Lessons learned

Now that we're back home, I'd like to give you some insight.

what we took along:

Tent (Vango Sprecre 300)
2 sleeping-bags
2 silk mummy-liners
2 Therma-Rest TrailLite
2 waterbladders 2l each
2 folding cups 250 ml
1 cooking-pot 1,7 l
1 drinking-flask 0.7l
1 folding java-drip holder
1 gas-burner 2700 Watts
1 container butane (470g)
1 stablight (200 lumen)
2 mobile-phones
3 cameras (GoPro Hero2, Nikon AW 100, Nikon AW120)
Loading-cables
2 plates
2 sets of cutlery
2 inflatable cushions
1 boat-trolley
1 mini-table, folding
2 mini tripod-stools, folding
2 large towels (microfiber)
1 large towel (terrycloth. PETER!!!)
2 hats
750g bread
125 g butter
700 g cold-cuts, canned
200g coffee
2 bags instant-noodles w/ sauce, 2 servings each
8 bags instant-soup, 250 ml each
underwear
washcloths (terrycloth)
soap (solid)
shampoo
long pants (1 each)
t-shirts (4 each)

And yes, all this fits into two Pyranha Fusion crossover Kayaks!

What we learned:

• forego washcloth made of terry-cotton. It takes too long to dry. Next time, I'll use some microfiber-cloth.
• Full-size microfiber bathing-towel is probably only necessary when used by a hairy guy. Body hair holds back a lot of moisture that you need to wipe off. less hair -> smaller towel
• if you take along liquid soap or dish-cleaner etc., test the containers in advance! Ours were small, cheap squeeze-bottles but unfortunately they were designed to be stored standing up. They were NOT leak-proof. could have caused trouble when not separately packed.
• Alternatively, use solid soaps wherever possible.
• When warm, take along 3 sets of underwear: one you wear, the next is drying and the 3rd is ready to use on the next day. Wash while you shower -> no extra work.
• When you plan to travel light, use functional wardrobe, not cotton. Cotton takes too long to dry
• pack less food, unless you are really out in the wilderness. You can buy bread etc. almost everywhere.
• use small, soft bags to make better use of compartment-shape and have clearer thematically grouped bags.
• Take along some PowerBars. They do make a difference!
• add a bit of lime-juice or lemon-juice to the water in your water-bladder. I'll kill any trace of plastic-taste and is less boring to drink. But only a bit, else it will scratch your throat.
• I missed a small folding-shovel. It is much more polite when in the open and you *really* need to go, if you can dig a small hole and bury all that s*** before you leave. I will buy one tomorrow. (this is true for hiking, too!)