Dog on Wheels: equipment

Equipment
This will be a long trip with a heavy load, frequently off the beaten path, and with no support. Though one can certainly cross the country on a tighter budget, it has been important to me to travel with gear I can absolutely trust in any situation. Weight is a curious concern here, as I am planning to tow a somewhat heavy trailer and a big dog. In relative terms another pound or two may be quite insignificant; still I don't want to give myself more trouble than necessary. In addition to saving weight, packing light reduces the amount of gear that must be maintained or might be stolen. I will need enough equipment to camp, prepare food, stay warm and dry, care for the dog, maintain the bike, record the trip, navigate, and keep myself comfortable for three months. This trip has required the purchase of a lot of new equipment, but when possible I will make do with equipment I already own. Following is a tentative list of my gear. As I prepare I will surely add a few more items, jettison some, and replace others. Click underlined items for a more complete descriptions.

The bike and trailer, of course, will weigh what they will. Without food and water, I am aiming to keep my packing list to no more than 45 pounds.

Bike, Rack, Panniers, Trailer Waterford 1900 touring bike Avid disc brakes Shimano 105 9-speed crank bar-end shifters Aleante saddle Chris King headset Shimano XT hub 36 hole rims American Classic Seatpost Salsa handlebars kickstand Robert Beckman touring racks and panniers Topeak Tour Guide handlebar bag CycleTote Dog Trailer with disc brakes Springer (enables dog to safely jog beside the bike) headlight	Camping and Cooking Gear Tarptent Squall 2 Ultralight Travel Hammock Kelty Arete +15 degree sleeping bag 3/4 length Ultralite Thermarest MSR Dragonfly stove and 20 oz fuel bottle Evernew Titanium cookset Lexan fork and spoon Katadyn Hiker PRO water filter 7 water bottles 6 liter MSR Dromedary water bladder 2 Ursack TKO 2.0 bear bags lighter extra matches can opener sharp knife small plastic shovel
Tools and Spare Parts Topeak Road Morph pump with guage Topeak Alien II multi-tool (probably more than I need; a little heavy) freewheel remover? allen keys chain remover spoke wrench patch kit 2 folding knobby tires (spares and for rough terrain) 2 spare tubes chain lube extra spokes extra chain links extra screws for rack or water bottle cages spare brake and derailleur cables rear axle?	Clothing 3 short-sleeve synthetic shirts 1 long-sleeve shirt Patagonia fleece vest 3 pairs of cycling shorts North Face convertible pants 6 pairs of socks REI Randonee rain/wind jacket Pearl Izumi Instinct rain pants 1 pair short riding gloves 1 pair long riding gloves Giro Atmos bike helmet and rain cover cycling shoes lightweight hiking sandals sunglasses Krispey Kreme cap chamois towel
Camera, Bike Computer, Phone Olympus C-3040Zoom digital camera (bigger than would be ideal for this trip) Garmin Edge 305 and adapter cell phone and adapter Black Diamond Night Ray LED headlamp Sunlinq 6.5 watt solar charger maps	For the Dog Raven's Watch Raven X harness six foot leash Granite Gear Slurpin Bowl - medium biodegradable waste bags West Paw Hurley (a light and durable dog toy that Coltrane really likes) bandana chamois towel Randy Acker, Field Guide to Dog First Aid
Personal scissors hand mirror comb? toothbrush toothpaste contact lenses - daily disposables glasses lip balm with SPF sunscreen bug repellent liquid soap small packet of tissues toilet paper razor shaving cream (a necessary luxury)	Misc. ID, ATM card, credit card, health insurance card, checkbook, money first aid kit Batteries AAA (headlamp) AA (camera) journal notepad pens small Bible 2 books bike lock bear bell? bear spray? superglue duct tape

