honfleur.

Flags wave proudly in the breeze on one of Normandy’s D-Day landing beaches

3 Tips for Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, France

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Violas stand proud like little soldiers guarding tulips in every color of the rainbow. There is no doubt that Giverny, France is beautiful, and each variety of plant that greets you has a distinct personality. Plenty of time can be spent daydreaming while looking across the pond at Monet’s water lilies and seeing the famous Japanese bridge. But, unfortunately, time is often limited on vacation. You want to make the most out of every day. Had we planned a little better, we would not have spent an extra half of a day figuring things out. Just three simple tips for visiting Monet’s gardens would have made all the difference on our visit.

Japanese Bridge, Monet Garden Giverny France

A look across the water lily pond to the Japanese bridge in Monet’s Garden, Giverny, France

We left Honfleur in the late morning with the intent to stop in Giverny en route to Paris. This stop was the start of our trip, so we still had three seasons of clothes and too much junk on our moto. Every stop felt a little like a hassle. We were paranoid about leaving our things unattended. All of our gear was still shiny and new and screaming “come on, you know you want this fabulous silver tron-like jacket!” Nothing like the end of the journey when we doubled back through France—the same jacket was so dirty and crusty the flies were hovering above. No joke.

Having been to Paris before I knew (at least I thought I knew) what I wanted to see again. Unfortunately, I ignored planning anything before or after Paris. I kept telling myself I would research when we were in Ireland the month before. Instead, I spent my Irish time doing Irish things. This set us up for a string of disappointing days which we did not accomplish or see much of anything. Follow these three tips and avoid the same disappointment.

Tulips at Giverny France

Giverny tulips in bloom.

Tip #1: Arrive in Giverny First Thing in the Morning

We arrived around noon, and there were more people online than tulips in the gardens. Giverny is best enjoyed within an hour or two of opening. I am not exaggerating. The mass volume of people that arrive within each hour after opening is mind-blowing. The crowds make it difficult to enjoy the serenity of the gardens, let alone make your way through Monet’s home. The site opens at 9:30 am so best to arrive between 9-9:15ish. I know, I know, you are still waiting then, but it is much more pleasant to pause and enter a space that’s empty than a crowded space. Trust me on this.

Monet's House in Giverny, France.

Monet’s house

Yellow dining room in Monet's Giverny Home.

Monet’s dining room.

Blue and white Rouen tiles adorn the backsplash in Monet's Kitchen.

Kitchen cooktop with blue and white Rouen tiles

Tip #2: Pre-Purchase Your Tickets Online

We quickly learned even if we did get online, there was no guarantee that we would get in as there were so many people ahead of us. Pre-purchased ticket holders use a separate line. The website says no-queuing, but there is a small one. The key here is minor, as in 10 to 20 minutes, unlike hours of waiting. You also have the option to purchase a combo ticket for Monet’s Gardens and the Musée des Impressionnismes in the village. The house and gardens are run by the non-profit organization Foundation Claude Monet. Visit their website, fondation-monet.com/en, to purchase your tickets online.

MonetGardenGiverny2

A look across the tulips in Monet’s garden to his house

Monet's Gardens at Giverny France

Gardens at Giverny

Tip #3: Allow Enough Time to Wander and Enjoy

As I said, we stopped en route to Paris. This means we wanted to be in Paris before rush hour. We had very little time to see anything, let alone enjoy ourselves. Once in the gardens, why would you want to rush?! Take your time and enjoy the beauty and nuances of color and texture surrounding you. Embrace the moment, approach the bridge, wander. Every plant was placed purposely. These carefully designed elements are what influenced Monet’s impressionist paintings. Give these moments the attention they deserve. The village is also home to the Musée des Impressionnismes I mention above, and many shops, artist studios, galleries, and cafés. Give yourself enough time to enjoy the gardens and surrounding village.

