Ajax, Ontario: Here we sit, in the basement, less than two weeks to our trip. Nathan is repacking his bag for the third time, trying to optimize space and weight. We both have been gradually getting rid of items - I think that I am to about half of amount I originally tried to bring. It is truely an exercise in minimalism - just how little can we actually live on? We will see, I will either be buying more along the way, or I will be dumping things as we go. We are both extremely excited, but we don't know which part we are anticipating the most. Simply the fact that it will be so different, so different from what we are used to I don't even know what to think. I do dream of meeting a gorilla face-to-face, but that will only be an hour at the most, so I am not sure I should devote thoughts of a two month trip on a one hour experience.
I had a lot of joy last night to be part of Adam and Tanya's wedding day. It was a beautiful, special day. Being able to see so many members of Nathan's family and extended family was nice, especially sharing with them our adventure to come. Over the past month we have been continually running into the perfect people to give us advice and encouragement of what is to come - the bank teller from Tanzania, the manacurist from Jordan, Sekai wife of a groomsman from the wedding last night who lived in South Africa, Simon and Linda travelers extrodinare, and Moon too! From all of this experience we hear the same refrain, "enjoy the adventure", "keep an open mind", "don't let setbacks ruin your day". It will be a personal growing experience, if not mind altering (and I am not talking about the malaria medication)
Stay tuned... We will certainly be excited to share our experiences - in whatever form they come when we return.