Waterford 1900 touring bike
I couldn't be more excited about this bike! It is a custom-fit, custom-engineered touring bike with disc brakes manufactured by Waterford and assembled at Get a Grip Cycles. My impression is that even the most basic touring bikes on the market are made pretty well. I was assured by several people familiar with touring that they would be sufficient to make it from one coast to the other. But the kind of load I intend to carry and terrain I intend to cross would certainly test them. At 6'2" and a solid 220 pounds, I am already a big rider. I will tow a 22 pound trailer and a 75 pound dog. My own gear will weigh nearly 45 pounds. Add the weight of my own food and dog food as well as water for two. The trailer will preclude my taking single-track trails, but I will ask this bike to tackle terrain usually reserved only for mountain bikes. We will climb the Rockies and even travel portions of Kokopelli's Trail outside Moab. I decided that I wanted a bike not just adequate to finish this trip, but one that would scoff at the challenge. I don't want to worry about my bike, don't want to feel it being strained beneath me, don't want to have to discard it at the end. And I want to enjoy the trip. This bike will be my home for about three months, so it should be comfortable. This adventure should test me more than it tests my equipment.
As soon as I met Adam at Get a Grip Cycles, I knew I would get a Waterford. He convinced me of the superior quality of their lugged joints and the benefit of having a properly-fit bike. More than that, both Adam and Kevin have become quickly and genuinely excited about the trip and the bike with me. Of course, the real benefit of a custom-engineered bike is that it should feel great to ride. I haven't taken delivery yet, but I was incredibly impressed just by the fitting process; in a two-hour appointment, we determined precisely how the bike ought to fit and collected all the necessary information for the the bike designers at Waterford. Check out Get a Grip's website to see how it works. The second benefit of a custom bike is that it is designed with the trail in mind. This will be a tough bike. We determined quickly that it should have disc brakes, which are still relatively unusual on touring bikes. It will have bar-end shifters (easier to repair on the road than STI). It's got plenty of clearance for knobby tires and fenders. The Chris King headset will never have problems. And the saddle is very comfortable.

Robert Beckman racks and panniers
I was very excited to discover Robert Beckman, who makes the perhaps the best racks and bags available. You might check out the Robert Beckman Designs website, but the site is several years old, and his designs and prices have changed a bit. Contact him at the phone number on the site for a description of his current work. I particularly liked the idea of Bob's mid-high front rack, which, unlike most front racks, has a shelf above the front wheel for extra storage. This system is not cheap and it is taking several months to have the racks and bags made. I confess to wincing a little bit at the price before placing my order, but I really am convinced of the unparalleled quality of Bob's work. I am still waiting to take delivery on this system, and I will provide a fuller review in time.
I could never have anticipated the difficulties I encountered with the racks. I placed the order for the racks and bags after being fit for the bike, but before the bike was designed. I was surprised when I received a call from Richard Schwinn at Waterford. He was concerned about Beckman's front rack, for three particular reasons: first, he thought the high profile of the rack made balancing loads difficult and might cause the front wheel and handlebars to shimmy; second, some people had observed that the position of the front rack was such that a hard turn of the wheel could bring the rack into contact with the bike's downtube; third, the rack requires unique mounting braze-ons, different from those Waterford usually puts on its touring bikes. I didn't really want to cause a feud between two great craftsmen, but I trusted both of these guys, and I could think only to put them in contact with each other to work out the situation. Bob explains that the balance problem can be resolved by properly balancing the front bags. This might take some practice, but shouldn't dissuade one from purchasing a great rack. The problem of contact with the downtube was resolved a few years ago with a design change. It is true that the front rack requires unique mounting points. This seemed to me like it shouldn't actually be a problem on a custom-made bike, but it took only a few conversations with Richard Schwinn to convince me that it must be. In this case the problem with building a fork with unique braze-ons was exacerbated because, when a client is outfitting a bike with disc brakes, Waterford contracts out the fork to Vicious Cycles. It was just another company to deal with. Unlike just about any other bike accessory, there is no standard mounting system for racks. Manufacturers who produce a lot of racks usually make them to fit braze-ons in a variety of locations. And there are a couple producers who, by the volume of their production seem to set the industry standards, specifically Blackburn and Tubus. Tubus is the manufacturer with which Waterford usually works. I think Bob's racks are better constructed than Tubus racks, and I really like Bob. I didn't want to cancel our contract simply because accommodating his racks might be a headache. Tubus racks might have been sufficient for the trip, and I might have purchased them had I not already made arrangements with Bob. Despite really liking the idea of the shelf on the front and despite Bob's strong assertion that his mid-high rack is fantastic, I changed the rack order. Now Bob is building a low-riding rack front rack, designed for the standard Blackburn/Tubus mounts and disc brakes. I still think it will be a good system, but it feels like a minor concession. Richard Schwinn seems to think this was a good resolution and is comfortable that his concerns have been addressed.
Bob is also making the panniers for the bike. Again, I have heard nothing but good things about these bags and their mounting sytem. I have elected to carry his Expedition packs on the rear (2700 cu. in.) and Paradigm packs on the front (1800 cu. in.).

