Road Tech 101, Continued

All of my road gear comes in handy, but some carries its own weight.

My boots, for example. I did not skimp on boots. I bought Santana boots, three and a half years ago in San Francisco for $165. They are of black waterproof leather, fleece-lined, with hiking boot tread underneath. I can wear them in snow or mud, hiking, riding, or with a party dress. They look stylish, fit like running shoes, feel like bedroom slippers, and turn my feet into weapons. I wish they came up a little higher on my calf, so they looked more like hippie boots and less like biker boots, but that is a small flaw. I wear long skirts most of the time, anyway, and the tops of the boots hardly show.

I originally brought along a small electric heating pad to alleviate menstrual cramps. What I discovered is that heating up foot of my bed makes me ever so comfortable when sleeping in cold rooms. I've also discovered that a down bag is not just for hiking. Unzipped, it's a compact guarantee that I will sleep warmly no matter where I am. Sleeping well on the road is a blessing .

If you are moving about with piles of equipment and merchandise as I am, you will want to invest in a Kart-A-Bag Super 600, from the Kart-A-Bag Company in Joliet, Illinois. If you call them, they refer you to a luggage store that can order one for you. This thirteen pound collapsable hand truck easily moves 300 pounds on its fat sturdy tires. God bless the Wheel.

I hate to admit a dependence on industrially produced consumer goods, but I have one. I divide my toiletries by type (face, teeth, hair, bath, etc.) into Hefty One Zip Freezer Bags, all of which then go into one tote bag. I challenge anyone to show me an easier way to keep toiletries organized, spill-proof and easy to locate for long term travel. I also use these bags to store different kinds of office supplies. Of course, when I replace the worn-out ones, they go into the plastic recycling bin.