So what did we do? We parked the moto, went to the Restaurant Les Nymphéas, had a fantastic quiche lorraine for lunch with a glass of Chablis, and people watched for an hour. We accepted that if we wanted to enjoy Giverny, we would need to sacrifice one of our days in Paris and come back. So, we precisely did just that. We were relaxed and in the right frame of mind to enjoy the tranquility (albeit imagined as so many people really do visit!) that inspired so many magnificent Monet paintings. How long should you allow? At least a half-day, a full day for relaxed daydreaming.

Tulips in Giverny.

Taking our time wandering thru the tulips in Monet’s Garden, Giverny.

 

Tips for Selecting the Right Accommodation for Your Needs

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We have been fortunate this trip. Until our arrival in Baška on Krk Island in Croatia earlier this week, we have not had any disappointing stays. This is because I am crazy at researching where we are going to stay. I read reviews… then I read other reviews by the reviewers to establish if I can trust their reviews… then reviews of the reviewers… and on it goes.

"Dutch" style door in poor accommodation on Krk Island with broken lock on the louvers enabling people outside to open the top half of the door!

Baška – broken lock means people outside can open the top half of the door

It can become debilitating, and I fall down the rabbit hole of the internet. Then Daryl steps in and says “Jes, sometimes good is good enough.” Then I usually pick something.

This week’s place was a little different. Listed on Airbnb.com, it does not have many reviews (though all of them are 5s), or many photos, but seemed genuine, yet somehow I picked a dud. A little worse than a dud. Bad enough that we said we don’t care what it costs (eek!), we will find somewhere else to stay while on Krk!

 

So, here are the tips I follow:

1. Be a realist when it comes to price 

  • If you are traveling to many locations, take your overall budget and be flexible in different areas. Maybe staying in Monte Carlo isn’t in your budget. That’s ok, stop there for the day.
  • As in everything, it is all about location and purpose. If you want to be a step from the beach or in the heart of town be prepared to pay.
  • Lots of amenities cost money but weigh what they cost you in time. Having a washing machine in your place may be more, but the time saved in finding one and sitting around while your undies are on spin cycle is worth something.
  • If the price seems so great it can’t be true it probably isn’t! 4 & 5-star accommodation may be out of your price range, but look at what they have to offer in your destination and if a 3 star has the same amenities but 1/3 the price, think again!

2. Look at photos of beds 

  • Does the bed look super plush or flat and hard? If the picture has a sink hole in the bed, you can bet it has not been replaced in ages. You can also bet everything else in the place is in similar condition. If you like sleeping in old beds filled with decades of other peoples rotting body secretions, be my guest. Otherwise, pay a few bucks more for a room with a comfortable looking bed.

    Heritage Hotel Forza Baška saved the day with this fabulous room in their new boutique hotel.

    Heritage Hotel Forza Baška saved the day with this fabulous room in their new boutique hotel.

3. Look at photos of the bathroom; in particular the shower 

  • The bathroom can say a lot about the cleanliness and upkeep of the space as a whole. I am not saying look at the style of the tile or the color. Who cares if the tile is old or salmon colored unless designer space fits your needs (see below).
  • Clean is king. If the grout looks moldy and gross, it probably is.

4. Cross-reference with sites like TripAdvisor or Google reviews 

  • I like to see the ‘user’ photos because you get a ‘real’ photo of the space, but I always take the reviews for what they are. I rarely go by what they say unless there tons all saying the same thing. If a bunch of reviews screams out bed bugs, then maybe it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

5. Decide what type of accommodation fits your needs 

  • We have a pretty hard rule; if we are staying for three nights or less, we like a hotel. If we are staying for three nights or more, we seek out an apartment (or self-catering as they call it in Europe).
  • Do you want a location you can walk around, or do you need transportation? For example, when in a heat wave, rainy weather, or an area with a ton of concentrated sightseeing, we want a central location so we can park and forget our moto until we leave.