Topeak Tour Guide handlebar bag

I don't want to carry a lot of gear on the handlebars, but I want a bag to carry a light snack, my camera, my phone, and just a few other essentials. Because I am traveling with paper maps, instead of GPS, I also need a place to put maps where I can see them while riding. The Topeak bag is a good size, and has a nice aesthetic. It detaches easily from the handlebars so that I can carry valuables with me when I leave the bike. The bag is 270 cu. in.

CycleTote Dog Trailer
Concerned about weight and reliability, I had nearly resigned myself to purchasing a trailer intended for children and making a few adaptations when I discovered the CycleTote. This trailer is really better suited to my trip than any other I found. First, it has a solid floor and a uniformly tall profile. Most of the trailers designed for children suspend seats from a top bar and have only a heavy-duty cloth floor. tthey are shaped to accommodate a seated child and have steeply sloping canopies. To make one of them work I would have had to remove the child seat, to insert a hard floor or at least a very comfortable pillow, and possibly tinker with the shape of the canopy. The CycleTote has made all these modifications themselves. The CycleTote also uses standard wheel sizes, which will make carrying spare tubes and tires easier, both because standard sizes are easier to replace at a bike shop and because the same spares will work for the bike or for the trailer. Also, the larger tires will likely roll over rough terrain more smoothly than smaller tires. The most unusual perk of this trailer is the option to have it outfitted with disc brakes. This feature will make life much easier when descending steep hills with a heavy load. And, it comes with a fantastic warranty.
    Another advantage for my trip is that the trailer attaches to the bike's seatpost. Many trailers on the market attach to the rear axle or chain stay, but these configurations may be difficult with panniers on the rear of the bike. The CycleTote's hitch has its own problems here, as the hitch will severely limit how high I can stack gear on the rear rack, but I may able to engineer some way to strap a few light items to the trailer's hitch itself or, of course, to put a couple items in the trailer with Coltrane for short periods. We'll determine how to make it work when the time comes.
    The trailer has arrived and appears to be beautifully built. I wish that Coltrane had just a bit more room inside, though I really don't want to pull anything bigger than this. It does handle quite well. Coltrane didn't like it for the first few days, so I had to coerce him with food and - a couple times - forcibly place him in the trailer. We have made a point, each time he gets in, to travel someplace fun, like the beach or the dog park. The second day, I also put a pad with a sheepskin cover on the floor. By the third day Coltrane was climbing into the trailer of his own accord. He still appears a little uncertain about it, but he's willing to lie down and after short time is able to relax. After a few more weeks, I'm certain he'll be entirely comfortable in the trailer. It handles well and appears to ride very smoothly.
    I have only three items on my wishlist, regarding the trailer. (1) It would be nice if the top could fold down. It is detachable, but not collapsible. It makes it just a bit of an ordeal to come in and out doorways. This wouldn't be a problem at all if I had a garage, but I don't. CycleTote advertises that the cover can be easily removed in just two minutes. I think this may be true (with a little practice), but two minutes going out and two minutes coming in each time I want to use it isn't nothing. Of course, this won't be an issue this summer; we'll be outside the whole time. (2) It would be nice if the screens and rain covers could be incorporated into the canopy instead of being entirely separable. I think I would feel less this way if I didn't need to carry all the pieces with me, but when I take each of them off, I will need to put them somewhere. There are a couple loops on top of the canopy, and I may work out a way to tie them off there. (3) Last, in my ideal world it would have a suspension system of some sort. We're going to cross some rough terrain this summer, and I want Coltrane to be as comfortable as possible.
    My wishlist does not constitute a list of demerits. This is a great piece of equipment and should surely be adequate to our task. Dick Salisbury at CycleTote was very friendly and helpful, and when I told him about our trip, he gave me an incredibly good deal. This trailer is much better suited for carrying a dog than any of the alternatives I considered and nearly purchased.

