After months of preparation I finally put the family home on the market. I may not have a home to come home to! Oh well! It just adds further excitement to the mix. I have to ask myself why it took me so long to get the house ready for sale, but then I do have a few excuses. Firstly I was working in Scotland for a year and was only home every three weeks or so. This trip has also taken up a lot of my time in the planning.
Today is really good example. What have I actually achieved sitting at this desk for eight hours? Well I booked a Greyhound bus from Memphis to Kansas, and one from Kansas to St Louis. I had a three-week hole in my itinerary in the early part of October before departing LA on 31st October for Fiji. Today I managed to fill that gap, and added the Grand Canyon into my trip, before LA. I decided to take the Amtrak train from Flagstaff to LA, overnight. That took a bit of decision making, believe me, do I sit upstairs or downstairs?
I know one bag for six months, how is that ever going to work.
My darling husband then gave me short shrift for not updating my blog for days… so I really had to start writing, even though I have been sitting at this desk since midday. I hope that I will be able to maintain a good writing rhythm whilst away, but I am not sure what that looks like yet. The interesting thing is that I have wanted to sit down and write for the last few days, but I haven’t had the time.
Thursday was spent organising the packing of my single bag, I know one bag for six months, how is that ever going to work. I also emptied and packed all the clothes from my wardrobe just in case I don’t have a home to come to. Thankfully I was supported in what turned out to be quiet an emotional process by my son’s girlfriend, Tayla. Thanks so much sweetie, we had fun. I think you were really shocked to discover that I own not one but two pairs of leather trousers… and let’s not talk about the shoes please. As I explained I DID have to buy those two new pairs for my travels, they were essential believe me!
It’s very much been a week of ‘lasts’ and ‘goodbyes’, but not a sad week.
Then on Saturday I had a wonderful surprise. I went to do my last Barrecore class in the morning followed by another last minute trip to the shops! When I arrived home, there was a party of family and friends waiting for me. Thank you so much to my son Ásgeir, it was certainly a wonderful surprise and lots of fun.
It’s very much been a week of ‘lasts’ and ‘goodbyes’, but not a sad week. I am more than ready to move on the next stage of my life which starts with my adventure. A few people have asked for my itinerary so I will put that on here tomorrow.
Tomorrow is a day of pampering, well why not! Final packing of the bag which has been weighed emptied weighed again and again, by the lovely Tayla, I don’t know how she managed to lift it, but it was, we agreed, 21.7 Kilos. There are still my Nordic poles and one or two other bits and pieces to pack, so I am sure I will keep it under 23K cough, cough, splutter. I am seriously considering taking another bag as hand luggage. The problem is the first stage of my trip which includes a wedding and a fitness camp, after that my needs will be much minimized. I’ll report back tomorrow when packing is complete.
