Thursday 25/09/14
What do you keep in the boot of your car? A spare tyre, a jack and a basic tool kit would be the typical response for most people. These things would be enough to see you through the minor inconvenience of a flat tyre. One other item most people carry nowadays is a First-Aid kit.
What if the unscheduled stopover is more complicated than a flat tyre? What if you're unfortunate enough to experience some form of serious mechanical failure? The tow truck could be an hour or two away (usually longer, if you're in a remote area). Do you have any supplies in the boot of your car to look after yourself?
You can fit everything you need into a small overnight bag, which will tuck neatly into the corner of your car's boot. You probably won't even notice it's there. "What should I pack into this bag?", I hear you ask. You might have different ideas or requirements, but this is what I pack into my bag:
- 2 x 2 litre bottles of water (per person)
- 1 x packet of sweet biscuits
- 1 x small box of teabags (or sachets of instant coffee)
- 1 x small packet of UHT milk portions
- 1 x small box of sugar sachets (if you need sugar in your tea or coffee)
You will also need a hexamine stove (they fold up smaller than a paperback novel, so they don't take up much room), some fuel tablets for the hexamine stove, a packet of matches, a billycan, a couple of tin mugs (because tin mugs don't break when you drop them), a teaspoon, a flat-pack of toilet paper, and a little hand shovel. The last two items are often overlooked.
If you are in a rural area, you might also consider including 3 x cups of instant noodles and an extra litre of water (not exactly nutritious, but it'll get you through 24 hours). These usually come with a disposable fork inside the cup.
For your comfort, you should also pack; an old jumper (one you won't miss, but one that still fits you), a floppy hat, a blanket (you'll appreciate this if you're stranded overnight), and an old towel (you'll need it if you break down in the rain). You might also consider adding a small bottle of sunscreen, a small bottle of hand sanitiser, and some insect repellent.
It can get pretty boring being stranded on the side of the road for a few hours; and listening to the radio will drain the battery, so you might want to pack a paperback novel and a deck of cards (you can kill a few hours playing patience).
It won't cost you much money to set this kit up, and the kit won't take up much room in your boot. Hopefully, you'll never need to use it.