A peak into my traveling wardrobe.

As some of you know I’ll be in Portland, Oregon again next week from Monday night through Thursday.

This trip is for business for a fairly large client. Most of my business travel is to the United States. While down here, I try to hit a Leather bar, sex club or bath house. I consider it doing my part to support and promote our Leather and Sex-Positive spaces. Sir allows me to do this as it pleases Him to see me sharing what I’ve learned over the years, as well as learning tricks from other for the benefit of His pleasure.

So what do I bring with me? Where do I go? How do I find out where to go?

Identifiers
I always have my boy tag with me and on me 24/7/365 when I’m not having to take it off due to a security check. Thankfully it does not set the metal detectors off, but it is seen in the full body scanners. On my last trip to Orlando, I forgot to take it off, and I figure next time I’ll ask to be felt up by security – there are some damned hot uniformed blokes out there. 😉

On business trips, I usually do not have my formal collar with me. I’m too afraid to loose something that priceless and meaningful to me.

I usually have a hunter green hanky on me, always in the right pocket. I’ll also flag other colours as appropriate as per my protocols with Sir and for my mood.

I try to wear boots as much as possible between my Doc Martens, Nick’s Custom Harness boots, my Wesco Bosses or, now, my Corcorans.

If I’m out, I will try to have one of my vests with me – prior to February, my pin vest, or my title vest where and when appropriate. I’ll also try to wear a local Toronto bar or event shirt. It provides a discussion point for people.

Play
Play wise, I try to bring smaller things – I don’t have a lot of room in my bag for lots of rope or large toys, but what I bring is effective:

• A leather paddle used to beat my nuts when jacking off – this is part of how I learned to take CBT
• Various ball stretchers
• Tit clamps – alligator style, slightly modified
• Cotton rope for tying nuts up
• Butt plug or dildo
• Condoms and lube in case I want to get fucked or a hot bottom daddy wants to take my cock

Other things
I bring my iPad to help plan where I am going from the hotel to the bar, bath house or sex club. I’ll also have some form of GPS device on me as well to help me get to my destination.

I’ll often check sites such as Squirt, Recon, Bear 411 and also ask locals if they have any suggestions. Squirt has a great collection of cruising locations along with reviews. Honestly, I couldn’t do without it.

Usually a few days before, I’ll update my location to reflect that I’m in the area and also specify what dates I’ll be there.

On my iPhone and iPad, I also use the Recon, Scruff and Grindr apps with varying degrees of success.

But as I always say, it’s often best to get out there and connect in person. I don’t want to waste time stuck and frustrated in a hotel room.

Moments While Traveling
I’ve had two funny moments while traveling over the years:

– Flying back from Sudbury to Toronto, they x-ray your bags with you there. I used to bring up a huge bag with all my toys and Leathers. They asked,

“What is is big ring thing?” I knew what they were referring to,
“It’s a ball weight.”
“No really, what is it?”
I looked at the guy in the eye and said, “It’s a ball weight.”

They actually know Sir quite well there as He travels with at least one bag full of toys when He flies.

– Flying out of Philadelphia, I decided to carry my bag in the plane and inside was a soft blue butt plug I use quite often. They pulled it out at the security checkpoint asking what it was. Sorry guys, you’re not going to embarrass me. I will point out they were respectful – much thanks!

– Driving to Detroit with Master Scott’s cane case in the back of the car, which is made from PVC piping. Yes, they opened it up and asked us what the canes are for, do we get paid to do what we do, etc…

I do recommend making sure that you are clear what is in your bags, vehicle, etc… As to not risk being turned away at the border. i.e. A piercing play kit left in the car will raise major eyebrows if you have no medical need for needles.

You can be straight up with border staff. For example, when Master Chuck, International Leatherboy 2010 boy Ian and I went to Detroit for Michigan LeatherSIR/Leatherboy, we did tell the border guard that we were going to judge a fetish contest. For CLAW, I initially said that Sir and I were going to a weekend conference and then clarified that it was the Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend.

So there you have it. That’s how I’m ready for action while in the road.

By the way, Steam in Portland has the most comfortable beds of any bath house I’ve been to in the 15 years I’ve been going to baths.  The first one I visited, incidentally, was Le 456 in Montreal.