The Shunpiker's Travel Checklist
Shunpiking, by definition, takes you and your car off the beaten track; and sometimes you come across situations that can be difficult to handle if you're unprepared. This checklist for the prudent shunpiker (or any motorist traveling over long distances) is derived from many years of experience, and will help you prepare for the unexpected.
Vehicle Safety
Before embarking on an automobile journey on the back roads, take some time to inspect your vehicle. Some important items to consider are:
- Tire condition and inflation (don't forget the spare and the jack!)
- Adequate fuel
- Lights (including spare bulbs)
- Spare fuses
- Oil and coolant
- Battery condition
- Air cleaner
- Map or atlas (yes, even these days of GPS)
- Road flares or reflective triangles
- Roll of duct tape (hey, you never know)
Personal Health, Hygiene, and Comfort
Items that we tend to take for granted can sometimes be hard to find when stuck out in the boondocks. It only takes a few minutes and a few dollars to assemble an emergency health and hygiene kit that will make your journey more comfortable if you wind up needing these items in the middle of nowhere.
- Bottled water
- First aid supplies and common medicines (aspirin, antacids, Pepto-Bismol, and so forth)
- Soap, in a zipper-type plastic bag
- Toilet paper in a zipper-type plastic bag
- Moistened wipes in a tightly-sealed container
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash
- Sunscreen, if driving in the summer (or through the desert)
- Spare clothing for you and your travel companions
- Feminine hygiene products, if you or your travel companions are female
- Spare eyeglasses or contacts, if you need them
Emergency Supplies
- Matches, tinder, and kindling, sealed in a waterproof container
- Flashlight or lantern
- CB radio (truckers still use them, and they may be your lifeline if you're out of cell phone range)
- Blankets
- Rope or twine
- Multi-function knife (e.g. Swiss Army knife)
- Aerial flare gun, if you're traveling through the real boondocks (check local laws first!)