Springer
The Springer clamps to the seat tube of a bike and attaches to a short lead for a dog. The dog can be bound to the bike without disturbing the bikes operation and allowing the dog room to walk, jog, or run safely beside. The dog can pull on the lead without destabilizing the rider. It's a pretty simple device but well designed and simple to attach to the bike. We have not yet received ours. After we've used it a bit, I'll write a few more comments.

Tarptent Squall 2

The Squall 2 earned 2005 Best Gear designation by Backpacking Light. Weighing just 28 ounces, the Squall 2 is roomy, wind and weather resistant, versatile, and easy to set up. It looks pretty low and sleek in the picture, but two adults can actually sit up inside it. Additionally, Tarptent is a small company that listens carefully to its customers. I've done a lot of research about tents in the past weeks, and am impressed that these tents weigh a couple pounds less than all of their peers without sacrificing style or functionality. Anyone who is serious about trekking - and carrying their own gear - should check these out.

The Travel Hammock

This is an absolute luxury. Some ultralight hikers carry a hammock instead of a tent because it is a little lighter, about half the weight of the Tarptent and much lighter than most other tents. I am looking forward to the hammock for a couple reasons. First, I just like sleeping in hammocks. Second, it is definitely preferable in places where the ground is particularly rough or rocky. Third, it's nice to be able to see the stars at night, which won't be possible from my tent. Fourth, though the tent is pretty easy to set up and take down, the hammock is even easier. Fifth, the hammock will give me a place to relax. Even if I don't plan to sleep there, it might be nice to sit in the hammock with a book, rather than sit on the ground. The Ultralight Travel Hammock weighs just 10 ounces and can support up to 300 pounds.

Kelty Arete +15 degree sleeping bag
I've had this sleeping bag for several years, and I really like it. It is a comfortable and warm down bag. For this trip it is unfortunately just a little bit heavy and may be a bit too warm. Still, it has not seemed necessary to purchase another bag. I don't think that Kelty still makes this particular sleeping bag, but their Light Year sleeping bags are comparable and it looks like maybe half a pound lighter.

MSR Dragonfly stove

I really like this stove. I picked it up last year for a couple camping trips. It is relatively easy to use, packs compactly, can operate with nearly any liquid fuel, and weighs not much. According to the MSR website, the real breakthrough feature of this stove is the adjustability of the flame. I don't think I realized how unique that was when I got it. My only real concern with this stove is the problem with carrying fuel. I have a 20 oz. bottle, which is quite a manageable size, but MSR estimates that a single camper will consume about 4 ounces of fuel each day. It appears that for at least some stretches of the trail I will not be able to use it every day. I will either have to cook over open fires, when that's possible, or arrange to eat cold meals. I haven't worked out my menu very thoroughly yet, but I have to keep this constraint in mind. An advantageo f this stove that I've not tested is that it will presumably work even with unleaded gasoline, which will be easier to find in some places than white gas.

Evernew Titanium cookset

The Evernew Titanium Cookset received a 2005 Editor's Choice Award from Backpacker Magazine. I picked it up last year when I got my stove. The full set includes two pots (1.3 liter and 1.9 liter) and two frying pans/lids (0.7 liter and 0.8 liter). I expect that I will take just one pot and one pan with me, though the whole set weighs only just over a pound. The smaller pot-lid combination should be sufficient for the trip, but I may bring the larger combination if it makes it easier to pack something inside them. They do seem quite strong, the handles are sufficient for cooking over a stove, but this cookware won't work to cook over a fire. Having used these for camping trips last summer, I have already done some damage to the non-stick surface of the frying pans.

