The Essential Things To Pack When Moving

When you’re in the midst of a move, it’s hard to nail down exactly what you’ll need on hand to help you pack. Here, we’ve compiled a handy list that you can use as your go-to packing guide.

• Boxes of various sizes
• Plastic tubs with lids for storage
• Packing material like bubble wrap, newspaper, packing peanuts, etc.
• Tape and tape dispensers
• Duct tape
• Packing tape
• Masking tape for labeling
• Painter’s tape for quick touch-ups
• Scissors, box cutters
• Stickers for labeling and color-coding boxes to each room
• Permanent marker
• Trash bags
• Furniture pads and covers (blankets work just as well)
• Dollies and hand trucks
• Rope, twine, bungee cords to hold things in place during transport
• Padlocks if items will be in the moving van overnight
• Toolbox
• Cleaning supplies

Once you’ve moved past the packing supplies, you’ll want to make sure you have your personal essentials easily accessible. The last thing you want to do on your first night in your new house is unpack a hundred boxes trying to find your toothbrush. Pack these items up last, as you’ll want to make sure they’re the first things you grab from the moving van.

• Toilet paper
• Hand soap
• Dish soap and dish towel
• Paper towels
• Snacks
• Beverages
• Plates, utensils, napkins
• Pet supplies
• Emergency kit, first-aid kit
• Flashlight, candles, matches
• Shower curtain
• Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and other related items
• Personal information, like birth certificates, passports, marriage licenses, etc.
• Clothes for the upcoming days
• Toiletries
• Backpacks and school supplies
• Electronics and accompanying chargers
• Cooler, ice or ice packs
• Medicine, prescriptions
• Cell phone
• Sheets, blankets
• Pillows
• Sleeping bags
• Anything else you may need within 24 hours of packing and moving

Packing for a move is an exhaustive chore, and it can seem even more daunting if you’re moving to a different country. Not only are you making sure that all your items get to your destination safely and efficiently, you have to figure out a foreign country’s laws, culture and overall way of life. This list of important items to take with you as an expat is a great place to start and refer to during your move abroad.

Important documents to bring as an expat:

Be sure to have copies of these tucked away in a safe spot, and provide copies of these to a trusted contact back home in case of emergency.

• Passport
• Driver’s license
• Debit and credit cards; remember to notify your bank of your move so the activity on your account isn’t marked as suspicious.
• Immunization records, health insurance, and other key medical records for all members of your family
• Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and any other kind of legal documentation that affects you and your family
• Physical list of important contacts in case technology fails; don’t forget to have the address and contact information of the nearest Embassy or Consulate of your home country.

Tech-related items to bring as an expat:

• Universal plug converter
• Voltage converter
• Cell phone and coverage plan that both work in your destination country
• Handy apps for your smartphone: language translator, a currency calculator, navigation and maps that can be saved offline, etc.

Health-related items to bring as an expat:

• Prescriptions: renew and fill these prior to moving, and do your research to make sure that your prescriptions can be filled in your destination country.
• Over-the-counter medicines: probiotics, antihistamine, cold and flu care, etc. Living in a new country, your body may take a while to get used to the unfamiliar elements.
• If you are particular about your brands of toiletries, be sure to stock up on those if they aren’t carried in your destination country.

Comforts of home to bring as an expat:

While you should do everything you can do embrace the culture of your new country, having a couple items to remind you of home can help with homesickness and the ease of moving.

• Personal mementos
• Favorite snacks and other foods that might not be available
• Books in your native language; if you want to lighten the load and save space in your new home, look into an e-reader, like a Kindle, or find downloadable copies of books that you can access on a smartphone.
• Tape measures, measuring cups and related items in case the system used is different than what you know
• Clothes or shoes that fit you if you need a specific, hard-to-find size

While this isn’t a definitive list of items you should bring, it’s a good place to start. Feel free to do your own research or contact the Embassy or Consulate of your home country in your destination country if you have questions.

Trust Schumacher Cargo Logistics with your move

You want your items to reach their destination as securely and efficiently as possible. Schumacher Cargo Logistics can do exactly that. Trust Schumacher Cargo Logistics to safely move your vehicle, boat, motorcycle and household goods.

