TornadoJo

Amazing pics guys. Glad to see you're getting off to a good start! Happy Hunting x

Well, I'm surprised - I must be the world best packer! Everything I had before now fits in a hand luggage sized bag, give or take a few centremeters. I even bought a couple of those space saver bags you can push all of the air out of and haven't used them. Yay me. Here's a handy hint for all..... Roll your clothes - Don't fold. Takes up sooo much less room. You'll be shocked! Happy packing. Jo -x-

My bag is too big for BA's hand luggage policy 70cm's tall, I think 35 wide but very, very thin as it's quite empty. I'd say it's half full when the straps are pulled tight. Thought about downsizing to get in in hand luggage but BA's policy for hand luggage is 56cms high, 45cms wide and 25cms deep and you're only allowed one piece of hand luggage and one handbag/laptop case. I don't think my stuff would fit in that. If I have my trolley bag at lease I'll have loads of spare space for duty free and maybe a few of the tripods that would otherwise have been left in a field as mentioned above, so, if anyone has anything they want to stick in my bag at the end of tour two (thats legal and fits around all of the cowboy boots, of course - LOL) you're more than welcome. We can swap out when we get back to the UK.

Cool. Dave is too so I won't be getting drunk on my own on the flight LOL J x

Thats cool about the phone. My niece will kill me if I don't call her on her birthday. Harry - good call on the medicine and sunblock - not on my list as it's on my shopping list. 2 days for you - woohoo!

Hi All, Not long to go now! Just a few questions as usual! Ok - Tour 2 - is anyone on the BA flight from Heathrow at 11.40 on the 8th May? Just wondering if I'll be on my own? Mobile phones - I have a HTC HD2 on Virgin. I don't plan to use as a phone while I'm away but I'm guessing I might be able to access the web via wi-fi at hotels. Is that right? So far I'm taking Sony HX1 with 24gb worth of memory + 2 sony battery's with charger Little Samsung camera for spontanious shots Waterproof fleece Wellies (I saw when you got stuck in a field LOL) Trainers 10 pairs of bottoms - a mix of trousers/short and 3 1/4 lengths 10 vests/t-shirts Undies + socks 2 sweaters Pyjamas Cosmetics (I'm a girl!) Sunglasses First Aid Kit Europe - USA adaptor Anometer + emergency survival kit (Were gifts, might be fun!, you never know...) Obviously passport & money My bag is not massive (Height 70cm, width 35cm, depth 30cm) but is still pretty empty - did I forget something? If not I might downsize!

I think I'd have to hire an SUV and Road trip it east or west maybe? Disney land, vegas, universal studios.... hmmm.

Cheers guys Thanks for the advise. Now.. to find a suitable lary one so I can find it easily on the carousel at the airport.....

Hey all, It's nearly time to pack. I know suitcases are not a good idea cause of getting them in the car. How do we feel about wheeled holdalls? You know - sports bags with wheels on - Are these ok? Thinking of getting one and it would be better than carrying a large bag around with me. Jo -x-

No idea. I found a cool bag though - aha slr bag - should haven enough room for extras too. Found a semi-rigid one but its soo ugly! Camera could go in that in to the nice bag! LOL Got a month to keep looking but the funky red one I just got will do for now. Yes - insert inuendos below:lol:

Yay you! I'm sorted too apart fom a camera case - why are they all so ugly?!? And I need a rigid one for insurance which you just cant get! 1month and half a day :unsure:

Well Harry - it's not THAT impressive here - as soon as I get an e-mail reply I'm waiting for I'm jumping on the tube to head east... ** now we're in a ?gap? of bright sunshine!** xxx

Sadly I'm at work and my camera hasn't arrived yet - that said I wonder what the camera on my (fairly new) phone is llike in a storm?.....

Thunder and lighting (very,very frightening... ) here in White City at the moment. Heavy rain. Postponing trip to underground to get home for iminant future. Jo -x-

Got 8gb with the camera. Looking at getting more though. Found 16gb on ebay for £25. Wondering if memory cards will be cheaper in the usa or even the airport?

