LONG DRIVE PLANNING SHEET / CHECKLIST (Mountains/cold places)

A. Car:

1. Service, tune and stock up on parts for the car

a. At the workshop (10 days to one week in advance):

  1. Clean / replace air-filter, (S)
  2. Clean replace fuel filter remove all water, (S)
  3. Check / replace oil, (S)
  4. Check all fuses, (S)
  5. Check all lights, (S)
  6. Check windshield wipers, (S)
  7. Check windshield washer (put washer fluid into Dickey),
  8. Wax exteriors, (S)
  9. Clean all glasses (inside and outside), (S)
  10. Check music system, including all cables accessories etc.,(S)
  11. Check ECU functioning & remove error codes,(S)
  12. Check brakes – hydraulics, pads, discs etc., (replace if necessary), (S)
  13. Check all 5 tyres for wear and do needful,(S)
  14. Fill nitrogen in tyres 31Psi in front and 29 Psi (33 and 43 for heavy loads),(Stepney at 31Psi) (S)
  15. Fit and secure all loose/rattling parts in body / engine bay, (S)
  16. Check if any anti-freeze is required for the Diesel,(S)
  17. Check if any anti-freeze is required for the coolant and fill now, (S)
  18. Check if engine oil is ok for low temp – else stock up in Dickey, (S)
  19. Stock up on spare bulbs, (S)
  20. Buy and stock all fuses used in the car, (S)
  21. Buy a tow ring – IMPORTANT (S)
  22. Buy a spare tube for wheel (S)

b. At home:

(Technical) 5 days in advance

  1. Put 2 lit. water in Dickey for car & misc washing, (S)
  2. Put foot pump in the car, (S)
  3. Put puncture kit in Dickey, (S)
  4. Put jack & essential tools in Dickey,(S)
  5. Put windshield fluid bottle in Dickey, (S)
  6. Put car shampoo, wash cloth and a mug in dickey, (S)
  7. Put a piece of rubber/plastic tubing (1/2” dia and 3 M long) in Dickey, (S)
  8. Ensure that the bulbs and fuses are in the Dickey, (S)
  9. Put at least 1 lt. engine oil (Mobil 1) in Dickey, (S)
  10. Put at least 1 lt. coolant bottle in Dickey, (S)
  11. Put at least 1 lt. distilled water in Dickey, (S)
  12. Put photocopies of RC card, Insurance policy and DLs in glove box. (S)
  13. Contact manufacturer/dealer and get numbers of all workshops on the route. (S)
  14. Put a piece of wire in the boot, (S)
  15. Put a good torch in the cabin, (S)
  16. Put insulation tape in Dickey, (S)
  17. Put superglue in Dickey, (S)
  18. Put towing rope in Dickey, (S)
  19. Get a good jerry can for Diesel, (+ a few balloons for sealing) (S)
  20. Put a good funnel in the Dickey,
  21. Put a block of wood/convenient size stone to place behind wheels
  22. Put car cover in the Dickey (S)
  23. Put at least 1 old credit card in dash for scraping ice off windshield (S)
  24. Put sweatering/jacketing material i.e. sacking, newspaper etc. in Dickey, (S)

(Comfort) 3 days in advance

  1. Put music system accessories and cables in car & check, (S)
  2. Put hands free and charger (phone) in car, (S)
  3. Put other car chargers (PSP, IPod, Motorola) in car and check, (S)
  4. Put Sunglasses in car, (S)
  5. Put at least one umbrella in the back, (S)
  6. Put small tissue packets in each door pocket, (S)
  7. Put one soft cloth & 1 micro-fibre cloth in driver door pocket, (S)
  8. Put paper napkins, plastic glasses and paper plates in Dickey, (S)
  9. Keep cash – 10s, 20s, 50s, 100s and lots of loose change where driver can reach them easily, (S)
  10. Load all route maps (AA, TTK, Eicher. LP etc.) where the co-pilot can reach them easily, (S)
  11. Put the medicine bag + first aid kid inside cabin, (S)
  12. Put the music player, memory sticks, CDs etc. in car at least 2 days in advance, (S)
  13. Load dhurries/jhamkhanas in Dickey, (S)
  14. Check lighters and ciggie levels, (S)
  15. Load chewing gum, (S)
  16. Put in cushions, sheets and travelling blanket, (S)
  17. Fix all comfort pads for seat belts, (S)
  18. Put the camera in the car at least two days before, keep extra cards in baggage, (S)
  19. Load one ½ lt. bottle of water for each seat, (S)
  20. Get Tata Photon+,(S)
  21. Load games, toys etc. in car 2 days in advance, (S)
  22. Load dry foods etc. for journey 2 days in advance, (S)
  23. Load extra juices, soda etc. in dicky, (S)

Night before/last minute:

  1. Fill tank, (S)
  2. Load luggage, (one suitcase for destination – one for pit stops), (S)
  3. Load food,(S)
  4. Load ice-box, (S)
  5. Say your prayers, break a coconut (if possible stop at a temple – never mind that it is closed).
  6. Handover duplicate key to co-driver. Ask him to carry it on his body so they it does not get locked in the car.

