a work in progress: Chris’ go-kit

TravelKitBucket List
Written By CHRIS SHORT

To understand what goes into my go bag requires understanding the challenges opportunities I encounter when traveling.

  • Transmetatarsal amputation

  • Kidney transplant recipient

  • Survivor of a brainstem stroke (Wallenberg) and right temporal lobe stroke

  • Anxiety & Sensory Overload

To put it simply, I’ve got a foot and a half, poor balance, poor stamina, a bit of brain damage, and I tend to get freaked out at the most inopportune time. I walk like an inebriated sailor and occasionally curse like one as well. I am continually working on strength and balance but there are current limits to where I can go and how I get there. So how do I pretend to pack?

Carefully! Any links provided are from the sources I used, not a commercial endorsement of one product or distributor over another.

  • Decked out electric folding wheelchair (ONTRIP MODEL O-WT6016BG TSA approved with two lithium ion batteries)

    • Custom cargo netting for under seat storage

    • Fold-flat fabric water bottle holder for bicycles (works great on ships for storing cutlery at the buffet)

    • LED headlights and taillight for late night exploring - again from the world of bicycling

    • Tire repair kit & USB rechargeable air pump

    • Ratchet strap and/or luggage straps for safe storage during transit

    • Bungee cords to keep things in their place

    • Velcro straps to help the bungee cords

    • Custom laminated TSA wheelchair placard

  • Military grade tactical kit bag

    • Sound dampening ear loops for quieting the world

    • Sound cancelling earbuds for shutting the world out

    • USB rechargeable battery bank

    • Padded cooling face mask

    • CalmIGo breathing device for when I can’t catch my breath

    • Emergency medications

    • Snacks to calm the h-anger

    • Parker Jotter Classic stainless steel barrel pen for breath control, fidgeting, and sometimes writing

    • Fisher Space Pen Bullet - writes upside down and under water!

    • Garmin 60 CSx GPS receiver or Garmin Oregon receiver

    • European power converter and battery pack for powerchair

    • Extension Cord/Splitter/USB Charging ports

    • USB-C/Lightning/Micro charging cables

    • Random assortment of sarcastic military patches

  • Flags (more for fun than safety): Skull & Crossbones (for East Carolina University) and Sasquatch

  • Umbrella clip for holding golf umbrella over the entire chair

  • Portable umbrella

  • Hiking poles and/or a fabric sheath for my cane

  • 32 ounce Nalgene waterbottle

  • Yeti Tumbler (in orange)

  • And my handy dandy custom travel guide with all of my travel details, embarkation times, emergency contacts, city maps, handicap approved routes to key landmarks and souvenir shops, and random bits of trivia on each stop

That’s a lot. To make up for my massive carbon footprint, I usually pack light on clothes and shoes. Actually, I’ve worn only one pair of shoes - Bright Orange and Gray New Balance 680s - for the past three years because it has a custom UCLB orthotic molded for the right side. Everything else is lightweight gear able to be folded or rolled into tight packages and readily mix and matchable for every occasion and environmental condition. Except for Black Tie Night/Dressed to Impress on the cruises.

The setup isn’t perfect. I’m still dreaming of a folding four-wheel drive offroad wheelchair setup that can adapt to TSA standards and pull my luggage for me. And get me an Uber and a sandwich.

CHRIS SHORT https://sitesplussights.com