6. Make a list of what you “NEED” and what you just “WANT”

  • Since we are traveling on a motorcycle space is limited and we each only have three outfits. For stays more than three nights we NEED a washing machine or access to one.
  • Wifi is essential for us, but only a need if we will be somewhere for more than four days and plan to write or research. If we are looking for just a shower and crash place to sight-see around the clock, neither of these things matter to us.
  • If we will be somewhere that is expensive to dine out, or for more than a few days I NEED a well-equipped kitchen. I love to cook and am not going to part up a whole chicken using a pairing knife.
  • Do you want a “crash-pad” or designer space? For me, if I will be spending time in the space writing or re-grouping, I want a beautifully designed space. If we are just showering and hitting the bed, then style does not matter – only comfort and cleanliness.

7. Decide if you want interaction or privacy 

  • B & B’s tend to be best if you want host interaction.
  • Hotels are best if you want privacy.
  • Self-catering at times can provide a little of both.
  • With Airbnb listings you can gauge the amount of interaction by the host’s profile, reviews, or bits of info in the listing such as “all outside spaces on the property are available for the guests to use” which usually means you are welcome to use their spaces, and they will be using them as well. We vary with what we look for; sometimes privacy, other times we want to be very interactive. 

8. Finally, have faith in your ability to choose but always have a contingency budget 

  • We have pretty much strictly used Airbnb.com and Booking.com on our moto trip and have been very satisfied. When our Airbnb place was not up to snuff this week, Airbnb had my back. I emailed them, told them what was listed, and not in the unit, had photos to back up my statements, and with a few hours I was emailed I would receive a refund.
  • Only people that have stayed at the accommodations can review on Booking.com, and all of our stays booked through them thus far have been accurate. 
  • When using Airbnb, have faith in the hosts. Most of them host because they love to travel themselves or enjoy meeting new people.
  • We always have a safety budget for if the unthinkable happens, like it did this week!

T-Mobile Switch: NO Roaming is Real!

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Switching from Verizon to T-Mobile. Smart. Smart. Smart.

45 days and three countries into our trip and I could not be more satisfied with the decision. Apart from a few minor kinks in getting the phones configured when we first arrived in Ireland, service has been virtually seemless and we have been running on 2g and occassionally 3g. Yes, it is at times painfully slow, but it does what we need and when we need it. It is not enough power to skype home with, but it is enough to send emails, check banking, upload a photo or two (slowly!) to facebook, and browse for general information.

We currently are paying $99 a month plus taxes (and those pesky few cent and dollar governmental fees) for two lines with unlimited talk, text, and data. This includes unlimed data and text with no roaming charges when abroad. There are some countries excluded so be sure to check their website for details on locations. Calls are 20 cents a minute.

Here is what to expect from the switch and while traveling:

  • I already had a gsm phone (Samsung Galaxy S4) so I was all set. T-mobile provided me with a new sim for their network. My husband’s existing phone was not gsm so he needed to purchase a new one. He selected a Blu Studio X with dual sim capability. We went to a T-mobile authorized retailer that had unlocked, no-name, smart phones available for purchase ranging from only $99 to around $300, so you need not break the bank if expensive technology is not your thing. More than likely where you wish to travel to you will need a gsm capable phone (with very few exceptions).
  • If you’re using your existing phone, when the new sim is inserted the top of your phone will read ‘unknown sim source.’ Pay no mind to this.
  • When we arrived in Ireland we received an official text from T-mobile welcoming us, reminding us of no roaming charges and that the cost of calls would be .20 min, The text also cleary stated that unlimited texts and data are included in our plan. It also gave the option to pay to upgrade to a faster speed.
  • Call and text worked instantly on the Blu Studio X. Data did not.
  • Text only worked on the Samsung Galaxy S4.
Public Pay Phone in Dubrovnik, Croatia with what appears to be the T Mobile Logo.

Public Pay Phone in Dubrovnik, Croatia with what appears to be the T Mobile Logo.

