The varied climates and situations we experience require you to have all items on the first day of your trip. Forgotten items will be purchased with your pocket money. Do not pack more than what is on the list. Remember to leave space for items you buy along the way!
____Duffel: You are allowed one duffel. While engaged in activities, excess clothing is left in your duffel locked in the van. We suggest a tough, flexible soft-sided duffel with wheels approximately 34”x16”x16” or smaller.
____Sleeping bag: A medium weight, mummy style, nylon bag with synthetic filling (Polar Guard 3D, Lite Loft, Qualofil, etc.) or goose down made for camping. It should be rated to keep you warm to 10-20°F. A stuff sack is required.
____Sleep Sheet: This is different from a sleeping bag. It is your own sleep sheet to use as a liner for your hotel or hostel bed. It is for your comfort and is very lightweight. GREAT TO HAVE! Sleep sheet example.
____Daypack: Bring one small “school type” daypack, to be used during the day to carry personal items. Please make sure your day pack has a waist and chest strap!
Weather: Be prepared for varied weather conditions. Temperatures can change in a matter of minutes (from 32-80°F).
TRAVEL GEAR
____Passport
____Photocopies of your passport AND flight ticket to be handed over to your trip-leader upon arrival
____“Therm-A-Rest” or foam ground pad for sleeping
____2 backpacking type water bottles, and/or a 1 liter minimum Camel Back type hydration system
CLOTHING
You need a 10-day supply of clothing. If you bring too much it gets in the way. You will do laundry at least once on your trip.
Inner layer
____10-day supply of underwear
____1 set long underwear shirt and pants; polypropylene or similar synthetic fabric is essential - NO COTTON!
____Pajamas: Boxers and a t-shirt
Middle layer
____2 pairs of jeans or khakis
____3 pairs of lightweight shorts
____5 short sleeve T-shirts
____2 long sleeve shirts
____1 swimsuit
____2 pairs of biking shorts
Outer layers
____1 medium weight waterproof, gortex-type rain jacket
____1 medium weight waterproof, gortex-type rain pants
____1 polar fleece jacket (the fuzzy synthetic material)
HEAD, HANDS & FACE
____1 Fleece or wool ski hat
____1 Baseball style hat
____1 pair of sunglasses with secure strap (Chums or Croakies)
____1 pair biking gloves
FOOTWEAR
____9 pairs socks (synthetic is preferred)
____Water sandals that secure around your ankles (Tevas, Chacos or Nike)
____2 pairs of sneakers (running shoes)
TOILETRIES
____SPF 30+ sunscreen, chapstick with sun screen
____Personal toiletries, prescriptions, medications, bandana, etc.
____1 medium towel/1 small towel
____1 package “Wet Naps” - small cleaning towelettes
____laundry bag
____Small pillow
MISCELLANEOUS
____Headlamp or lightweight flashlight
____Cheap watch
____We advise you to bring some money in the form of Euro, about $100. We can also exchange money at the airport.
____Mess kit: fork, spoon, knife, plate, bowl, mug & mesh bag
____If you wear glasses or contact lenses, please bring a spare pair of glasses, including a protective case. Wearing contacts is okay!
____Camera (Phone and camera must be separate devices!), batteries/charger, plug adapter for charger
____Stationary and journal
____Suggestion: small, colored nylon “stuff sacks” or plastic Ziploc bags to organize your stuff
____“Crazy Creek” camp chair
Information Regarding Your Trip---PLEASE READ THIS!
Identification: A passport which does not expire until 3 months after the trip is required. ID is often required to cash travelers checks. If possible bring along a picture ID, library card, school ID or state ID card. Passports will be held for you by your Trip Leader. Travel Permission is MANDATORY(available online 3 weeks before your trip). No visas are required.
Mail: Yes, we will have mail stops in Europe. Please use mail stops for communication other than emergencies. Allow plenty of time for your mail to arrive at mail-stops. From the USA to Spain, Italy, and France mail takes more than 10 days to arrive unless it is “Global Priority” or “Express” mail.
Time: Europe approximately 8 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time.
Spending Money: EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED. ATM or Credit Card (Visa and Amex work best). Also bring cash. Europe is expensive but we suggest bringing approximately $75 per week. This is for personal expenses and gifts. If you run out of money, you have spent too much. Unless there is an emergency, Bold Earth will not advance money.
Safety: On the whole you have very little to worry about, but common sense is the best guide to dealing with potentially dangerous situations. The buddy system will be required 24 hours a day.
Health: Many health problems can be avoided by taking care of yourself, like washing your hands frequently. Avoid exposure to the sun. Wear sunscreen and insect repellant when appropriate. Tap water is almost always safe to drink in Europe. As with any illness, especially involving foreign travel, contact your doctor if need be.
Laundry: You wash your clothes once during the trip. We provide the suds, coins and know-how. Many participants have identical jeans, socks, hiking boots, etc. A good practice is to put your name on items which are not unique to you.
Trip Journal: Bring a notebook to record challenges, prides and successes of your adventure.
Reading List: The people, places and activities you will encounter on your trip are diverse and incredible. These are a few books offering background information. We suggest you consider reading these books before, during or after your adventure. Also, you might like to read Outside Magazine or USA Cycling Magazine, available everywhere. For additional adventurous reading, check out Extreme Classics: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time.
It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life, by Lance Armstrong. Multiple Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is a winner in the game of life itself: He has survived cancer, found love, and become a father. In the pages of his memoir, Armstrong tells his own moving and inspiring story, writing in his signature down-to-earth Texas style. This is an amazing tale of recovery in the face of tragedy and victory against overwhelming odds.
Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank. Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank's remarkable diary has since become a world classic - a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year- old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period.
The Tour de France: A Cultural History, by Christopher S. Thompson. This highly original history of the world's most famous bicycle race tells the compelling story of the Tour de France from its creation in 1903 to the present. Weaving the words of racers, politicians, Tour organizers, and a host of other commentators together with a wide-ranging analysis of the culture surrounding the event - including posters, songs, novels, films, and media coverage - Thompson links the history of the Tour to key moments and themes in French history.
LEARNING • SERVICE • LEADERSHIP
