Day T minus 4 (Where did I pack that, and why do I need THIS?!)

Today was CRAZY! I spent a good portion of the day organizing clothes, etc... to be shipped to CA (stuff needed for 3 normal work weeks) as well as prepping my luggage for the plane trip to NM. Things got a little complicated (surprise, surprise!) because SOME of the stuff I'll be needing in CA is already in NM (my camp gear box arrived at my sisters - in one piece, or so she says!) and some of the stuff going to NM with me on the plane will also need to go with me to CA. A lesser man would have cracked under the pressure (or simply decided to take a tooth brush and nothing else! or is he the better men? - that's some food for thought).

It was like packing for a 3 day trip to NM (as that stuff will STAY in NM) as well as a 3 week trip to CA (piles all over the house - my poor wife!). I had to retrace my steps (and refer back to the MASTER pack list of things packed with the bike or in the camp gear box which is in NM) a number of times, but in the end, I found everything I needed and packed it all up.

The box for CA is still in a state of "flux" (as that will be sent after I leave), but my luggage is ready to go! You would be surprised at what you can SHOVE into Alpine Tech 6 riding boots (they are there under the clothes)!



Today I also got word that the shipping company "thinks" the bike will arrive on time (Friday 5/8). I gave them a quick call, impressed upon them my "tight timeline" (which they had always known about) and have an assurance that the bike will indeed be delivered by Friday 5/8 (when I booked this, they said it would take ~14 days - so I gave them 16 before I NEEDED the bike for sure; guess I should have built in a few extra days.... we'll see).

Anyway.... only some minor GPS routing to deal with and things like that, but we're slowly coming to the end of the "prep" road (thank goodness!).