We called and spoke with a T-Mobile tech. He was very helpful and tried walking us through multiple possible settings on both phones. He even rang us back when the call got disconnected. Unfortunately, he was unable to help us figure out why things were not working and opened a ticket with the engineering department. He said they would get back to us within 72 hours. We continued to mess around with settings and figured out the issue on our own.

Change LTE to FAST!
The issue we were having is that both our phones were running on LTE networks at home. LTE networks are slow to roll out in Europe. We hadn’t considered this as we thought since our phones were configured to GSM and not CDMA that we would be all set. Once we went into settings and adjusted our APN by changing ‘LTE’ to ‘fast’ we had no issue connecting.

I have received my first bill and there was no surprises. We made a few calls to family and had about $30 in charges. Not bad at all! Also, we made the mistake of forgetting to shut off data when we first boarded our ferry from Roslare, Ireland to Cherbourg, France. This small oversea journey is considered cruise roaming, but luckily T-mobile texted us an alert that stated data had been disabled due to cruise roaming, and provided a number we could text if we wanted to use data (at some ridiculous rate).

We have a few more countries to go and if anything changes I will let you know.

June 2, 2015 Update:

We have been in Croatia for 4 days now and still seamless coverage!

Packing List of a Non-Fashionista

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The number 1 question our friends and family asked us when we were getting ready for 5 month Euro-moto trip was how do we pack and what will we bring? I will start by saying I am far from a fashionista… so if you are into high fashion and cannot travel without a pair of heels and full jewelry box, then this is not the place for you to get advice.

For everyone else, here are my suggestions.

What We Packed for 5 Months, 3 Seasons, and About 10 Countries

Clothes I selected for 5 month, 3 season, 10 country Euro-Moto trip. All pieces are interchangeable and can be layered for different looks.

Clothes I selected for 5 month, 3 season, 10 country Euro-Moto trip. All pieces are interchangeable and can be layered for different looks.

Outerwear:

• Exofficio Storm Logic Coats – They can be layered underneath, and/or on top of. Inside you find a number of pockets (passport, cell phone, wallet just to name a few), and they roll up inside a pocket on the lower backside to create an awesome travel pillow.
• Eddie Bauer self packing raincoats.
• I always bring gloves and end up buying a hat, the opposite for Daryl.

Bottoms – Comfortable & Flexible from Casual to Dressy:

No jeans! They are heavy, tough to wash on the road, and get stinky quick.
• I packed 2 pairs of pants, both by Columbia. 1 hiking pair, 1 slack style. I look for pants with discreet zipper front pockets that fit my passport and are water repellent.
• Daryl selected 2 pairs of Eddie Bauer Travelex pants. They also have a discreet zipper pocket and are water repellent, and 1 pair Columbia hiking pants that convert to shorts.

Dresses & Skirts:

•2 Dresses – Columbia’s Marakesh Maven dress is my favorite – I have in three colors and decided on the black one for this trip. It is UV protective and has pockets. The other dress is a no-name synthetic blend.
•1 Black cotton-synthetic blend skirt by Patagonia.
•Daryl opted to not bring a dress or skirt on this trip.

Tops:

•We each selected four or five shirts that coordinated with all bottoms.
•For me: a t-shirt, Eddie Bauer dressy tank shirt, a long sleeve Cuddleduds layering shirt, light merino wool sweater (bit the dust week 3!) and a blouse.
•For him: 2 shirts with long sleeves he can roll up, 1 short sleeve, and 2 t-shirts. His button down shirts are all Eddie Bauer Travelex.
•Cardigan: I admit that I have a cardy problem so I decided on a heavier Exofficio one and 2 light weight 3/4 sleeve no-name ones. We all have our weaknesses, sweaters are mine. Daryl selected a cotton-synthetic blend sweater and a microfleece.

Sleepware:

• We always travel with lounge pants and a t-shirt.