Lexan fork and spoon
Lexan is great stuff. It's the same stuff your Nalgene bottle is made of. It is light, strong, heat resistant, easy to clean, won't scratch your cookware, won't make your food taste funny, will last forever, and is even available in several different colors. A whole utensil set weighs less than an ounce. As far as I can tell, there is absolutely no reason to splurge for titanium or stainless steel utensils, no reason to settle for cheap plastic.

Katadyn Hiker PRO water filter

There are now several ways to purify water while traveling, including filters, tablets, UV treatments (SteriPEN), and electrolysis (MSR MIOX). My exposure to each of them is somewhat limited. I confess to liking filters because they clean out the dirt, in addition to bacteria and protozoa. That is, I think they make the water taste better. The other kinds of treatment will make the water safe by killing harmful elements, but they don't actually clean it. I have camped a bit using iodine tablets, and I just don't think I could handle three months of water with that taste. There are some other tablets now on the market that claim not to have an aftertaste. I am not in a position to judge. Tablets, however, are much lighter and more easily packed than even a very light filter. The SteriPEN destroys viruses, bacteria, and protozoa using ultraviolet light. It seems like a good product. It can clean a 16 ounce glass of water in less than a minute. 4 AA batteries are sufficient to clean 20-40 glasses of this size. Between the dog and me, we'll drink 20 glasses of this size at least every four days. Among other things, that's a lot of batteries. Of course, we could get rechargeable batteries and use our solar charger, but we're not now traveling with a battery charger, and the additional weight would negate any weight saved for not carrying a filter. The MSR MIOX uses an oxidant solution and electrolysis to clean the water of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. It claims to be more effective even than iodine or chlorine tablets. This, too, looks like a great product. A drawback here is that the water is not necessarily safe to drink until four hours after treatment. I hope actually never to be in a situation where this would be a significant problem. The two particular concessions one makes when using a filter are (1) weight and (2) filters do not filter out small viruses. I don't have any real anxiety about viruses; filters have been the standard for many hikers for a very long time. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if these other technologies become increasingly common on the trails. Nevertheless, I will travel with the filter and a small collection of tablets just in case the need arises.
Among hiking filters, the Katadyn Hiker PRO is king. It is easily the most popular filter on the market. It is able to filter large volumes with relative ease and speed. The filters are reasonably priced and easily replaced. The device is a very manageable size and weight.

6 liter MSR Dromedary water bladder

Water is a concern. I don't know how quickly we will consume it, but I don't ever want to run out, particularly not in the middle of Nevada or Utah on a hot day. The dog and I will need water to stay hydrated, maybe to cook, and we may want to have some extra water available in the event that Coltrane ever appears to overheat, in which case I will want to pour some water over his skin or soak a bandana to wrap around his neck. We will carry three water bottles on the bike frame. I am planning to carry an additional four bottles on the frame of the trailer. The bladder will not be easy to carry full, and I expect we will use it only when we anticipate going more than a day without encountering a water source. We will learn in the first few days how quickly we are consuming our stores. I think that with the full bladder and the water bottles on the bike we should be able to travel at least three full days without refilling.
The MSR Dromedary bag is one of many options on the market. Its particular claim to fame is its durability. They say you could drive a car over one of these things without popping it. They come with a grommet and a couple straps so that it can be hung on a tree or strapped to a backpack. Presumably you could freeze them or fill them with boiling water. They come in several sizes between 2 and 10 liters. The 6 liter size is fairly big without being unmanageable. I hope it will be big enough. If it appears we will need to carry even more water for some stretches, we will probably just purchase bottled water and store it with Coltrane in the trailer until we consume it.

