WOMAD

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  For those who have to carry/pull/drag/curse/lift/throw (onto trains and buses) all their camping gear for womad, travelling light as possible is a near impossible dream. Every year, the conflict between comfort and weight do battle until I settle on the absolute limit of what is possible to carry/pull/drag/curse/throw on a journey which involves 3 trains and the Chippenham - Malmesbury bus.

  Every year I resolve to "travel light" but it never happens. In fact, it seems to get worse each time (x nearly 20 years - that's a lot of addtional weight). The "luxury" items (I like to be able to make a cup of tea by the tent etc) seem to weigh the least. . . all the "essential" items combined weigh a ton. . .

  So, I wondered, apart from just turning up at the wrist band point naked (except for a sun hat, obviously), has anyone got any amazing tips for travellin' light?

  Posted on 21-Jul-2012 12:43pm by Mr Beef

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  Ah so your coming then- good.
  Micro towel, use film canister for tooth paste, light weight shirts and trousers like craghoppers, dry quickly too. Take front door key only, scarf that doubles as a pillow bedwouin style, can also protect head and neck if hot, zip off trousers that become shorts. small soap bars. ....and the do I really need this question on all your clothes? On one trip in to the Libyan Sahara I got my bag down to 12kg without cooking stuff/ food water- no rain coat but thick jacket & 4 season sleeping bag included.
  At Womad I need a car!

  Posted on 21-Jul-2012 1:42pm by Desert Traveller

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  White van - sorted

  Posted on 21-Jul-2012 2:01pm by JayCee

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  I arrive at the gate - in car with just money in my pocket!!!

  Everything I need in a caravan!

  Joking aside, when I was tenting it was the beer that really stoked up the weight. I had a good ex army bergen which meant I could carry all essential kit with ease.

  Posted on 21-Jul-2012 2:28pm by Redleg

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  Thanks - I see where I've been going wrong - so it's just one key, some zip off trousers, small soaps and a van/car.

  . . . and all these years there's me been carrying sleeping bags, a tent, emergency grand piano, carpet slippers. . .(not forgetting carpet underlay and carpet) plus a selection of decorative stoneware.

  No easy answers then . . . except less gravity - womad on the moon?

  Posted on 21-Jul-2012 8:04pm by Mr Beef

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  Mr Beef, I feel you pain. I'm in the same boat now and a bit anxious about the bus and 2 trains journey. Luckily my friend Waterdragon is meeting me at Chippenham station, otherwise I'd be asking Jaycee to pile my stuff in his white van

  Posted on 21-Jul-2012 8:25pm by Purpledawn

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  Hi Mr Beef
  Well, I'm trying to travel light, one useful piece is a sarong, acts as a skirt, shawl, cape, sunshade and rug. Leggings and skirt combo is good for me as I can whip the leggings off when it gets hot. It's really difficult tho, I've got to get bus to station, cross London on the tube, then train to Chippenham, then the bus to site.
  The zippy trousers are really good.
  

  Posted on 21-Jul-2012 8:29pm by Bloohair

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  . . . for me the final straw is always the footbridge at Chippenham station. . . No pain, no gain!

  Posted on 21-Jul-2012 8:42pm by Mr Beef

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  A bridge too far!

  Posted on 21-Jul-2012 8:44pm by Bloohair

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  A bridge over the railway why

  Posted on 21-Jul-2012 9:21pm by Desert Traveller

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