Traveling Light

When I started contemplating this trip, one of my first questions was how in the heck do you pack for 12 days on a motorcycle?  For 2 people??  Is that even possible?  I had my doubts.

Mike and I recently went on a 9 day trip to Hawaii and I brought a seriously HUGE suitcase. The kind that must be checked. And it was just for me.  That suitcase is about half the size of the bike so definitely not an option here.  I had to switch gears and get comfortable with the idea of major downsizing. 

The key to traveling light?  Laundry.  Or so I've heard (Mike, Derek and Cari did this trip last year for the first time). 

The magic number is 4...
4 days to get to Sturgis
4 days in Sturgis
4 days to get home
4 outfits

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

We actually snuck in one extra outfit each so when we do laundry, we have clean clothes to put on and can wash all the dirty clothes at once. 

To maximize space, the daily outfits are squished down into vacuum bags that you sit on and push out all the air until it turns into a flat-ish pancake (no vacuum required).  Also in the bag are flip flops, bathing suits, sweatshirts, toiletries, PJs, phone chargers, etc. 

The amazing part?  We have a little room to spare.  Which really is amazing, because I rarely have extra room.

Our bag is a little smaller than a standard roller bag that fits overhead on a plane. And no, we aren't bringing the cowboy hat.  It's just for size perspective.

In addition to the bag above, we have a duffle that contains our jackets and 2 saddlebags with rain gear, water bottles and other miscellaneous stuff. 

The bags are packed and ready to go!  And in about 12 hours the butt test begins!