Packing for our first long motorcycle trip

We were preparing to leave for the Black Hills and Sturgis, South Dakota at the end of July 2006. I made my usual list of what I took with me on a typical vacation... my comfort items. We were to be gone for about 9 days so I figured on 9 pair of pants and shorts, 12 shirts (in case I couldn't decide what to wear), all my toiletries, make-up, jewelry, several pair of shoes, and various other odd items.  When I laid all of that on the bed, I realized it would have fit in a trunk, not a saddle bag.  This really concerned me... how could I pack enough for 9 days in a saddle bag and the duffel bag my husband insisted I use.  Toiletries, make-up, and blow dryer alone would have barely fit in a saddle bag....  So I had to make difficult decisions.  I could not imagine how to pack for this trip.  I was told to prepare for all types of weather.. we were roughing it..  but it was August in the midwest, surely it would not be cold on our trip.
I begrudgingly began to eliminate items from my "necessities" list.  Women face unique challenges and higher standards so I still packed make-up, jewelry, hairspray, hair styling tools, 3-4 pair of jeans, 2 pair of shorts, sandals, boots, 9 smaller shirts, jacket, sweatshirt, bandanna, and lots of other useless items.  I managed to pare down enough to literally stuff a canvas duffel bag full and a saddlebag full.  It was a miraculous feat and I was so proud of myself for trimming down my necessities.  My husband, on the other hand took only one pair of boots (on his feet), 2 -3 pair of jeans (including the ones he wore), and 7 shirts (he said we would buy some while we were out).  He packed like a guy and fit 9 days worth of his stuff in one saddle bag.  There is an extra "touring pack" on the back of the Harley Davidson ElectraGlide and it held things like our leather jackets, rain gear, his chaps, helmets, etc.
We had many adventures during those nine days on the road but fast forward to our return home and what I had to unpack that didn't get used:

• Makeup:  Seriously women, if you wear makeup while riding down the road at 75 miles an hour for very long in August heat, make sure it "sticks" well and is waterproof.  I tried to put on makeup for the first few days but we got caught in rain and I looked like a raccoon on day one.  The makeup quickly became untouched in the bottom of the bag.
• Jewelry:  What was I thinking?  A fashion show?  NO.  The road is no place for jewelry.  I had silver dangle hoops that look great but almost ripped my earlobe off at 75 miles an hour.  
• Sandals:  Nope again.  You need protection for your feet when riding, and to get anywhere, you ride.  Where are you going to go to wear those sandals?  
• Hairspray, gel, styling tools:  Are you kidding?  The minute you get on the back of that bike and put on a helmet, bandanna, or worse yet, let the wind take it, your hair becomes a nightmare!  I now know why "bikers" wear that bandanna all day and night.  They don't want you to see their awful hair-do (or hair don't). 
• Shorts: I tried that.  Got a pipe burn on my calf.  Then got a sunburn on my thighs in the dessert, then gave the shorts up!  I always have to learn the hard way...  my husband kept saying "don't wear shorts on the bike".  I didn't listen.
• Clean clothes:  If you are going for days on a motorcycle, forget the untra-squeaky clean feel.  You will feel clean only 1 hour a day (right after your shower).  The rest of the time, you will feel like a dirty sock..  kind of covered with road grime.  Just get used to it and enjoy the ride.

Valuable lessons were learned that year!  Not only did I pack it like an idiot, with unnecessary things, but I had to carry my heavy bags into the hotel every night and back to the bike every morning.  For a distance trip, think comfort only, not glamour!  Take just what you need.  I will help you with a proper packing list in a later post.