UK Prep - 2026

I have a travel check list.  Several of them actually.  

I keep my archaeology stuff ready to go, albeit no longer permanently packed in my carry on travel bag.  Since starting at Vindolanda I've been attending way more robotics events and it comes in handy for those.

Of late my collection of hunting garb and digging garb has started to intermingle.  They are both designed for layers on, layers off, although the former has more camo patterns.  I may bring along something bright yellow for visibility.  Some days I am crossing roads in early morning fog, and camo is not ideal.  Maybe this?

I wear low top hiking boots about 90% of the time.  With modern "quality" it takes me a month or two of trying pairs on to select one.  Then a couple of months to break them in.  I usually get about three years out of a pair.  I try to wear them until they are kaput, then "bin them".  I have at least once discarded a pair in the UK, sparing me some packing space.  Alas, my last pair started losing stitch cohesion in February, so I'm breaking in a new pain of Keenes.  They seem to have negotiated with my feet to a tolerant mutual understanding.

When in the UK I do lift things.  Barrows full of dirt and rock for instance.  I try to get ready for this.  Walking is good.  Working on the hunting land is good.  Recently I had a long bus trip back from a robotics tournament and in the days after noticed my back was complaining.  I admonished the malingering lumbo sacral regions and spent a few days moving rocks in our back yard pond feature.  That actually made things better.  

I also lift the occasional pint at the end of a digging day.  Prep for that also requires foresight.  Proper English ale is not easy to find in Wisconsin.  For a while I could get Lazy Monk Brewing's Scottish Ale.  Being close to the Border this is good enough.  And of course comes in the pint denomination which Bacchus intended for Mankind. 

Alas, it is a seasonal product.  At a store in the next town over I can get Boddington's Pub Ale.  It's not UK good, but will suffice.  

We generally bring a few US type treats over.  Girl Scout Thin Mints.  Maybe I'll bring a small bag of Dot's Pretzel sticks.  The UK has a bewildering assortment of snacks, biscuits, puddings and such but nothing quite like either of those very American junk foods.

That's most of the necessary prep.  Bank a few tall tales.  Avoid any discussion of whose political class is worst.