With a wonderfully empty day ahead of me, I decided to do something productive before settling in for a relaxing afternoon of reading. Our panniers have started to get slightly funky and today was the day to clean them. Getting right down to work I carried them all to a hose hooked up behind the shower block where we had cleaned our bikes earlier. It was very hot and I didn't mind getting soaked as I scrubbed them with soap and water followed by a good blasting with a water hose.
When I was through I hung them up to dry on the fenceposts around our campsite. With the panniers wet and indisposed, I set about organizing all of our belongings—now strewn about on the ground around our tent. There is something really satisfying about taking stock of everything, collecting various items into a group according to theme, presenting each thing in all its glory, and then putting it all back in its place. I am really enjoying documenting our trip so of course I had to take pictures before I re-packed everything.
Here they are! (except for Tyler's clothing pannier)
The Book Pannier
This is a goodbye banner from the kids, books we brought or picked up along the way, folder of Important Papers, watercolor pencils, knitting stuff, etc.
The Toiletries Pannier
My Clothing Pannier
Not pictured is the sleeping mat that is rolled up and goes on top of all of this stuff.
The Tool & Parts Pannier
The Pantry Pannier
This is for anything that needs to be prepared in some way before eating.
The Snack Pannier
This is for anything anything you could easily eat for snacks or lunches.
The snack and pantry pannier are constantly evolving, and sometimes there is little difference between the two. I never tire of organizing and taking stock of our food.
The Cooking Pannier
Spices go in here, along with our three kinds of salt, and our dish-washing supplies. The fuel bottle actually goes in the tool pannier though.
The Butter Tupperware
Not a pannier I know, but worthy of it's own photo. This massive hunk of butter will last us about a week.