Less than nine days to departure.

[kurukami]

Departure on my bike trek across New England and down to New York, that is. I'm looking forward to it with a strange mix of apprehension and excitement -- off, to explore places I've never been to before! On the road for a week, playing bike nomad! (I feel like I should buy a copy of "On the Road" just for the synchronicity of it. *grin

Comments

[soundingsea]

Buy some SPF 45. The Neutrogena Ultra Light stuff is nice (and available at drugstores).

Oranges? Apples?

[kurukami]

... but I have no need to maintain a Gothic vampire pallor. ; )

[soundingsea]

When my Irish/Polish boyfriend hikes all day in SPF 15, he burns. The SPF number just is a multiplier times the normal amount of time it takes you to show color (which, yes, is damage! Just like when you are browning onions!) It's not about being a vampire... it's about making sure you don't ruin your trip with a sunny day. :)

Also, don't forget to re-apply. Sweat will remove sunscreen, even the "waterproof" kind.

[kurukami]

Huh, good to remember. I'll take both my 15 and my 30. : )

... though out of curiosity, how darkly-complexioned is said Irish/Polish boyfriend?

[soundingsea]

He's the one with the goatee:
http://soundingsea.org/images/20080331/10.jpg
Though his hair was red when he was younger, he doesn't have the classic milk-pale "redhead" complexion. He's pretty much standard-issue White Dude with some freckles. And the sun, it is not his friend.

I seem to recall from Writercon that you're a White Dude too...

[kurukami]

Hmmmm, yeah, his complexion is very near to mine. *eyes SPF 30 more consideringly* Thanks!

[kurukami]

The SPF 30 ended up working fine, even for all day Sunday. I got some heavy freckling along both my arms, but not even a hint of a burn. : )