My Bags are Packed and I’m Ready to Go

September 19, 2016 by Nancy Panitch 14 Comments

Leaving today. I will take the MAX to PDX at about 14:00 where I will meet Rose who is coming down from Seattle. We will catch our 2 hour 20 minute flight to L.A. from Portland at 17:55. Then we have a 3 hour layover until our 13 hour 50 minute flight to Brisbane, Australia. Catching the bus to Toowoomba (less than a 2 hour ride) will be easy because we will have 1 hour 50 minutes. Our friend, Marnie, who we met on the Camino de Santiago in 2014, will pick us in Toowoomba.

Given that I don’t like checking luggage on any flights that involve more than one leg, I finally jammed everything for the 11 week trip into my small suitcase and back pack except the over the ankle boots that I will be required to wear on a trek we will taking about 5 1/2 weeks from now. I don’t want to have to wear the boots on the MAX, around the airports, and to and from other airports. So I put them into a stuff sack which I will hook onto my suitcase until I have to board the planes. There will be many flights within Australia and on to New Zealand. After I board the planes, I will take them off (for comfort) and put them into the overhead bins. I sure hope this idea works.

Below is the photo of my overstuffed luggage.

This is going to be a fabulous adventure.

Author: Nancy Panitch

Traveling has been a passion of Nancy Panitch's life and she loves seeing how people in other cultures live. Her travels have taken her to many places within the United States, Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa. Being around people inspires her and she has much gratitude for the kindred Souls that are joining together with her in body, mind, and heart. She moved from Chicago to Portland, Oregon in 1982. It was one of the best decisions of her life. While in Portland she stays very, VERY busy. She volunteers (Inter-Religious Action Network, Human Rights Council, & ushering for various theaters); attends a Unitarian Universalist church; goes hiking with groups (Cascade Prime Timers & Trails Club of Oregon) and also with individual friends. Book groups, movie group, and bridge groups occupy her time as well. Her quiet activities include yoga, knitting, Sudoku, and reading. She enjoys all of these activities, but making time to see her wonderful 4 grandchildren takes priority over it all. She is happy to share this blog and hopes to encourage others to travel.