Shots

Two shots, both arms. Medicine is amazing - vaccines especially. I upped my Polio, vaccinated against Meningococcus (although I managed to survive both the dorms and Sigma Nu without getting Meningococcus, so I believe that it's likely I'm already immune...). Also Yellow Fever and Hepatitis A. The typhoid immunization pills are for after Ride the Rockies, which is all next week and where I hope not to feel like I have a mild case of Yellow Fever. Nothing like flu symptoms on a 90 mile ride with 7,000 feet in elevation gain. But again, I think my immune system is quite strong (see dorms and Sigma Nu point above).

So, calls to the doctor tomorrow about malaria medicine and rabies vaccination. Then time to purchase travel health insurance. It seems a little funny that I am getting all these medicines and vaccines and then getting insurance.

Also, I just stumbled upon this website and I think that in a lot of ways this dude is an example of things I would like to do in my life, and jobs I would like to have (although not the running part): http:www.owen.org

And one more thing: I bought a new tent but I am concerned that it is too small and light (can such a thing exist for the backpacker?) so I spent the night in it last night in the back yard just like when I was little. Thankfully the sprinklers go off on Wednesday mornings and not Tuesdays. It was pretty fun to sleep in the back yard, and especially welcome to feel like I was camping but still have my favorite pillow - and a refrigerator to raid.

Tickets

Wow, I have worked for the past few weeks setting my itinerary, troubleshooting questions and problems (the biggest of which has been the visa issue, but which has been resolved). So, today I finalized the itinerary and bought the ticket (actually 10 tickets in all) with the exception of the leg from Lima to Mexico City, which is still too far in advance. Then there is getting back to lovely C. Springs in a year, but I figure I can take the Hound from Chihuahua as a worst case (financially) option. It's funny how little I worry about the Mexico part of the trip...with Namibia as the first stop I feel like I am jumping into the deep end - the really deep end.

I can't believe that I actually just bought the tickets. The whole process swings back and forth from "ho hum, I am going to all these canyons" to a feeling of utter excitement/joy/nervous energy in which I really can't believe that I am going to do this for the whole next year. I guess that's why I like riding my bike right now - it's something tangible, knowable (for example I know I am not very good at it...) and simple. You just get on, pedal, and watch out for cars.

Well, Vesna, my travel agent was wonderful. As she said after I gave her my credit card information, "Now you know, you really are doing this. Send me a postcard."

GEAR

After getting clobbered this weekend in a bike race in Denver (removed from the race by the referee just prior to being lapped), I am back preparing. From my current position, or rather my position at the back of the bike race on Sunday, it is pretty nice to be doing this canyon thing, because I know that humiliation on the bike is short lived. And so today I spent most of the day hemming and hawing over what sleeping bag is appropriate for five countries and a full year. It's funny to think of the few things that I am going to try and take with me, for there are things that I am going to want for hiking and trekking, and things like guidebooks that aren't suited for those activities. It's also funny to me to spend time thinking about 'trip stuff' because I sometimes feel like it is just stuff and who the hell cares, while I conversely think that if stuff breaks and isn't, say, warm enough, then it becomes a big deal. We'll see when the REI shipment comes in...

In other news, tomorrow may see the purchase of the plane ticket...

I almost forgot one of the more exciting finds of the day: soviet topo maps! Yes, they have them for Namibia, Ethiopia and China! First I love a good map. Second, for some reason I love communist things (note: this is different from the statement "I love communism" and should not be confused with it). Of course, it remains to be seen whether a russian map is a "good map." But, communism, the USSR, maps and canyons: what could be better?

T-minus almost two months

This is mostly a test post, as I work to get this blog started before I depart on the Big 'ol Watson adventure. Now it is visas and airfare, addresses and gear, and a whole lot of planning, thinking, and reading.