Legend: S = Done on Skoda, F = Done on Fiat

B. PACKING LISTS:

GENERAL PACKING LIST

  1. Repel mos (marketed by Camlin)
  2. Books
  3. Games
  4. VCDs
  5. Laptop
  6. Universal plug
  7. Laptop charger
  8. LAN cable
  9. Laptop – phone cable
  10. Laptop – camera cable
  11. Cameras
  12. Camera chargers
  13. Phone chargers
  14. PSP
  15. PSP Charger
  16. IPod
  17. Ipod cables
  18. Ipod charger
  19. Multi-plugs / power strip
  20. All-out with refill
  21. Washing soap
  22. Travelling Iron

TOILET KIT

  1. Toothpaste,
  2. Toothbrush,
  3. Shampoo,
  4. Soap,
  5. Shaving gel/foam,
  6. Razor,
  7. Razor blades,
  8. Anti-persp / deo,
  9. Comb
  10. Sunscreen lotion
  11. Nailcutter
  12. Cold cream
  13. Moisturiser

CLOTHES

  1. Shirts/T-shirts – no. of days /2 + 2
  2. Jeans/Shorts –( no. of days / 3) + 2
  3. Underwear (cotton + warm)
  4. Pyjamas (no. of days / 4)
  5. Towel
  6. Handkerchiefs
  7. Bathroom slippers
  8. additional shoes
  9. Wind-cheater/light jacket
  10. Socks
  11. Sweater(s)
  12. Heavy jacket
  13. Hat for sun
  14. Warm Cap
  15. Warm gloves
  16. Swim trunks

PIT STOP BAG:

  1. Three T-shirts
  2. Three underwear
  3. 1 jeans + 1 shorts
  4. Bathroom slippers
  5. Towel
  6. Toilet kit
  7. 1 sweater/jacket/windcheater

ICE BOX + REFILLS IN RESERVE

  1. * 2 frozen bottles of water
  2. * 1.5 lt thums up
  3. * butter milk –salt + sweet
  4. * 1 lt. Minute maid
  5. * 1.5 lt. Limca
  6. 3 Breezers
  7. 2 Beers
  8. * 1.5 lit Soda

B. LIST OF MEDICINES 1ST AID KIT

Name/Brand / Type / Tech name / Used for
*Avomine / Tab / Promethazine / Nausea
*Diamox / Tab / Acetazolamide / high altitude sickness, glaucoma, epilepsy
Lasix 40 / Frusemide / Remove excess H2O, breathlessness, swollen feet
*Lomotil / Tab / diphenoxylate / Diarrhoea
*Perinorm / Vomiting
*Dependal M / Tab / Amoebiasis
*Sporlac / Tab / Paed / Diarrhoea
*Alerid / Syrup / Paed / Cold / cough - phlegm
*Calpol / Syrup / Paracetamol / Paed / Fever
*Novamox / Syrup / Paed / Antibiotic
*Augmentin / Syrup / Paed / Antibiotic
*Otrivin / Drops / Paed / Blocked nose
*Carmicide / Syrup / Paed / Stomach
*Metrogyl / Syrup / Paed
*Cetzine / Tab / antihistamic, allergy, bites
*Crocin / Tab / Paracetamol / Fever, painkiller
*Combiflam / Tab / Painkiller
*Disprin / Tab / painkiller
*Pudin Hara / Liquid / Stomach
*Hajmola / Pachnol / Tab / Stomach
*Digene / Tab / Acidity, stomach ache
*Coldact / Cap / Cold
*Betadine / Gargle / Throat infection
*Tantum / Gargle / Throat ache / blocked
*Otrivin / Drops / Adult
*Moov / Cream / Muscle pain
*Relispray / Spray / Sprains etc.
*Burnol / Cream / Burns, cuts etc.
*Bandaid
*Cotton Wool
*Adhesive Tape
*Savlon
Spirit
*Cotton Crepe bandage
*Betadine / Cream
*Neosporin / Powder / polymyxin B / Antibiotic
*Soframycin / Cream / soframycin / antibiotic, exposed wound
Cyclopam / Tab / stomach ache
Norflox 400 / Tab / norfloxacin / antibiotic, fluoroquinolone, diarrhoea
*Sparlox / Tab / sparfloxacin / severe cold
Brufen / Tab / ibuprofen / anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, arthritis, painkiller
Althrocin 250 / Tab / Erythromycin / antibiotic, anti bacterial
*Domstal / Tab / domperidone / nausea
*Zandu Balm / Cream
*Vicks Vaporub / Cream
*Tiger Oil
Tiger Balm / Cream / Colds, cuts & aches
Olesan / Liquid / Colds
*Thermometer
Notes:
Paed = Paediatric,
* = Important

Places to visit in Ar.P. = Bhalukpong flower nursery (near Tezpur),

Bomdila, (between Tezpur & Tawang)

Dirang (Night halt)

Sela Pass (between Dirang & Tawang) & Sela Lake(s)

Sangester Lake (On Lhasa highway)

Tawang Monastery

Bum La (Border)

Panggang Teng Tso (P T Tso Lake on the way to Bum La)

Takstsang Gompa (on the way to Bum La)

Bramadungchung Ani Gompa

Panggang Homa Tso

Nagku La Tso