Not only is Houston one of the largest cities in Texas, it is also one of the one of the fastest growing cities. Drive downtown, and you might be intimidated by the skyscrapers. One of the most popular things to do there is to go downtown near the Minute Maid Park and enjoy a day by the field. Check out some of our favorite things to do in downtown Houston below.

Getting Where You Need to Go

In a city like NYC, you usually take a cab, right? Well that’s naturally an option for Houston along with the Tram, but since we are talking about Texas here, many locals drive.

Parts of suburban Houston TX and the greater metropolitan areas are rural and spread out. In this case, it makes sense to focus on the downtown area which is full of things to do, and let’s get to talking about some of them.

Minute Maid Park

If you are in Houston during the MLB season, we absolutely recommend you go to Minute Maid Park. And yes, to get to the home of the Astros, you have to go through downtown Houston.

In left field, the box seats are called the Crawford Box. They are some of the more expensive general tickets, but none of the general tickets are too pricey. If you were to choose to sit there, you are right behind the left field wall. What better place than to try and catch your first home run ball?

Enjoying downtown Houston is one thing you will want to do outside of just going to the ballpark there. If you don’t want to handle your own navigation, then you can certainly hand off those duties. You can even take a guided tour of Houston if you want to make it really easy.

Food

If you decide to just do a full day at the ballpark, then make sure and stop by Jackson Street Barbecue which is right next to the stadium. It is one of the many places with great barbecue food in Houston and generally is pretty busy before the games due to how close it is.

Quick Stops on the Way to the Ballpark

Now, let’s look at some of the more tourist things to do in Houston when visiting. There are so many things to do in that city that it will make your head spin.

Here are two quick stops you can make while downtown.

1. The Downtown Aquarium-Houston

You don’t need to be an ocean lover to enjoy the aquarium. It features a variety of different sea animals like sharks and rays as well as different tanks with different ecosystems.

2. Buffalo Bayou Park

The park is a great escape from the High-rises and city turmoil. So if you struggle with downtown crowds then it may be the perfect stop to calm yourself before heading towards Minute Maid Park.

To learn more about our company and what we do visit our page!

The Endless Summer was a 1966 surf documentary focusing on two surfers determined to follow the sun around the globe and essentially live a life of an endless summer. What if you could do the same on your motorcycle? We’ve compiled five must-ride destinations around the globe and things to do in the area you’re riding. Of course, the summer months vary across the globe, so take your time riding in one place before heading to the next destination. We’ve also included optional destinations that are on the way, but didn’t necessarily make our top 5.

Stop 1: Pacific Coast Highway, California

Head back home to the United States and discover the beautiful West Coast via the Pacific Coast Highway. Along the way you’ll see redwood forests, surf towns with seals on the beaches, and a certain famous bridge. Be aware of sharp turns, steep cliffs, and narrow shoulders. The PCH stretches the 123 miles from Monterey Bay to Morro Bay (you’ll recognize the Marine Life Institute, featured in Finding Dory).
Area tour company: EagleRider Motorcycle Rental & Tours
Summer months for California: June, July, August

Optional via destination:

Blue Ridge Parkway- Ride across the United States towards the Blue Ridge Parkway and see an incredible amount of the country. Choose between Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, or North Carolina, or do all four! Discover the charm and history of the East Coast before jetting off to Europe.

Stop 2: European Alps

The Alps, Europe’s #1 mountain range, spans across eight countries: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Picturesque mountains, lakes, and valleys surround quaint villages with one-of-a-kind Alpine culture. Switchbacks are commonly found in the roadways.
Area tour company: Edelweiss Bike Travel
Summer months for the Alps: June, July, August

Stop 3: Pyrenees Loop, France and Spain

After your Alpine ride, head southwest for a short ways and hit the Pyrenees Loop, located in France and Spain. In fact, the Pyrenees offers a lot of the same feeling as the Alps, just with less traffic. European bikers know and love this route with its awe-inspiring scenery and hairpin turns.
Area tour company: Pyrenees Motorcycle Tours
Summer months for the Pyrenees: June, July, August

Optional via destination:

Cueta to Marrakesh, Morocco- This 1,600 mile ride offers sights such as kasbahs, the Sahara desert, mountains, bazaars, the Atlantic coast, and the famous Casablanca. The best times to visit Morocco is April to early June, and September to November. Opting for the latter months to visit is a perfect fit between the Pyrenees and our next location.

