Just Under 2 Days

If the software that I'm using is correct, we are leaving in 1 day, 23 hours, 35 minutes & 53 seconds. Approximately...

We are getting pretty excited.

It is surprising how many last minute things that come up when you are getting ready to leave.  I had a little project that I had to work on that took way more time that I had expected.  Oh well, I hope the outcome will be worth it.

Packing is an interesting process.  I guess I can use some of my Camino packing skills to help out. The tour information that was provided indicated that we needed to plan for about a week of clothes.  There, of course, are laundry services at most of the places that we are staying - so one will have to be strategic about when to get clothes cleaned. 

I had been looking into renting an exotic car for the time that we are in England.  I've always wanted to drive an Aston Martin.  The unfortunate part is they are WICKED expensive.  For two days, it would cost me about $1100.00 Canadian.  That's a little too steep to sneak by the wife.  If anyone reading this can get me a smok'in deal on one - let me know and I might be able to cross this one off the bucket list!

[UPDATE] - I sent an e-mail to an exotic car rental company inquiring about the car pictured here.  Here is the reply that I received: "Good morning Curtis, Great to hear from you. Our Aston Martin One 77 is a rear car which hires out at 12,500.00 Per Day."  Per.  Day.  GULP.  Looks like I'm going to hitch-hike!

It looks like we are going to be getting together with Anthony and Sarah (Sarah is in the red vest, Anthony is in the green vest - just over Sarah's shoulder).  These two very fine folks, I was lucky enough to meet on the Camino in Spain last year.  The other two folks in the picture are Dave (far left) and Shirley (far right).  Shirley is looking back to make sure that Dave is close by.  How we first met was when Shirley was a little lost and started to panic.  I calmed her down and she found her husband later that day.  The next day on the trail, Dave found me and thanked me for being there for his distraught wife.  Providence is a wonderful thing.  Dave and Shirley are the nicest people and their cousins (Anthony is Dave's second cousin) are just as friendly.  I spent a bunch of time walking with all of them.  Anthony and Sarah live in the South West portion of England and we are looking to meet them in Bath on Wednesday.  How cool is that!

I was also trying to arrange a get together with another Camino brother, Frank.  We've been e-mailing back and forth a little and Frank was looking at flying into Munich with his wife for the weekend that we were going to be there.  We were planning to spend the evening with them, have dinner and maybe wander around a little.  They live in Grossefehn which is about a 9 hour car ride from Munich.  As it turns out, given that school is now out, flights are quite pricey so they will not be meeting us after all.  It would have been great to see Frank again.  He actually saved me from getting a little lost one day, and since that time, we walked together a lot.  I really appreciated our chats.  Maybe we'll have to go back to Germany sometime soon, or Frank can come to Canada!  Or maybe I'll see him again on the Camino when I go back to do the entire 800 KMs. ;-)

If anyone has any last minute packing advice, feel free to drop it into the comments.  I've packed my camera into the smaller camera bag, which means that I'm leaving my 400 mm lens at home.  It's a monster and I don't think I'll need it for this trip.  The wide angle and the 70-200 mm ought to take care of what I need.  Not taking too much for dress clothes.  I suppose one can always buy something if it's required. 

Two more sleeps (well, 3 if you count the one on the plane to England).

Curt & Laureen