What to take?   You don't want to take too much, but you don't want to forget anything important and spend precious vacation time running around trying to replace it.  Even if an item isn't absolutely necessary, it's lousy wishing you'd brought it after all.  For example, I will never again do a trip on the Pacific Coast without my little binoculars.

No matter how many trips I do (of any sort), none are ever the same so I always have to revise my gear list.  Since I’ve started online journals for my bike tours, I always include the list so I have if for future reference.  That way I can use it as a starting point for a future trip and it’s where I can find it again.

On most tours I’ve used pretty well everything I took except things like my first aid kit and bike spares (which I really prefer not to need). I’d prefer not to need my rain gear, but that’s never happened as far as I can remember.  So those things always come along.

For the first three weeks, we’ll be travelling fairly light and staying in what I call “roofed accommodation”.  This includes hotels, B&Bs, hostels, etc.  I’ll be taking my camping gear since I plan to camp most nights when I’m travelling solo, but the camping gear will stay in Bordeaux while Al and I do the “Caves, Cuisine, & Chateaux” part of the trip.

The main thing I’ve changed for this tour is my camera.  Photography has always been an interest but until last year I’ve never had a digital camera I really liked.  I didn’t take it on my Rockies trip and regretted that decision.  It’s heavier and bulkier than my little point-and-shoot, but I think I’ll enjoy having it—especially once the non-photographer goes home.  I’m hoping his patience lasts for 3 weeks because he does a lot of waiting for me.

How much does all this weigh?  My brother-in-law asked  and  I didn't know.  I do now:  the bike and the gear I'll carry add up to 70 pounds.  The bike alone, with racks, fenders, seat bag and pump, but not the lock, is 32.8 pounds.

Feel free to skip the rest--it's my list.  Updated now that I've packed what I'm taking.

Jacquie's Bike
Co-Motion Pangea (with couplers and 165 42-32-24 crankset)
Tubus Tara front and Logo rear racks supporting Ortlieb Back-Roller Plus and Sport-Packer Plus panniers
Ortlieb Ultimate6 handlebar bag on a Rixen Kaul Klick Fix handlebar adapter (superior to Ortlieb's for disassembling/reassembling the bike)
Ortlieb map case
Garmin 810 bike computer loaded with openfietsmap for France
Axiom Rainrunner Reflex fenders
Waterbottles and cages (2)
Click-Stand
Helmet
Front and rear lights
Abus Bordo lock

Camping
MSR Hubba NX tent and footprint (modified since my Pyrenees trip for better rain-shedding)
Exped Downmat UL7
Western Mountaineering Ultralite sleeping bag
Fleece pillowcase (fits my light down jacket)
Alite Monarch chair
Camp towel and washcloth
Camp clothesline and pegs
Headlamp

Clothes (packed in MEC packing cubes and sil stuff sacks)
Merino headband (fits under helmet)
Cycling cap (fits under helmet)
Sun hat
Showers Pass rain jacket with detachable hood
Light down jacket
Microfleece jacket
Merino t-shirts (1 short-sleeve, 1 sleeveless)
Light long-sleeve synthetic jersey
Light short-sleeve merino jersey
Sun sleeves
Fingerless bike gloves
Full-finger gloves (wind/water resistant)
Cycling liner shorts (2)
Outer bike shorts (1)
Shorts for off-bike (can ride in these)
Skirt for off-bike
Wind/water resistant cycling pants (these have performed well in rain and are more comfortable for riding in than rain pants and are reasonably presentable off the bike)
SPD bike shoes
Waterproof shoe covers
Walking sandals
Socks and underwear
Swimsuit

Electronics
iPhone
iPad Mini
Camera, 2 lenses, CPL, SD cards, spare battery
Kobo e-reader
Charging cords, plugs and adapters
Headphones
Portable power bank (for charging phone and Garmin)

Tools and spares
For assembling and disassembling my bike (and tightening things that work loose)
For fixing flats
For oiling the chain and cleaning the bike
Plus FibreFix spoke, chain master link, spare nuts and bolts, Tenacious tape, duct tape, zap straps

Misc
Michelin maps (orange regional 1:200 000), all 5 to cover my planned routes
Prescription eyeglasses
Interchangeable lens riding glasses (with reading panes so I can read the maps!)
Spork and cup (upgraded to Ti)
Pocket knife
Toiletries
First aid kit
Electrolyte tablets
Pen
Scrubba laundry bag (I’ll pick up some Genie in France)

Traveling
Bike case
Large duffel bag for panniers
Ortlieb backpack converter (to make it easier to deal with the one pannier I'll use as a carry-on with my handlebar bag; this might stay with my bike case)