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The morning I started my trip north, I had to load up the scooter for the first time and figure out where things would go. I was somewhat nervous, having to do this on a public street and not knowing what I was doing. But no-one paid any attention. Essentially I compartmentalized my stuff with rubberized army bags, one each for food, for cooking, clothes, something for miscellaneous books, pipes, toiletries and such, a sleeping bag and big piece of plastic. I also had a piece of heavy canvas about six by six feet, which I would double over and put on the ground below the plastic sheet, as an insulator from the cold and damp. I put the sleeping bag, canvas and plastic on the front rack and strapped the bags on the back.
I remember while still in the army planning this trip. I wanted to travel really simply. I was influenced in this manner by Thoreau's Walden Pond. I wanted to find out what I really needed in life and what I didn't. If I was to sustain my self for the rest of my life, what exactly did I need to put my energy into ? What was worth the energy and time ? What was important ? Why scrounge and scrap for things I didn't need ? Even if I chose non-essentials, I would know it was unnecessary and I could reduce my dependence. It would be giving myself freedom to choose what was necessary and what was superfluous. It was an insurance policy against frivolous usage of time.
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