Hercalley Watch Roll
The last person made it down the aisle and sat down. The flight attendants became alive in a flurry of activity. I look out the window and see the ramp agents placing the chocks down and picking up their wands. With the unmistakable feeling of the brakes releasing and a light lurch of movement, we are on our way. Push Back. I check my watch, and to my surprise, this flight is leaving on time. I do a little calculation and figure out what time we will be wheels down. My thoughts drift to our plans for that day, now I'm looking forward to our fancy dinner planned in another new city. Dinner sure sounds nicer than snack mix and lukewarm coke at 35,000 feet. This dinner, even though in a new city and new restaurant will be different, I'm more excited about it than I should be. I look at my watch again and think, tonight I have the luxury of wearing a different watch than this one. My wife must be wondering what I'm smiling about at this point. So far, I'm already glad I brought my new Hercalley watch roll. Packed well in my bag above me, I have 3 other watches tucked away and ready for new adventures.
Settling into the hotel room, I shower off a day of air travel and wandering a city. I open the carry-on and my watch roll is right where I left it. So are the watches inside. If they've moved at all it's not noticeable to me. I snap off the super soft yet firm cushion and unclasp my dress watch for the evening. Slide my other watch on the cushion in its place. Snap the cushion back into place on both sides and snap the fine leather closed. A quick wind and set of my watch, and we're off to dinner.
Day two. Off to a national park. I have the perfect watch in mind for a day of hiking the mountains and exploring alpine lakes. Back to the watch roll, it becomes at this point an essential piece of travel kit. I get to enjoy the luxury of what watch to wear and continue my joy in the hobby even as I travel. Snap it open, grab out my favorite field watch, and snap everything securely back into place. I snap a few photos for the gram. Wind it up and set it. Then lace up the boots and grab some much-needed coffee. Coffee works for the city streets. But driving up the mountains, the breathtaking scenery keeps you awake. Hiking around the mountains and getting some wrist shots of the scenery is watch nerd heaven. I'm glad I can wear a watch that's more up to the task and at home in this environment. Sure, my GMT I wore on the flight in could do fine here, but having a different watch that fits the task at hand is a real treat. All these different wrist shots, makes me feel a little bit more of a watch-collecting badass. Eat your heart out, Cole Pennington.
On our final day, we pack up early to check out and get a jump on last min exploration. Pick my last watch for the trip, and snap everything back up. Everything goes together firmly and with a reassuring snap, that you know it's secure. The lining is soft and supple, you know even your finest pieces, like my dress watch for dinner, are safe. I close it up and admire it one more time and can't help but smile. The fact that I could bring a little bit more of my watch passion along with was fantastic. Despite the few inevitable eye rolls I got from the wife. Knowing that as I slide the roll back into place in my carry-on that it will be secure, and my watches won't be damaged is reassuring. I zip it all up and leave. I toss my bag in the back of the rental truck. I know that I don't have to worry about the contents inside. In the back of the rental or in the airport with me, or jammed into an overhead bin at 35,000 feet.
For my next trip, I don't yet know where we are going, or what watches I will bring. But I do know I will have several to choose from because there is no doubt I will be bringing my new watch roll with me.
Comments