Ursack TKO 2.0 bear bag

When I told my dad about the Ursackhe said, "Cabell, I don't think that picture is very good advertising. The bear is eating that bag." The Ursack is made of what the Manufacturer calls a Vectran fabric. I don't really know what that means, except that bears can't rip it. They might smell food in the Ursack. They'll bite it and beat it up, but they won't be able to get inside. All told, we'll spend actually very little time in bear country, but we do want to guard our food from predators of all sorts. The Ursack will help keep out rodents, raccoons, bears, and any other scavengers. Carrying a bear canister is heavy and takes up a great deal of space. Among other things, we will be carrying dog food. I will pack the dog food first in Ziploc bags, but I will store it each night in an Ursack, which I will hang from a tree or other fixed object some distance from our camp. To accommodate the dog food, I wll travel with two Ursacks. They do make a larger bag called the Ursack Major, but I think I will like the flexibility afforded by two separate bags.

Topeak Road Morph pump with guage

This is a good pump. It's greatest feature is that it unfolds such that it operates like a standard floor pump - that's why they call it a "morph." The leverage gained by this transformation makes it easy to reach pressures of up to 120 psi. The company claims you could even reach 160 psi, but I'm not sure I'd ever want to, and it might start to get difficult. The pump also has a built in guage, is fairly light, and packs easily onto the frame of the bike. I'll carry a handful of Topeak products with me. They make good stuff.

Topeak Alien II multi-tool

This tool has everything! Well, maybe it doesn't have quite everything; Topeak makes another multi-tool with 27 tools. This one has only 26. It's a little bit heavy, but it includes a full allen wrench set, a hex bolt wrench set, a pedal wrench, screwdrivers, a chain tool, a bottle opener, tire levers, a spoke wrench, and even a few more tools. I've had it for a few months, and I've used it at home because it contains some tools I haven't even got in my standard toolbox. This is a biker's Swiss Army knife on steroids. Before I hit the road I'll talk with the guys at the bike shop about whether this is really the most appropriate tool for the ride, but the only additional tool that I think I might want to add is a small adjustable wrench.

Giro Atmos bike helmet

This helmet is quite a step up from my first Pro-Tec. I was in third or fourth grade when mom came home with my first helmet. That afternoon we went riding, and - believe it or not - I tested the helmet the same day when a car exiting a driveway didn't see me. I don't really like wearing helmets; I like feeling the wind in my hair. And when I was younger I was deathly afraid that someone from school might see me. Of course, then I also would have been embarrased by biking shorts and the rest of the gear. Now I love it!
The Giro Atmos is one of the best helmets on the market. It's the one that Lance Armstrong wore in the last Tour de France. All helmets protect your head, but the Atmos is incredibly light, and its 26 vents make it very cool in hot weather. I'm told even that the engineering of the vents make it so that wearing the helmet cools your head more efficiently than not wearing it. Anyway, I think it's a great looking helmet and was excited to get a very good deal on it.

cycling shoes
I'm still shopping for these.

lightweight hiking sandals
I'm still shopping for these.

Olympus C-3040Zoom digital camera (bigger than would be ideal for this trip)

I bought this Olympus camera in 2001, before a trip to Southeast Asia. At the time, its 3.3 megapixels was pretty impressive, as was it 3x optical zoom. Camera technology has come a long way since then. I think I could get comparable features now in a smaller piece of equipment and for much lower price. Still, I really like this camera. It takes great pictures, and I've carried it all over the world. It is probably not ideal for this trip, due to its size, but I trust it to record my adventure well.

