Things change, deadlines develop and excitement mounts

Well, what a difference a day makes. To be honest we where getting a bit bogged down with the final touches to the adventure and things where getting a little fraught. Doing all this “adventure stuff” seems pointless unless you are enjoying everything including the preparation.. A decision in a pub over a pint of larger sorted everything out. A trip like this needs some full time attention and neither of us could afford the time to do it well, This led to frustration In short we decided that Sandra should quit her job earlier than planned and from that moment everything changed.

We are now back on track and loving every moment of the preparation.. I can’t wait to finish work now and get stuck in. Sandra is now rattling through lists quicker than I can generate them and things are really getting done.

What else do I need to tell you about, I made a major cock up with travel insurance spent nearly a £1000 on what effectively is non valid health insurance if travelling on a motorcycle. The Insurance company insisted I did not tell them about our mode of transport (very unlikely in my view after all it’s a motorcycle trip). Anyway I insisted they send me the recording of our conversation (all insurance companies record calls) and lo and behold they told me the file was to big to e mail but I would get a full refund….. Phew!!!!

Proper insurance now bought.

We have also got motorcycle insurance paperwork though today. This is biblically expensive costing over £800 for 90 days cover, but essential for North America and Canada.

The adventure now has its first deadline. We are only allowed to spend 90 days in the United States America at any one time and popping out to Canada or Mexico and popping back in does not reset the clock. So when we cross the Alaskan border from Canada the clock is ticking as we have to cross the Mexican border before the 90 days is up. This is just as well as we have arranged to meet my daughter, Shelly in Cancun Mexico early September.

The flu scare at the moment may also have an effect on the adventure, evidently health insurance is invalided if the Foreign office advice against travel on public health concerns. We are hoping this should be sorted by the time we get to Mexico, watch this space.

Sandra has mentioned the practice packing, which went very well I thought, everything kind of went into the panniers and what did not will be strapped to the rear rack.

We had a practice pitch of the tent, and no matter how many times we pitch this thing both Sandra and I have sometimes opposing views on the best way, this often leads to some very mild tension often followed by me doing it Sandra’s way.

The Shed is scheduled to start its adventure on the 22nd May when she is off loaded at the shippers at Heathrow airport. A major milestone overcome. We had a choice of sea or airfreight and to be honest there is little difference in the way of cost, just much quicker by air. So It’s the short trip to Heathrow, drain the tank, disconnect the battery and stick the Shed in a box. I am sure we will video the whole thing as we will un crating her in Vancouver. These are indeed very exciting times.