So here we are, the first stop on this year-long adventure, right in the heart of Crested Butte, Colorado. What started as a simple plan to celebrate our friend Marcus’s 50th birthday for the weekend—soak in the fall colors, pretend we’re mountain biking legends, and hang out with some of our favorite people—quickly turned into a week-long escape to squeeze every last drop of Colorado before we move on to new horizons.
One, last-minute condo booking later, we Tetris-ed two months' worth of supplies into the truck. Before we head to Sedona, Arizona for October and November, let’s take a moment to appreciate what we managed to cram into every spare inch of that vehicle (with more than a little questionable logic).
Packing highlights:
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Kitchen gear: Maybe overkill, but we’re ready for anything—spice rack, our own kitchen knives (because AirBnB knives wilt at the sight of a tomato), and everything needed for sourdough, including a mixing bowl and a banneton proofing basket.
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Tea essentials: We can’t do mornings without mugs, loose leaf tea, and a kettle. Survival absolutely depends on it.
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Cinnamon roll kit: Katie’s cinnamon rolls are downright legendary and absolutely a trip highlight.
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Bikes and gear: Obviously the true VIPs of this trip.
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Physical therapy arsenal: Foam rollers, compression boots, double lacrosse balls… If we actually use all of these, it means we’re being ambitious, adventurous, and sore in the best possible ways.
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Comfort essentials: Bamboo sheets, pillows, and even towels—because after months on the road, “swanky” beats “scratchy” every time.
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Work gear: Computers, monitors, and all the essentials to keep us employed and bills paid. No vacation from work here!
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The essentials: Clothes, laundry detergent, toiletries—the trinity of survival on the road.
For those keeping score, we came pretty close to maxing out truck capacity and almost certainly overpacked. We’re sure to recount the things we brought but never used in a future post.
For now, we give ourselves a big pat on the back for our packing prowess and keep wondering what, if anything, we forgot. Pretty sure we’ve got everything covered.
Ready to roll—fully equipped, likely over-packed, but definitely never underprepared for cinnamon rolls and trail therapy.
