Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

Preparing for my sixth trip – the fifth across the border – in slightly more than a year has felt too easy, too routine. What am I missing?

Based on experience, my travelling preparation includes:

1. Filling out an US Customs Declaration card ahead of time on my trusty typewriter. It saves needing assistance to complete it at the airport.
2. Updating the saved document for a Canadian Customs Declaration card and print. I have yet to score a supply of Canadian forms because they are typically handed out onboard; hence, I need assistance from a flight attendant.
3. Packing my scooter battery charger in my bag, space permitting, rather than the pouch on the back of my chair. This way there is one less piece to keep track of while going through airport security.
4. Thoroughly washing my hands after handling my charger. I have a hunch my charger had something to do with the chemical detected on my hands while going through security in Austin.
5. Double checking the extension cord is still in the bottom of my bag. This can be handy in a hotel room if an outlet isn’t easily reachable to plug in my scooter once I am in bed. (My scooter’s headlight also comes in handy in that moment.)
6. Double checking the small bar of soap is still in my bag (like it would go anywhere). The plastic wrapped soap bars found in some hotels are very tricky to open. In Austin I had to wash with shampoo. At least my armpits didn’t have dandruff!
7. Spending a ridiculous amount of time exploring Google maps, zoomed right in, to get a sense of the sidewalk conditions and such in the area.

Let see what I learn from this next trip. Darrell and I leave early tomorrow morning for Los Angeles for BlogWorld Expo.