Socks and Undies:

I am realistic about how many pairs of each I need. I like to go four days before needing to wash them.
• 5 pairs of each (plus a pair of black leggings and no-see-um socks for me). All Smartwool socks and Exofficio undies.  The undies dry super fast and are very light.
• For me: second bra, sports bra, black leggings, and no-see-um socks.
• For him: running shorts and boxer style speedo.

Shoes:

This is always difficult. How do I know how my feet are going to feel in a month? The best part is that you don’t, which means you give yourself the green light to buy a fantastic pair of leather shoes in Italy!
• Clarks Originals: we both have them in suede and LOVE them because they are great for walking but can be dressed up and they fold into themselves almost flat. I have the Faraway Field Oxford and Daryl has the Desert Ankle Boot.
• Causaul & Beach: I have a pair of Keen Sienna Canvas machine washable mary janes, Daryl has a pair of machine washable Sanucks. I also packed a pair of Born leather shoes which just would not break in so I left them along the way somewhere.
• Hiking shoes: we always travel with hikers because a. we enjoy trekking, b. you can go for a run in them, and c. there are days when your feet just ache from traveling!

Toiletries:

3 oz. is more than enough! If you don’t believe me, put your favorites in 3 oz. tubes now and see how long it takes you to go through. You can pretty much purchase anything anywhere (ok, remote places maybe not, but where ever you are flying to in order to get to where you are going…) so I keep it simple.
Few things I always pack are:
• Detergent, face wash, lotion, and sunblock (my skin is super sensitive and holds me over until I can find a local product that will work).
• Enough toothpaste to get us through a few days.
• Makeup: I bring the bare minimum.
• Dry eye/allergy eye drops.

First Aide & Vitamins:

As with toiletries, I only bring enough to hold me over until I can find at my destination if I need it. My first aide/med pack contains 2 or 3 doses of the following:
• Benadryl, gas-x (I always take 2 as soon as I board a flight), Dramamine, Sudafed, cold & sinus, Pepto Bismol (tabs), Tylenol (travel pack), and Alieve.
• Vitamins – I take a variety daily so those I tend to bring a bit of. For the 5 month trip I packed about 1 months worth.

Gadgets:

• The obvious – cell phones and chargers, laptop, charger, mouse, kindle, external battery, plug adapters for destinations (tip – if your laptop plug is 3 prong, make sure you get an adapter that takes 3 prong!), headphones, and gps (if traveling by moto like us or car – phones can be unreliable and costly to use as gps when traveling internationally). Our favorite item currently is the Anker 2nd Gen Astro 3 portable charger – when fully loaded we get about 4 full charges on our cell phones from it!

Misc.:

• Clorox wipes, wet ones, hand sanitizer, pashmina, eye mask, ear plugs, neoprene wine bottle tube, and phrase book(s) (though with T-mobile now obsolete as I always have data and access to google translate). For this trip we added travel fly fishing gear and a hammock as well as a small pack of vision therapy supplies I use regularly.

Art Supplies:

Art supplies neatly packed inside a toiletry bag. Supplies inside include a Plano box containing mediums, Wet Ones, bristol paper pad, small board, and tape.

Art supplies neatly packed inside a toiletry bag. Supplies inside include a Plano box containing mediums, Wet Ones, bristol paper pad, small board, and tape.

What I bring depends on where we go and for how long.
• I always have a Plano 3540 Waterproof Stowaway container filled with charcoals, graphite pencils, and erasers (the waterproof seal is key to keep the charcoal dusts and pieces from slipping out), a small masonite board, blue painters tape, moleskin notebook, and some sheets of various papers.
For this trip I added:
• Winsor Newton Artists’ Watercolor Sets – Artists’ Field Box Set, 4 brushes, a Sennelier Pastel Half Stick Set, and Caran d’Ache Classic Neocolor II Water-Soluble Crayons.

We also have moto safety gear (helmets, gloves, coats, pants, boots). That is pretty much all we have with us. And yes, what we wore for departure was selected from the above… not additional articles. If you are interested in added any of these items to your own collections, please follow the links. When you purchase from the links on my site, it helps support me!

