Kal-Haven to Covert Packing List

Where will everything go?

Here’s a complate packing list for a solo midsummer trip over the Kal-Haven Trail for two nights of camping at Covert Beach and Campground.

LUGGAGE

• Pair of North Street micro panniers attached to rear bike rack (Ortlieb Sport-Roller panniers qould be a comparably sized waterproof option).

• Large Salsa frame bag fitted in the main triangle of the bike (Interestingly, this bag —designed for large-sized adventure bikes— fits perfectly on my small-size urban hybrid. Frame bags are funny that way. This is why I am not making a specific frame bag recommendation: there are a zillion options, so measure before you buy.)

• Osprey hip pack with hydration bladder. This is a fanny pack outfitted with a 1.5L water reservoir, and a tube which clips to your waist for easy access. This is a much more convenient way to hydrate on the road than a bottle, and more comfortable to carry than a backpack hydration system, IMHO.)

• Small insulated lunch pack (I used this to carry food to be consumed on the road, and a couple more perishable essentials)

• Assorted straps

• Reflective Safety Pizza strapped to the luggage on the back of my bike.

ESSENTIALS

• Bike: older model Kona Dew Deluxe urban hybrid bike

• Phone & charger

• Wallet

• Toolkit: spare tube, tire levers and pump; folding multi-tool

• Front and rear rechargeable bike lights

• Personal items: toothbrush and toothpaste, small bottle of Dr. Bronners liquid soap, sunscreen, bug spray, lip balm, Advil. These were contained in a small zippered pouch.

SHELTER / SLEEPING / CAMP

• 2-person Nemo Galaxi backpacking tent
  This is an older, fairly standard free-standing dual vestibule tent no longer in production. I like the extra space a 2-person tent provides, and I don't mind the small amount of extra weight on the bike. Similar tents are widely available from MSR, Eureka, Kelty and many other brands.

• Klymit Sleeping Pad and pillow (this is amazing and rolls up smaller than a beer can).

• Lightweight camping quilt (no sleeping bag was needed midsummer)

• Collapsible Joey camp chair

• ENO's Singlenest Hammock and straps
  
  Comments: The last two items were luxuries that made my 2-day solo excursion supremely comfortable and relaxing. The chair and hammock fit in one of my small panniers with room to spare. The tent was strapped to the top of the bike rack.

COOKING & FOOD

• For the road: Thai pasta salad packed in a disposable container (I planned to purchase lunch on the return trip)

• Peak Refuel freeze dried meals: 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners (Delicious! And this is coming from someone who doesn’t do freeze-dried 🙄).

• Packaged energy bars in case I needed lunch food

• Vargo Titanium wood stove and Baddest Bee fire starting wicks

• Small MSR cookset

• Insulated steel tumbler

• Tea bags

• Matches/lighter

• Folding eating utensils

• Reusable coffee filter and collapsible holder

• Ground coffee packed in a plastic bag

• Lemon

• Cream (I am a princess when it comes to coffee. I kept my cream cold inside my little lunch bag mentioned above with ice procured at the campground)

CLOTHING

• Gore bike cargo shorts

• 2 t-shirts

• Dress for wearing at camp

• Chaco sandals

• 2 pair of thin merino socks from Darn Tough Vermont.

• Swimsuit

• Underwear

• Packable sun hat

• Sunglasses

• Packable towel

• Thin rayon beach scarf rolled super small to be used as table cloth, towel or bug cover-up

Full account of the trip here.