More Jibbles 'n Bits in Reno

[kevin_standlee]

As I was able to dispose of Day Jobbery by about 4 PM, we had time to go to Reno to look for something that would allows us to attach the carrying strap that we do have to the Pelican case we have for the camera and accessories. The so-called carabiners at Scheel's were either cheap Chinese junk or too large to fit through the holes in the case. We went to Ace Hardware in Sparks, and eventually found a couple of fasteners there that barely fit through the holes: $6 worth of hardware. (When we got home later, Lisa drilled out the burrs in the holes that made the fasteners reluctant to go through, so they fit much better.)

We had a few other final errands to pick up things that we wanted to have with us while traveling, then went to dinner at the Atlantis buffet. Their affinity club kicked out a 2-for-1 breakfast/lunch coupon, so we may stop there for brunch on our way to the Bay Area on Sunday.

I'm glad we got that carrying strap settled. The Pelican case is nice, but it's very inconvenient to carry around with only the handle, and we need to be able to schlep it around with us; that's why we bought the biggest-carryon-size item.

Tomorrow we finalize most of our packing, including the supplemental packing because we'll be in the Bay Area for a few days after we get back, so we can put stuff in a different bag that I'll leave locked in my van (parked at Day Jobbe) while we're gone.

Comments

[msconduct.livejournal.com]

You have my awed respect for schlepping around a Pelican, strap or not. All my photo stuff goes in my Samsonite Cosmolite carryon, padded effectively (but unprofessionally) by Other Stuff I Can't Afford To Lose. And even that's way too heavy for me to drag around by choice.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, there are tiny little bits on the camera (that probably cost only a few cents, like the trigger) that if they break render the multi-hundred-dollar camera useless. (This has, unfortunately, happened once. Nobody can repair cameras anymore; they tell you to throw it away and buy a new one.) Thus we spend money and sore shoulders carrying the camera around in a case so we don't have to buy a new camera.

Truthfully, we'd be happy to check the bag (with TSA-approved locks, even) and reduce clutter on the flight, but the stupid extra luggage charges make this too expensive. The airlines may crow about how much extra revenue they make from luggage charges, but they've done so by giving customers a perverse incentive to carry on things they'd just as well check.

[msconduct.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, there are tiny little bits on the camera (that probably cost only a few cents, like the trigger) that if they break render the multi-hundred-dollar camera useless.

Yes, indeedy. I have neoprene cases for my camera body and lenses for that reason, then it's just a matter of packing them so there's no room for movement. I don't think I'd be game for putting them in the hold, though, annoying as hand luggage is. We're caught two ways with the baggage charges with Air New Zealand, as they have a strictly enforced limit of 7 kg on hand luggage. However, if you fly business (which I do these days for overnight flights given that they're at least 11 hours long and I can't sleep in a seat) they look the other way for hand luggage, which is just as well considering how much my photo gear weighs..

[debgeisler.livejournal.com]

It says something about my level of fatigue (and I'm still in my own time zone!), that I found the headline totally confusing, because Worldcon is in London. *sigh*

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Understood. Not only did Lisa and I have dinner at the Atlantis buffet, but we walked around the upstairs function space there after the meal, musing on what size SF convention we could fit into the space without using the Convention Center.

[debgeisler.livejournal.com]

That's the story of my life on non-fannish vacations: looking around a hotel and thinking, "I could put a con in here." Heh. We're all pathetic.