Garmin Edge 305

This little computer is so cool! Garmin has outdone themselves. I am very excited to really put it to use. It will measure speed and distance. Because it collects its information via GPS, it does not make its measurements by the revolutions of the wheels and there are no wires or small parts to deal with. It does not need to be calibrated or programmed. Garmin assures that its sensitive receiver will work under tree cover, in canyons, and on cloudy days. We'll run it through its paces this summer, and I'll let you know if it holds up.
    Also essential for touring, it provides a compass (oriented to true north) and altimeter (determined by GPS rather than pressure, requiring no calibration and not subject to barometric variations). These features are really important, particularly when navigating by paper maps, as I will. Accurate readings will make all difference when determining my location. It is not clear to me yet what exactly are the computer's navigation features. As I understand it, the computer is not compatible with GPS mapping software. (That's fine with me; I'd rather look at a map.) I don't know whether it will provide latitude and longitude measurements. I do know - and this is a very nice feature for navigating, that when connected to my computer I can program it with up to 10,000 waypoints. Even if it will not tell me exactly where I am, it can tell me when I am on course and have passed one of the waypoints.
    In addition to its navigation features, the Edge 305 has an incredible number of workout features. You can program it with a course and race against your own previous times (it's like watching downhill Olympic ski races) or against a virtual partner. And you can equip it to measure your heartrate or your pedaling cadence.
    Finally, the Edge 305 is small, lightweight, and beautiful. I have difficulty imagining a better cycle computer than this one. The only additional feature I might like would be a temperature display.

Black Diamond Night Ray LED headlamp

I've had this Black Diamond headlamp now for a few years, and it is fantastic. It is very lightweight. It has, I think, six brightness settings, and two brightness settings for a blinking signal light. The beam direction is adjustable. And it is even pretty comfortable to wear. I plan to use it mostly around camp in the evenings, but I may also use it when riding in low light conditions to complement my NiteRider headlight.

Sunlinq 6.5 watt solar charger

I am really excited about this solar charger. I will use it to charge my cell phone, my cycle computer, and my headlight. The Sunlinq charger folds to about the size of a small paperback and unfolds to 30"x9". 6.5 watts is not a lot, but the devices I'm charging are pretty small, and I'll have nothing but sunlight and time. I may try and rig it so that it can be secured to the top Coltrane's trailer, and I can charge devices while I ride. It charges through a 12 volt socket, exactly like that in a car's cigarette lighter. Keith at 21st Century Goods helped me determine this was an appropriate device for my ride. But I'm looking forward to using it even after the ride. There's no reason not to use the sun's energy for simple charging tasks. (I've also learned that some people carry chargers in their cars; they can be used during daylight hours to "trickle charge" a dead battery.)

Raven's Watch Raven X harness
I don't honestly know much about dog harnesses, and I've always been very content with a standard collar. However, both when Coltrane is riding in the trailer and when he is attached to the Springer, it is unsafe to leash him with a collar. My search for a good harness led very quickly to Raven's Watch, a Canadian company that frequently makes harnesses for sled dogs. The Raven X is a very simple design. If Coltrane were actually pulling anything we would want something different, but this harness is more than sufficient. I am very impressed at its solid construction. And it was sewn to fit Coltrane's measurements. It is adjustable and lined with a soft fleece for Coltrane's comfort. The customer service at Raven's Watch was very good, and delivery was surprisingly fast.

Granite Gear Slurpin Bowl - medium

Granite Gear makes a lot of outdoor gear for dogs. Their stuff is durable and well designed. This bowl is a nice size and weight, but really any collapsible bowl would do. I considered for a while not traveling with a dog bowl, but letting Coltrane eat and drink out my cookware. But of course there will be times when Coltrane will want food or water, and I'll need to be cooking. The cookware also will be packed pretty deeply in my bags. I wanted something for Coltrane that I could pack at the very top of the bags and could easily take out to give him water while we're riding.

biodegradable waste bags

These are straightforward enough. They're just worth highlighting because they are environmentally benign. Of course, I don't object to using a grocery bag or other plastic bag when it's available. They are produced by a company called Oops...I pooped. Visit their website to see the unfortunate kid wearing the popular Oops...I pooped hat.

West Paw Hurley (a light and durable dog toy that Coltrane really likes)

Coltrane is pretty aggressive with his toys. He skins every tennis ball and disembowels every plush animal. This toy, however, looks as good as the day we bought it. And Coltrane really likes chewing on it. It's pretty light, and it floats in water. We'd probably be ok if we didn't travel with any toys. Coltrane is as happy with a stick as just about anything else. But as long as it's not a burden, it makes sense to me that we would bring a little bit of home with us.