For the benefit of all the travellers accessing this webpage (and anyone else who is just curious...or very, very bored) here now is the complete and unabridged inventory packing list of EXACTLY what we (Chris and Paige) took on their trip around the world. We are including this on the webpage because we vividly remember trying to decide what we needed to take - for months - and worrying that we were either forgetting something important, or taking too much unnecessary crap. By no means is this inventory comprehensive for us or anyone else, but it is a good window into where we were on August 2, 1998 when we flew out of San Francisco International Airport. The inventory has changed slightly since this initial list, and we will provide our ENDING inventory list sometime next year if and when we ever decide to come home. (Note - now that we're home, all our crap is long burned in a wonderfully clensing bonfire - sorry we forgot to do the ending list...) We will also periodically attempt to update this portion of the site by detailing things that we've either lost, had stolen, shipped home, or just plain thrown out because we are tired of carrying our lives around on our backs. (Note - hey, they were good intentions, it just didn't happen - whayaguhduh?)

I do have to say that at this point, we are very happy (and proud) that our inventory packing list has served us well so far. Perhaps this list will help out any other potential travellers while you are attempting to put together your packing list.

Enough drivel, here's the list:

CHRIS' BACKPACK (39 lbs.)

The Important Stuff:
Eagle Creek World Journey backpack, water bottle, waterproof pack cover, 4 stuff sacks, camera, sleeping bag, U.S. Dollars (all denominations - especially 1's), water filter (+ extra filter), iodine tablets, cable combination lock, 2 mini combination locks, key rings (for zippered locks), copies of all important documents, money belt, passport, plane tickets, American Express Travellers Checks, English Pounds (various denominations), Therma-rest travel pillow, maglite, prepaid film development mailers, International driving permit, International Health card, various I.D., various credit cards, journal, mosquito net

Clothes etc:
2 pair gloves, long underwear, bathing suit, 4 pair underwear, 6 pair socks, 2 T-Shirts, 2 short-sleeved shirts, long-sleeve shirt, windbreaker jacket, wallet, 2 pair shorts, long pants, Tevas, baseball cap, Rockport shoes, shammy camping towel, 2 pair glasses, 2 pair sunglasses, belt

Miscellaneous:
4 rolls toilet paper, 4 paperback books, health book, travel backgammon, sewing kit, eyeglasses repair kit, garbage bag, batteries, door stop, Power Bars, energy drinks, cards, binoculars, notepad, rubber bands, paper clips, cd player, cd holder, knife, washing detergent, sink plug, Leatherman (thanks Erik!)

Health etc:
Bathroom bag, Deoderant, carmex, moisturizer, beard trimmer, ointment, soap, shampoo, elastic bandage, anti-bacterial wipes, shaving cream, razors, condoms, toothbrushes, prescription pills, diamox, lysine, vitamin C, Excedrin, Motrin, Mefloquine, brush, gel, eye prescription, sun tan lotion (45 spf), pocket Kleenex, pens

Desert Island CD's:
The Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
The Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty
The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Beck - Odelay
Frank Black - Frank Black
Frank Black - Teenager of the Year
Frank Black - Frank Black and the Catholics
Curse Toast - Silver Spork
Seamus Egan - When Juniper Sleeps
Vince Guiraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Indigo Girls - Swamp Ophelia
Bob Marley and the Walers - Legend
Nirvana - Nevermind
Pearl Jam - Vs.
Tom Petty - Wildflowers
Pink Floyd - Animals
The Pixies - Trompe le Monde
Radiohead - OK Computer
Red Hot Chili Peppers - One Hot Minute
REM - Automatic for the People
The Simpsons - Songs in the Key of Springfield
Sting - Mercury Falling
Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues
James Taylor - Greatest Hits
U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
U2 - The Joshua Tree
U2 - Achtung Baby
U2 - Pop

PAIGE'S PACK (35 lbs.)

The Important Stuff:
Eagle Creek World Journey Woman's pack, SLR camera, film, 3 stuff sacks (including one that reverses into a pillow), money belt, U.S. Dollars (all denominations), English Pounds (various denominations), backpack raincover, plane tickets, copies of all important documents, Blue Cross cards, American Express Travellers Checks, personal checks, SERVAS info., credit cards, International Health Card, passport, film shield lead pack, sleeping bag, 2 mini padlocks, shammy camping towel, water bottle, prepaid photo developer mailers, Lonely Planets, swiss army knife

Clothes etc:
5 underwear, 3 T-Shirts, 2 pair long pants, skirt, vest, shorts, 2 long-sleeve shirts, long underwear, 2 bras, 4 pair socks, bathing suit, gloves, sports bra, jacket, baseball cap, Tevas, Rockport shoes, belt, sunglasses

Health etc:
brush, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, deoderant, hair scrunchies, tampons, floss, hairclips, shampoo, conditioner, razors, multivitamins, mascara, eyeliner, makeup remover, gauze, latex gloves, condoms, syrringe, hydrocortizone, waterless anti-bacterial handsoap, instant ice pack, emergency blanket, medicine box, band-aids, mole skin, barbar scissors, adhesive tape, dramamine, Tylenol, Neosporin, Peptol Bismol tablets, doctor's note to carry syrringe, prescribed antibiotics, cold medication, thermometer

Miscellaneaous:
safety pins, Power Bars, sports drink, mini tripod, bunji cord, ziplocks, rope, mosquito repellent, toilet paper, cards, Kleenex, sleeping eyemask, batteries, garbage bag, duct tape, rubber bands, locker combination lock, small tupperware, airmail paper/envelopes, pens, extra passport photos, book of international pictures (for non-verbal communication), laminated color copy of pictures of home, family, friends (to share with SERVAS families, etc.), stamps, DAN cards, 3 paperbacks, whistle, backpack Turkish bell (thanks Robert!), address book, earplugs, overseas timetables, watch, change purse