Summer Time

In August the Pilgrim Pouch visited family in Michigan & spent time at Shorewood Hills beach on Lake Michigan.

2017 International Travel Goods Show

The Pilgrim Pouch, Dad & I traveled to the International Travel Goods Show in Las Vegas! We saw the latest travel gear, heard inspiring entrepreneurial stories, and gathered industry information. Among the goods featured at the show were lightweight and eco-friendly bags. The Pilgrim Pouch was right at home! 

Exhibitors included (alphabetically):

Bagsmart -- A Las Vegas company whose products include lightweight carry bags & travel accessories. Their Foldable Duffel bag compacts down into a handy small pouch. 

Briggs & Riley -- The only U.S. luggage company that remains family owned. They offer classic styles and a lifetime guarantee. Luggage features include laptop pockets and expandable main compartments. 

Camera Coats -- A Salt Lake City business that features fabric camera bags designed to fit DSLR cameras. The bags offer protection for cameras without the heavy weight of a case. 

Cardiff Products -- A San Diego company that makes removable head/neck cushions for flights or car trips. The product was created after the owner noticed how his kids' heads bobbed back & forth while sleeping in the car.  

  

Dandy Nomad -- A Montreal & Paris based business that includes luggage covers, travel accessories, & kids' travel games. The owner was inspired to create luggage covers after being frustrated with identifying her bag at the airport. 

Go Far -- A Bartlett, Illinois based business specializing in durable luggage & packing accessories. The sturdy designs were inspired after the owner experienced a broken luggage handle while traveling. 

Haiku -- A Seattle based company specializing in carry bags, totes, and travel accessories created with CyclePET, a fabric made from recycled water bottles. 

LiteGear Bags -- A Vallejo, California company that is committed to sustainability and specializes in lightweight luggage & accessories made with recycled plastic water bottles. 

Sutote -- A fair trade company based in Montana & Bolivia that makes colorful carry bags & travel accessories from a recycled plastic material popular in Latin America. 

United By Blue -- A Philadelphia based company that produces sustainable outdoor gear, apparel, & gift items using recycled/organic materials. The company's mission: for every item sold, one pound of trash will be picked up from oceans & waterways. 

It was inspiring to meet designers and company representatives who 

have their products 'on the travel goods map'!

Travel & Adventure Show

It's March and time for San Diego's Travel & Adventure Show! This event includes speakers, trip planning info, and lots of travel enthusiasm.

Speakers included travel guru Johnny Jet, who shared how he overcame a fear of traveling. He offered tips on searching for budget-priced flights. Another speaker was Phil Keoghan, host of the Amazing Race TV show & author of the book NOW, or No Opportunity Wasted. The Pouch & I posed with Phil after his presentation.

Annslie Bigbee, Packing Expert & Regional Director of Briggs & Riley, gave packing tips and recommended the "3 x 3" rule, or mixing & matching 3 tops with 3 bottoms (pants/skirts) for a total of 9 different outfits. This formula makes for light traveling -- a perfect match for the Pouch! 

After the excitement of the Travel & Adventure Show,

where will the Pouch go next?

       

Holiday Fun

The Pilgrim Pouch celebrated the holidays in the San Francisco area. A visit was made to a favorite museum, the Neoclassical Legion of Honor. Constructed in 1915, the museum highlights ancient & European art and was featured in the Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo. 

The Pouch went for lunch in Novato at Jennie Low's. Traditional Chinese dishes have been served here since 1992. Jennie's cookbook Chopsticks, Cleaver and Wok includes her classic recipes.

Ring Mountain in Corte Madera overlooks San Francisco's skyline. The Pilgrim Pouch viewed the picturesque scene during a cool afternoon and carried a scarf along with other hiking essentials. 

Winter Cheers

Winter is here and the Pilgrim Pouch is ready for the holidays!
Where will it go to celebrate?

Pilgrim Pouch post Primitivo

Credencial sellos follow the Pilgrim Pouch's journey along "The Original Way." 

After the Primitivo, the Pouch has been taking a break. Time to plan 

what's ahead and the next adventure!

     

Adios Santiago

On the final day in Santiago the Pilgrim Pouch explored Alameda Park where decorative benches line walkways. The park contains more than 90 species of flora and over 1,500 trees & shrubs that shade visitors.

The Pouch watched a swan glide around a small pond at the park.

Santiago's Cathedral is currently undergoing cleaning & restoration work. Despite the scaffolding, the Pouch admired the Baroque facade that still captivates walkers as they finish their journeys.

At Santiago's train station the Pilgrim Pouch awaited our ride 

down to Madrid and then the flight home to the U.S.

Ultreia & Adios Spain!