Packing To Get On The Road Again...

According to charity Crisis, last year more than 200,000 households were experiencing the worst forms of homelessness at Christmas, including sleeping on the streets, hunkered down in sheds and garages, stuck in unstable accommodation such as B&Bs or sofa surfing.

For many others it was a lonely COVID Christmas, either because of restrictions or worse still because loved ones were hospitalised.

This year, with some caution, people are at last preparing to make long road trips, to see loved ones either in the UK or abroad.

Preparing for long strips can be stressful, so here’s a little helpful advice from easyStorage to ease the way to make sure the rip gets you there in good form.

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1. Emergency Checklist

We don’t want to contemplate it, but who knows what the weather will do? So here are the basics:

·         Jump leads

·         A torch

·         A tyre pressure gauge

·         Insurance documents and the emergency number

·         Snow chains

·         Water for windscreen and radiator

·         Windscreen washer liquid top ups

·         First aid kit

·         Orange warning triangle

·         Shovel

·         Ice scraper

·         Paper towels

·         Rags/cloths

If you are travelling abroad, check what extras you may need according to not only where you’re travelling to, but any countries along the route, from high viz vests to letters/booking forms showing final destination.

(Don’t forget travel documents, bookings, passports, permissions and, if necessary, vaccination certificates in a plastic folder in the front of the car.)

2. Car phone charger and batteries

It’s worth investing in a phone charger for in the car.

In an emergency, you will be glad of your fully charged mobile phone, be it for directions or for calls for assistance.

(They can be a boon for keeping the ‘Are we there yet’ questions to a minimum, too.)

Keep spare batteries for any electrics you’re taking too, especially for children or teens who need to be kept occupied if you end up with long waits anywhere.

(Keep your cameras somewhere handy as well. The scenery at this time of year can be stunning.)

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3. Water for you and yours

Keep a bottle of water per person in case you get stranded somewhere, and top up at each stop.

If you’re travelling with a pet, don’t forget their needs too.

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4. Car Documentation

It goes without saying that we need our driver’s licenses, but if you’re on a long trip also have paperwork like the car registration (and insurance information, see above).

Post-Brexit, some places need you to have an international rather than British license, and the situation is constantly changing as agreements are reached, so do check well before setting out.

Similarly, which your car maintenance manual may be bulky or awkward, don’t sacrifice it for space and make sure you know where it is.

Murphy’s Law dictates that the place you break down may be the Middle of Nowhere, and if you need to explain over the phone what the emergency code coming up on the screen is, or create a makeshift repair yourself, you’ll be glad of it. Because Murphy’s Law also dictates a fair chance that you’ll get poor reception or no reception at exactly that spot!

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5. Cold and Wet Weather Supplies

Back to those lists!

·         Blanket(s)

·         Woolly gloves (two lots – wet ones will freeze your fingers)

·         Woolly jumpers

·         Rainproof jackets/coats/ponchos

·         Spare shoes and socks (wet ones are a nightmare!). Or wellies. Welly boots are great. Just don’t forget warm spare socks.

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6. Baby wipes, hand sanitiser, tissues and dry shampoo

Ok, so they may be an environmentalists nightmare, but wipes are great for all sorts, from hand wiping after stops, for cleaning mucky faces, and even, if you get stuck, what I call a ‘festival wash’ – when you can’t get to the nearest shower block, or it’s just too revolting to set foot inside, baby wipes are a blessing for feeling fresher and smelling nice!

Dry shampoo fulfils a similar role, and hand sanitiser will keep the C-word at bay. (No, not Christmas, COVID!)

Tissues are always a boon, for use as nose blowers, napkins, hand wipes, hand dryers…. And the little packs can popped in car side pockets easily, right at hand, and without taking too much space.

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7. Overnight bag

You may not be foreseeing an overnight stop, but life is such that having an overnight bag means that you have the important things to hand, and when you arrive you know what to unpack first. When you turn up at 3am, cold and wet, the rest of the bags can wait ‘til tomorrow.

To include?

·         Medications

·         Toiletries and hygiene products with you including soaps and shampoo/conditioner

·         Toothbrushes, toothpaste, and so on. Dry shampoo is also a convenient item if you are in a situation where you don’t have a shower. baby wipes, lip balm, sunscreen

·         Towels (the magic sports ones that fold up small are fabulous for travel and wash and dry faster than towelling ones)

·         Swimwear. This was a trick I learned years ago. Swimwear dries out really fast if you unexpectedly need extra undies for an overnight stay due to delays. And if you do find yourself overnighting unexpectedly in a hotel, you can take advantage of any leisure facilities.

·         Warm pyjamas. Even if your preference is for slinky silk because you’re off for a romantic break, wearing a silk negligee in the middle of a snow storm in a parked car loses its appeal. Trust me on this one!

·         Roll of toilet paper

Don’t forget any special bags needed for small children or pets that you’re travelling with.

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8. Empty plastic bags

These are great for:

·         Managing car sickness

·         Dirty clothes after unscheduled stops

·         Wrapping any purchases made along the way

·         Collecting rubbish

·         Makeshift nappy mats

·         Doggy bags (in every sense of the word!)

They don’t take up much space and can make life a lot more comfortable.

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9. Snacks and drinks

I’m not a huge fan of thermos flask – tea never stays the same, and I don’t like drinking out of plastic. But you may feel differently, and I daresay stuck in a snowstorm even the fussiest of drinkers is going to thank you for a warm drink.

A small cooler can be great for things that deteriorate, like fruit or veg, even pasties, and for cold fizzy drinks.

Other snacks can go uncooled, like crisps, nuts, bars etc., but have them to hand.

A word to the wise, though: don’t let pets or small children, or adults who remain kids at heart, know what you have, or they’ll all be gone in the first half hour of your trip!

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10. Comforters

For the children, a comforter may be a favourite toy or blanket. For adults it may be a ‘fidget spinner’, a floral remedy, lucky socks or a knockout glass of brandy (not for the driver, of course).

A long trip may not be the best place to give up bad habits, so be honest with yourself and those around you. What’s going to make you and yours edgy if they’re deprived of it. Try and make your journey fun and comforting rather than tense and stressful and you’ll all arrive in better condition!

And that includes taking road games and entertainment for along the way, planning and taking breaks, and keeping everyone’s spirits high. This is, after all, supposed to be fun!

Why not get pack away your extra belongings into a secure easyPod? If you do decide upon self storage, don’t forget to pack items properly. There are a number of useful guides blogged on our sister website, which provides packaging materials for storage or protection whilst travelling in the car.

And don’t forget that, whatever your storage needs, we’re here to help. However long you’re storing for, easyStorage collects your things and returns them to you, keeping them safe and secure, even loading the van for you and packing if you want or need that support. It’s a new way of storing that costs about half the price of traditional storage.