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TRAVEL Hints and Tips Post your TIPS to travellers - all the interesting little tidbits you learned on the road about packing, where to get stuff, and how to cope with problems. Please make sure the subject describes the tip clearly!
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 30 Dec 2007
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Mornin' Ted,

I always have a flat dish type spare plug in my wash bag. Sorry I forgot to suggest you take one!

As for the washing bag, well back in 2004 we were touring around Norway and Dazzer brought along his mark 1 version. It was a plastic sweet jar and each morning just before riding away he'd half fill it with warm water, a bit of wash liquid and his smalls, attached it to the bike at left it to aggitate! At the end of the day he emptied the stuff, gave it a rinse and the kit was really clean!

Here he is modelling his work!

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  #2  
Old 30 Dec 2007
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Regarding the laptop I dumped mine less than 300 miles into my journey! Instead I just use my mobile for typing up any notes (it has a small keyboard that is quick to operate just with two thumbs) and it is better than a paper and pen as it works upside down - though I usually fall asleep while writing laying in bed!

The phone runs Windows mobile 5.0, so supports Excel etc and has a Wifi connection built in. In the UK it is called an SPV M3100 by Orange but behind the scenes it appears to have been made by HCT Innovation in Taiwan might be model HERM100 HTC TyTN 'super 3G' smart phone | Reg Hardware

I tend to just use the i-cafes to do the uploading of the notes etc, but if a laptop is available then I will use it in preference.


paul - going to investigate installing an automatic washing machine/bag on his bike now (a great idea)
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  #3  
Old 30 Dec 2007
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More from HTC....
I've used the HTC Universal PPC for cycle touring, and for me it's almost as good as a laptop and a lot smaller.



Again Windows Mobile 5.0 which has plenty of software available to download and a fair amount of freeware, including basic photo and HTML editing and GPS navigation. Wifi, bluetooth, etc. The screen's just about big enough to watch a film on, it takes SD cards for extra memory/file swapping between camera and PPC, and if you set up a blog site in advance you can of course e-mail entries and photos to it from this. It's been out a while now, so a scan round e-bay might turn something up. Also check out Modaco for loads on info on all these Smartphones and Pocket PCs.

I wouldn't be without it, in fact I'm using it right now.
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Old 30 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Cameraman View Post
As for the washing bag, well back in 2004 we were touring around Norway and Dazzer brought along his mark 1 version. It was a plastic sweet jar and each morning just before riding away he'd half fill it with warm water, a bit of wash liquid and his smalls, attached it to the bike at left it to aggitate! At the end of the day he emptied the stuff, gave it a rinse and the kit was really clean!
What a fantastic idea! He should patent that quick smart before Touratech make it in brushed aluminium and sell it for $500
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  #5  
Old 30 Dec 2007
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Originally Posted by mattcbf600 View Post
What a fantastic idea! He should patent that quick smart before Touratech make it in brushed aluminium and sell it for $500

It's an old idea:-) You can see it (a bit larger) on Helge Pedersens bike:
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Old 30 Dec 2007
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Hi Alibaba,

it may be an old idea but it sure as hecks works well!
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Old 30 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mattcbf600 View Post
What a fantastic idea! He should patent that quick smart before Touratech make it in brushed aluminium and sell it for $500
Too late......
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  #8  
Old 30 Dec 2007
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Afternoon Alexlebrit,

nice one!
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Old 30 Dec 2007
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And on the plug topic... in the past I've found that a tennis ball cut in half can work very well too, depending on the size of the plugs in the country you're in you might want to trim it smaller, but once done they can sit very happily and with no leaks.
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Old 30 Dec 2007
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Get a patent on that quick. Do they make a dryer too?
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  #11  
Old 30 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexlebrit View Post
Too late......
ROFL!

Ever so slightly back on topic if you are thinking of ditching the standard laptop (of course you are) then this topic may help with alternative suggetions

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...for-road-28378

(although Ted is fully informed as ever!)
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  #12  
Old 15 Jan 2008
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Buy the right laptop and you will be happy with it.

The asus eee weighs less than a kilo and doesnt have moving parts inside that can break.

You can type up your letters and your blog without sitting on a more or less defect '80s pc, paying by the minute in an internet cafe. I have a flash stick with me and transfer the data with it if neccesary.

Also I can check my bank account without the fear of being hacked since I always have good, updated anti virus on my pc.

But if you dont have the need to communicate then I isnt worth it ofcourse. I love to communicate with ppl back home and therefore it saves me lots of headaces (how many times have you lost a long mail while writing on an unstable computer in an I cafe? - I have done that too many times...)

And at 400$ I wont cry if it is stolen....
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  #13  
Old 17 Jan 2008
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Thanks 4 makin my mind up
Thanks Ted, I was undecided as to take my Lappy or not? Have spent so much time on it in the last 6 months researching my trip that sometimes feel it is attached to my fingertips at all time. We will be nick-named the google generation for a reason! I was tempted so that I could manage my photographs, music & update a blog. I am now carrying just a small PDA that also doubles up as a phone & spare GPS if only I knew how the bleeder worked?? Got the sink plugs in my washbag!!

Glad to know you survived your first crash, good luck with your travels.

Cheers Mojo.
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