64

64 days to go ...if I counted right. I still have an apartment full of stuff to get rid of but I am nearly done collecting what I think I'll need for the trip. I picked up three maps and had them laminated on the weekend. These will get me to the Ontario/Manitoba border. One of my customers also donated a camp fire single shot espresso machine. That will be nice to use now and again.
I heard from a friend that she has room at her place on Camano Island if I get that far. I like the idea of having a destination that far away. I have no idea if I'll get that far or if I'll want to stop there if I do but I like the “realness” of having a destination.
I am really looking forward to ridding myself of all the material stuff I am surrounded by. My life will be so different with no television or computer or “stuff”. Not to mention the fact that I'll be outside all day, every day, and be getting exercise on a regular basis.
I think I'll have a going away fund raiser party just before I leave. I spoke to the guy that owns the cafe I work at and he said it is fine with him if I have a party on the 29 May after closing. That will give me three days to get any last minute stuff I might need before hitting the road.

freaking out!

I keep having moments of panic thinking I am making a mistake or that I don't have enough time or money. This week I need to give my landlord 60 days notice. That is one step that I dread. It will make the whole thing much more "real".
As for progress on equipment I picked up a frying pan, some cutlery and a pot from MEC for the trip. I also changed the handlebars again. I think these ones will work better. They are longer than the other ones so I need to re-do the break cables and while I am at it I will put new gear cables on. I also picked up extra cables in case I break one on the road. I still need to get some spare spokes, an air pump and inner tubes for the bike.
I still need a camp stove and air mattress still as well.

still on track

So it turns out that it cost me $500 to find out I owe $1600 in taxes. AAAARGGGGGHH. So a new bike is definitely out of the question. I've been rebuilding an old Fiori Napoli that I have turning it into a touring bike. So far I've changed the handle bars, brake levers, brake cables, seat and added a mirror.The picture above is the bike before any modifications. I plan to put new wheels and tires on it and that should be all it needs. I sold off a bike and trailer combo to a coworker and the remaining stock from my 125G planted tank to a fellow aquarium enthusiast. I also picked up a camouflaged tarp and some reflective safety tape from Canadian Tire. I was donated another camo tarp and a sleeping bag. I still need a camp stove and cooking utensils.
I spoke this week to the two different people who want to join in for the first part of the journey and they are both still on board. The "plan" so far is to leave Ottawa on the 1 June heading towards Trenton Ontario where my brother lives. One rider will ride to Kingston with us and there meet up with his wife who will drive down for the weekend. They will spend a few days in Kingston together and then take the car back to Ottawa.
The other rider is so far joining me for the first month or so. She has to be back in Ottawa for July 1 but may just fly or bus back from wherever we are to Ottawa and then return to me on the next day. That is all tentative though at this point.
I still need to find a new home for my two cats. That is my biggest worry (besides financial) at this point.

Set backs and a pony

Well I was hoping to get a nice tax refund and use it to get some stuff for the trip. I had calculated a refund of just over $2000 but the tax people say I owe. Bummer....I guess the new bike is out of the question. About ten minutes after getting that news I got a "Pony". I got the "Pony" thing from a friend of mine. When things look bleak she says "with all the shit around here, there must be a pony in here somewhere"
So the pony: A customer at the cafe I work in came up and said "my wife tells me you are bicycling across the country" "that's right" said I. "can I contribute?" he asks. "sure" I say thinking he'll put a couple dollars in the tip bowl. Then the guy gives me a $100 dollar bill. "Are you sure?" I asked "Oh ya" he says "I've got lots of money and I like to help people. It'll come back to me"
WOW ....so maybe I'll get a better bike somehow after all. I still have about 75 days before my intended departure date so lots of things could happen.

Stuff is sold and stuff is bought

Well the purge is in full swing...I've sold my Leather Biker Jacket , my 4" rise leopard print platform boots , my 75 gallon fresh water tank complete with Neolamprologus pulcher and Julidochromis transcriptus
Last night I picked up a brand new tent, some socks, a light weight jacket and a cycling shirt from Bushtaka and a new bike trailer and the dry sack that goes with it from Mountain Equipment Co-op.

a smaller convoy?

Well the Toronto bound rider has decided to take on a different challenge. It appears the convoy may be me and one other...or maybe just me.

We got us a little old convoy

Blogging lesson number one just learned....write in a program that has an autoback up so if the internet crashes you don't lose all the fucking work you just put in. AARRGGHH

Alright let's write this again....

It seems that two different friends have expressed and interest in joining in for part of the trip. One would like to go as far as Kingston Ontario and the other as far as Toronto Ontario.

Wouldn't it be cool if I went all the way across the country with people joining in and dropping off as we went? We'd have us a little old convoy

So I meet with the Toronto one in the morning to discuss weather they are going to join me.