I was looking in case I wasnt happy with the video on the HX1 but having researched I think it should actually cover me for still images and video so I'm a very happy bunny! Which is aptly appropriate as it's nearly Easter LOL!

I bought it this morning from simply elctronics in a pack with memory card and spare battery for £339! Bargin. Need to insure it now!

Hey all, I've been looking at cameras this week - I work in telly so you'd think it'd be easy for me to decide what to get or at least find someone to tell me whats best - but no. It seems very much a case of each to their own. I thought I'd explain how I got to my choice to help others dancing around the decision like I have been. I narrowed my choise of compact, superszoom, DSLR and SLR down to Superzoom Bridge camera for a couple of resons. Firstly money - I'd love a DSLR but good ones are not cheap. Secondly I can't be faffing with lenses and what not and lastly, but most importantly - If I am lucky enough to see a twister (from a safe distance I hope) I will need a good ol zoom! I thought I'd decided on the Panasonic DMC FZ38 over the Cannon Powershot S3 - IS and the Fuji FinePix S200EXR but then the Gadet show threw the Sony HX1 into the mix so I have been dithering again. I took the Cannon Powershot out first of all because it uses AA batteries. That might seem silly but I'm all for the environment these days and whilst you can get rechargabe batteries now days I'd rather have a proper battery pack which is more durable, compact and charges much quicker. I illiminated the Fuji FinePix S200EXR quickly on account of the fixed viewfinder and inability to record HD video. One again I was back to the Panasonic v's the Sony. Prices are £250 v's £300 Memory Cards various Sony Mark 2 only Zoom 18x 20x Night mode Noisy Not so noisy (gadget show review) Video Stuttery Smooth Quirks Panaramic mode Continuous shot mode. I also watched some reviews on youtube. Based on what I've seen and that zoom and night vision are going to be very important things to have for what we're going to be doing I've decided to go for the Sony HX1. I've found it on Simply Electronics for £300 and you can get it in packages to save pennies. I'm going for one of these - £340 for camera, 8gb memory card and spare battery. I think I'll get an additional memory card and a carry case as well. I'm just wondering whether to add it to my insurance or if it will be covered by my home insurance.

Final Cut Pro is really good. x

Hey guys, Those cards are what I was looking at. Both are actually identical and issued by the same bank Newcastle Building Society) so should have pretty much the same rates. However, I think one has an ATM fee (Fairfx) but better coversion rates and the other has a slightly lower rate but no fee. Guess it's down to which one is more manly (or pretty for me :lol:)! The post office also do one as well but has fees attatched. Just thought I'd share. J x

Thanks for this! Found it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6dakmvoEWA The Sony did indeed come out on top and looks very nice indeed. I'll be nosing around reviews as well. I will let you know how I get on. jo -x-

That looks very nice! Might solve my problem of whether to get a good video camera as well as a stlls camera. J x

9 weeks and 6 days to go! (Tour 2) Woo Hoo. So I just thought I'd let peeps know that I'm booking myself into the Sheraton the night before as recomended lower down the thread. Would be good to meet up with anyone else staying there the night before Mmmm beer! J x

Thanks for the number Tom. Went with Go Walkabout booking via their website. Haven't got time to faff with DL at the moment. It's all sounding very exciting!

Yeah I did. And the guy did to - I even said that a few other people in the group had been told it was covered and he said that was wrong. My main concern is that I need a clear answer on this for the sake of those who have already got insurance with Direct line. I'd hate for it to turn out they're not insured after all. I thought if someone who has taken this out got proof in writing I could argue it out with them. A name or two of Direct Line employees who have said its fine would be good. As far as I'm concerned they really need to sort this out because they can't have inconsistancies in their policy like this. If they can't get their act together I'll just go to Go Walkabout out of principle - DL haven't earnt my business. If they can't get the simple things right - like what the policy covers how can I trust them to deal with anything else? Tom - I found a Go Walkabout website - is that the site for the company you're with? A phone no would be great. j x