March 24, 2015 1:03 AM PDT
I just happen to see this on another site. Since your looking at a long trip it could be an idea
One way to enjoy a LONG tour and keep the onboard gear to an absolute minimum is to use the U.S. Post Office and FedEx.
When you plan your route, you MUST pick several post offices that you will stop at along the way. They can be major cities or smaller towns, but it is important to pick post offices that WILL be open when you come by. Don't pick a post office that is closed on Saturday or Sunday, and don't pick one that is at your daily destination, because it will probably be closed when you arrive. Post offices at your planned lunch breaks on weekdays work best.
Log into FedEx and establish an account that is tied to your credit card number. You will be given a customer number which you can use to print self-adhesive shipping labels that you carry with you. Place a label on any box of nearly any size, and it will be shipped automatically. Your card will be billed for the shipping costs. This works great for that big widget you bought on the road, with no way to get it home.
Now, PLAN your trip. Are you traveling in variable climates? (Cold and Hot) Are you anticipating any specific activities like fishing, rock climbing, etc. along the way?
Once you know your basic route, and you have selected your mid-day Post Office stops, get several small boxes. The 1.5 cu. ft. boxes from your local moving store work best. Get GOOD packing tape, and a bag of foam peanuts. Pick up a small paper air freshener for each box.
Pack what you will need from that point to the NEXT point into each box. A change of clothing, a fresh sweatshirt, thermals, a windbreaker, a floppy hat for sun while you stop at a stadium to watch the football game, swim trunks, flip-flops, etc. In this way, your photographs won't have you wearing the same two shirts in every photo throughout the tour! For socks and underwear, slip them into a large zip-lok freezer bag with a dryer sheet to keep them "tame" until you wash them.
Pack the items that you CANNOT find on the road ... YOUR brand of deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, sunscreen, lotions and potions, etc. Zip-Lok freezer bags are great for shipping this stuff, I normally double up on the bags to insure that they do not leak. I also pack things like AA-batteries in the packages, and things that would cost much more on the road or at a tourist trap. Don't forget postage stamps for letters, postcards, etc., and envelopes, and pens.
Pack anything other bulky items you will need. A change of shoes. A fresh CPAP mask, for instance. Adult diapers. Some DVD movie(s) you might want to watch in your hotel room. Whatever. The goal is to not have to carry it with you for the entire tour.
NOTE: When shipping liquids, the boxes may ride on airplanes. This causes bottles to expand with the reduced air pressure in cargo compartments. The solution to this is to open the bottle, squeeze the air out of it and seal the bottle tightly again WHILE it is squeezed. Then, if the bottle expands in the plane, it will not leak.
Any box that you send to YOURSELF in care of GENERAL DELIVERY will automatically be held by the receiving post office for 30 days. After that, it will be returned to the shipper's address (your home.) On the shipping label, it helps to print a nice 4x5 photo of your smiling face ...
"Only THIS PERSON (your mugshot) is authorized to pick up this package. It will be claimed on or about (date.)"
Stop at the post office. Pick up the box that is waiting for you. Change out clean clothes for dirty ones. Take out the fresh batteries, etc. Put the things you no longer need (but want to keep) into the box. Ladies, change out your jewelry and makeup. Swap out a purse. Ship heels and a dress for that dinner with the in-laws!
Open one scented air freshener and place it into the box to handle the used clothing issue. Dryer sheets work well too for this, but they must be stored in a zip-lok bag until ready for use so they don't dry out or go stale.
Take out the pre-printed shipping label that is already IN the box and attach it to the outside of the box, and seal it good with the roll of tape you carry with you. Ship it home again (or to a neighbor or family member) where it will be waiting for you when you return. Now you are good until you reach the next post office. Don't let boxes stack up at your front door, or be left out in the rain, or to be stolen!
For items you buy along the way, the pre-printed, self-adhesive FedEx shipping labels are great! Simply slap one onto anything you buy and have the STORE hand it to the FedEx guy when he comes by. You don't even have to carry it out to your bike! If it is not boxed, take it to a packaging store and box it up, and slap the label onto that box. They will charge you a small fee to box up the item. FedEx will also hold packages for you. check with them for the details.
With proper planning, you can enjoy:
A wider variety of clothing (not wearing the same thing every day.)
Shedding cold weather clothing when you no longer need it
picking up cold weather clothing only WHEN you need it
Traveling very light.
Having what you need, where and when you need it.
No delays sitting around at laundromats, or handing your laundry to the hotel staff to be washed with those of other guests.
The ability to buy larger items and get them home safely.
Not paying "tourist" prices for items you can buy cheaply at home, or already have.
If your tour is longer than 30 days, have a trusted friend take the next load of boxes to a post office (n) weeks into your trip to ship them out and start the 30-day retention clock at their destinations.
