So the clock is still counting down slowly but surely. Time seems to be playing its own little jig, sometimes it seems to go past at a rapid rate. Particularly when there are things you need to do. Have you ever noticed that time always seems to run out when there are things you need to do?
Then there are other days that seem to never end. Its almost like someone hit the pause button or the ‘frame by frame’ slow button on the world and you can not find the remote.
My little countdown widget is telling me that I’m out of here in 23 days. So close yet so far.
Of the things that need doing prior to departure there is only one thing that is pending. That is the Sleeper train between Cairo and Aswan. We’re trying to reserve it before mainly because we’re on a bit of a tight schedule. Not that it really matters I guess we can always take the normal train it will just be a little more comfortable in the Sleeper. Lil is trying to organise that one and she finally got a response from someone in their main office right at the close of business on Friday. So hopefully we’ll get some response this week.
Our little group has expanded from 7 to 8 with the addition of Deanna from Canada to the Egypt Adventure. Its a possibility that the group might go to 9 but that is still up in the air.
I have my airfares, insurance, immunisations, hotel bookings, boat bookings, new boots and packing cubes….
Well you get the idea.
My old trusty leather hiking boots have been retired, due to one dog peeing in them but we will not go there. So this time round I’ve brought some Keen Voyageur boots. They are light weight boots this time round and not water proof. Still the bonus to that is they breath a little better and I think my feet will thank me for that. On the not water proof part well when its raining hard I found that my feet got wet even in the leather boots so it will be interesting to see if it makes much of a difference.
The other thing that I’m trying out this time round is some packing cells or cubes, depending on which brand you buy. In the past I’ve just stuffed all my well, stuff, in plastic shopping bags. The Cells have a mesh front so you can see what’s in them. They also come in all different colours and sizes. The idea, at least for me, is to keep the pack a little more organised and try to prevent the whole unloading my entire backpack thing just because I want a clean shirt which happens to be the last thing one takes out of the pack. Come on you know you’ve all been there!
I’ve also got a new backpack. This time round I’ve gone with the Berghaus Verden 60 + 10 womens with the biofit system. Now I could have just taken my old pack to Egypt but its getting a little worn around the edges and I’d decided to replace it before I go on my RTW. Egypt this year will be my last chance to try the pack ‘in the field’ so to speak before my big trip. I’d much rather take a new pack on a 4 week trip and discover I hate it than discover that it really doesn’t work for me in week one of a 12 month trip. So we’ll see how that goes.
The widget on my computer still says 23 days to go. Ok where’s that pesky remote!
