The things we carried, then sent home

If you’ve been wondering whether that is the same black, green or pink shirt I’ve been wearing in all of the photos we’ve posted, the answer is yes. We left Portland with just the packs on our backs, but boy were they heavy. Andy’s weighed in at 44 lbs [20 kg], Loey’s at 26lbs [12 kg], and Dylan 18lbs [8 kg]. By the time we reached the airport (Portland’s!) we knew we had to lighten the load somehow. But how? It seemed through the process of packing again and again we had gotten down to just the bare minimums. But there was no way we could carry these loads through the streets of Tokyo, let alone through the rest of our trip. So, in three 10 lb [4.5 kg] loads, mixed in with the souvenirs, we’ve managed to mail home the following items that were in our packs:

• GPS receiver
• geocaching toys/stamps
• 2 AA rechargeable batteries
• Andy’s blue pants
• 2 pr A’s socks
• Loey’s black pants
• Hairbrush
• D’s spirograph
• Castle In the Air book
• Sushi playing cards
• 3 small Nalgene bottles
• The Good Earth book
• Milo’s gift certificate
• Andy’s blue oxford shirt
• Loey’s tan skirt
• Mouse for computer
• D’s popper toys
• Peak flow meter for asthma
• Aerochamber for use with Qvar
• Packing bag for day pack
• Make-up bag
• 1 pr L’s socks
• L’s black cardigan sweater
• A’s brown v-neck sweater
• Japan Lonely Planet
• Tokyo Lonely Planet
• Korea Lonely Planet
• L’s sarong
• Loey’s Keens (shoes)
• Andy’s white long-sleeve dress shirt
• The Hobbit
• Small black purse/day bag

So what are we still lugging around that weighs so much?
Andy is carrying 40 lbs [18 kg], (not a big drop, but he’s picked up a lot from Loey and Dylan’s bag) which includes:

• A laptop computer
• Plug-in and all paraphenalia for computer
• Cellphone
• Battery charger for camera
• First aid kit
• Medications
• Allergy drugs
• Laundry soap and sink stopper
• Dylan’s homeschooling stuff
• Packets of important documents
• Padlock
• 2 guidebooks
• 1 date book
• 3 journals
• 2 fiction books
• 1 pr long pants
• 3 pair shorts (one is a swimsuit)
• 3 t-shirts
• 1 short sleeved, 1 long sleeved button-up shirt
• 1 rain jacket
• Tevas
• Walking shoes
• 6 pr socks and undies
• Toiletry kit
• Wallet with CD computer backups
• Backpack for day tripping

Loey is now carrying 22 lbs [10 kg], her stuff includes:

• 3 sleep sacks
• 1 swimsuit
• 2 pr pants
• 2 pr shorts
• 5 short sleeved t-shirts
• 1 long sleeved t-shirt
• Loey & Dylan’s rain coats
• 1 pr. Birkenstocks
• 1 pr walking shoes
• Dylan’s Keens
• Toiletry kit
• Bag of ziploc bags
• Gifts for people we meet on the road
• 6 pr. Undies, 6 bras, 4 pr socks
• Pair of shoelaces
• Bandana
• Office (a ziploc bag with sharpie marker, scissors, scotch tape, safety pin, rubberband, and 2 pens)
• Camera
• Lovely lavender sachet to make it all smell good
  

Dylan’s back is weighing in at a more manageable 11 lbs [5 kg]. She is schlepping around:

• 2 pr pants
• 2 skorts
• 1 pr shorts
• 4 short sleeved t-shirts
• 1 long sleeved t-shirt
• 1 tank top
• 1 light cardigan
• 1 nightshirt
• 1 swimsuit & goggles
• 6 pr undies
• 4 pr of socks.
• Flip flops (she wears her walking shoes when carrying the pack)
• Tolietry kit
• Tiny bag of toys (uno cards, deck of cards, travel rats, cat’s cradle string, Totoro)
• Book & handwriting book

The most amazing thing is that through all of our moves since June the only things we’ve lost (knock on wood) are one of Dylan’s favorite socks & Loey’s watch.
Stuff bought on the road is being shipped home with our stuff we’ve decided we can’t carry.