Stop 4: Cape Town Circuit, South Africa

This loop, 1,050 miles (1,690 miles), departs from and arrives in Cape Town, South Africa. It can be completed in a two-week journey through the Olifantskip Pass and Addo National Park (think elephants and other big game animals). Route 62 takes you across the Great Karoo and the Little Karoo Mountains and back to Cape Town. Be sure to stop in Oudtshoorn, the “ostrich capital of the world,” and Robertson for some wine tasting.
Area tour company: Motorcycle Tours South Africa
Summer months for South Africa: mid-October to mid-February

Stop 5: The Great Ocean Road, Australia

Only 180 miles (290 km) long, this ride is a one-day adventure on the southern tip of Australia. Traveling from Melbourne to Petersbrough, you can take your time to stop along the coastal towns for a break to shop, eat, and sightsee. Stop by the Grampians National Park, and keep an eye out for those adorable koalas! Be independent on a self-guided tour or travel with a tour company.
Area tour company: BikeRound OZ
Summer months for Australia: December, January, February (note: summer in Australia is no joke. If you’re worried about the heat, look into visiting during the transition seasons: September-November, and March-May.)

Optional via destination:

Hana Highway, Hawaii- This 60-mile highway is located on the north end of Maui, keeping the small town of Hana reachable to the rest of the Hawaiian civilization. Mountains on the east side, the Pacific Ocean on the west, and waterfalls in between. This stop in Hawaii is the perfect break between Australia and your return back to the United States.

Schumacher Can Get You There!

So you’re hooked and wanting to do this ride, but how do you ship a motorcycle across the globe? Schumacher Cargo Logistics ships to and from all of these locations, so we are prepared to handle your bike properly and securely while you travel between destinations.

The #1 must-do for any North American motorcyclist is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, held annually every first week of August in Sturgis, South Dakota. The 2016 rally will be the 76th rally, held August 8-14. Located on the edge of the Black Hills National Forest and just northwest of Rapid City, the rally offers a chance to connect with other riders, get a taste of the American West, and fulfill the dream of being part of a motorcycle gang. Vendors will set up shop along Sturgis’ Main Street and show off their inventory of gear, bikes, and other motorcycling necessities. The rally also hosts races, bike shows, and concerts from A-List musicians.

Things To Do

There are plenty of group rides available on the Sturgis Rally website, or the lone traveler can ride highways like Iron Mountain Road, Vanocker Canyon Road, the Wildlife Loop, and Spearfish Canyon. Nearby sightseeing includes Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, and Devils Tower in nearby Wyoming.

Some top things to do are:

• 14th Annual Sturgis Mayor’s Ride: Limited space available, so book fast! The Sturgis mayor hosts this annual ride on the first day of the rally, and all proceeds benefit the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department. The actual ride takes you to the best of the Black Hills, stopping for lunch at Custer State Park.
• Badlands National Park: get a glimpse of Mars without actually visiting another planet. The Badlands offer other-worldly landscapes of buttes and valleys, deeming it a “bad” place for the pioneers to travel through with their wagons.
• Sturgis Bar Scene: Sure, riding is what you want to do during the day, but what can you do once the sun goes down? Downtown Sturgis is home to plenty of saloons, bars, and pubs to give you a good time. Join the annual Sturgis Mayor’s Pub Crawl, or plan your own through Iron Horse Saloon, Knuckles Saloon, and Broken Spoke Saloon.
• Needles Highway: If you love the excitement and adrenaline of twisting roads and narrow passes, the Needles Highway is a must. The towering granite spires lining the highway give it its name, and the highway lies in Custer State Park, offering a chance to visit another incredible South Dakota must-see.

Where To Stay

Hotels, campgrounds, and other 300+ vacation rentals are available for lodging. Find your home away from home here. Learn More

Don’t Wait Too Long!

The 76th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is only weeks away, so start planning your trip now! Schumacher Cargo Logistics is prepared to get your bike there safely.