One week to go

Now, I have started checking out my packing. For the last couple of months, I have irregularly put things into my panniers (and later in my huge flight bag that is meant to swallow all packed panniers and bags during the trip over to the US) that I expect to need, and yesterday I put it all out on the floor.




It seems I need to go to the pharmacist to get a few things, and since I have recently heard from other bicyclists that it is actually snowing just a few days away from San Francisco, I believe that some more clothes might come in handy aswell, but for the rest I think I pretty much have everything I need. Last year, I didn't lack anything at all, and then I only had two panniers. However, this year I'll be camping and so I need more stuff, but I actually think I've almost got it all covered now.

Two weeks to go

...and I have now overcome an obstacle that I actually expect to prove to be the hardest one of all in this little project of mine: Making sure I won't have to worry about my cat. It is not easy finding cat sitters who feel they can manage taking care of someone else's precious pet for 14 weeks over summer, no matter how cute, kind and cool that pet is... But yesterday I brought him to my sisters', a choice that will allow the cat to be outdoors as much as he wants, which I think he will appreciate.

And I am also looking forward to my upcoming outdoor summer. I did start very early indeed planning this trip, and as a result the WAIT has been unnecessarily long, but I am happy now when it is just a matter of days before I leave Sweden. The cat is safe and so I am ready to go.

Four weeks to go

...and impatiance is killing me - I want to get going NOW! - however I also sometimes get the feeling I will never be completely ready. There seem to always be a ton of things to buy, to try out and to arrange for. The list stays long, but I am happy to say that I believe I have found "my" bike shop in San Francisco Cyclery and "my" bike in their first suggestion, a Surly Long Haul Trucker. Let's hope this bike proves to be a nice ride!

Yesterday I went to my first spinning class ever, so that I could safely try out spd pedals. I learned quite quickly how to "clip in", but I do not expect to remember that I need to "clip out" every time I want to get off the bike, as I have been riding bicycles for more than 35 years without having to do so. It might be a good idea to go to yet another couple of those spinning classes that provides bikes I won't fall off from!