Is there anything you bring that you know you can’t eliminate? Or is there anything I should add to my list?  Please share!

July 20, 2015 update: over the past 6 weeks we have mailed home or left behind many things to lighten our load including: hammock, exofficio coats, hats, gloves, scarves, shirts, pants, skirt, clarks and worn out socks. we have each picked up sandals, and I purchased a summer skirt and new dress. We are down to about 3 or 4 outfits each, running clothes and swimwear!

Pack for 5 Months in a 40 Liter Backpack

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Elimination. That is the name of the game when packing light.

For years we have only flown carry-on, but this trip was the ultimate test. Forget carry-on specs; everything packed must fit in the motorcycle’s panniers.  5 weeks, 3 seasons, + art supplies, and fly fishing gear, for two people. This was a challenge even with all of my previous experience!

Mosko Moto Backcountry 40 Liter Duffle/Backpack

We invested in a Moskomoto Backcountry 40 liter duffle/backpack specifically designed for the back of a motorcycle.  I was able to pack all of our clothes, shoes (with the exception of two pairs of hiking sneaks), toiletries, fly fishing gear, a hammock, and some supplies in this bag. We have been very happy with this bag and highly recommend it to anyone traveling by moto. It opens on both ends for access and stuffing from either side. I also purchased a 45 liter Osprey Ozone 46 which held my laptop, and some loose items I like to have access to on the plane (first aide kit, kindle, cells and headphones, notebook). Over the years I have switched to purchasing only multi-functional articles of clothing. All pieces must be light weight and quick drying. They are interchangeable and most are in UV blocking fabrics. For specifics on what we packed, read my related article.

The first thing I do is lay everything out I plan on bringing, then eliminate at least half! This is easier than you think. 

5 Must Dos for Efficient Packing

1. Consider the bag or suitcase you use. I have switched from a clamshell backpack style to the duffle backpack style. You really can fit so much more. I always use a backpack style. One thing I just can’t stand is tripping over wheely bags or struggling over cobblestones or staircases with them. No thank you. I am sure one day in the future my tune will change!

Travelon Packing Cubes Keep the Top Load Duffle Organized

Travelon Packing Cubes Keep the Top Load Duffle Organized

2. Invest in lightweight packing cubes. My favorite are by Travelon. They are super durable and have mesh tops so your clothes can breathe a little. The colors are day-glow bright which make it easier to find what you are looking for inside the dark abyss of you bag. They come in many sizes and I pack everything from clothes to gadgets inside. This keeps it all neat and tidy. I also a number of cosmetic and toiletry style bags for art supplies and gadgets as seen in the far right of the picture above.

3. Pack your socks and small items inside your shoes. I know for many people it seems like common sense, yet I still forget to do this until half-way through packing! Also, considering rolling your socks and undies separately instead of folding them. This makes them fit just about in any left-over crevice. I use both techniques depending on where has space.

Travelon Cubes are easy to pack in like puzzle pieces. I also always bring a neoprene wine bottle holder.

Travelon Cubes are easy to pack in like puzzle pieces. I also always bring a neoprene wine bottle holder.

4. Think it through. Ask yourself this question: What will I need at the airport and will I be unpacking everything at my first destination? Keep items you will need soonest at the top of the bag. There is nothing more annoying than having your connecting overseas flight delayed and realizing your plug converter is at the bottom of your bag so cannot charge your cell without emptying everything!  Same goes for certain items – for example arriving in Ireland, I do not need my swimsuit until 2 months later when I get to Croatia – bottom of the bag it goes.

5. Do a “mock” pack at least 2 to 3 weeks before departure. This works really well for us. For about a week straight I wear the items I plan to bring (if season is different I wear the items when hanging around the house). I find that by doing this you can easily become aware of a pair of shoes that really maybe don’t go with everything you packed, or that you really need a different pair of pants because these just don’t agree with you after the holidays…get it?!

 

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