Getting ready for our 6 month trip has been one long catalogue of decorating the flat for renting out (yes, re-grouting tiles a bonus item), getting our gear sorted and checking that the bike (our lovely Africa Twin) is tip-top. I think we had assumed that it would all sort itself out as if by magic, letters would be forwarded, books would pack themselves, and the flat would be inhabited by lovely people willing to pay top dollar (well, pound). We hadn't even thought about a route yet, other than "heading south" and "if it has a flag, we're going there" (don't worry, it'll be fine).

To calm any worried parents/siblings out there, yes, countries have been checked out, books read, jabs porcupined into our arms and the general malarkey that is involved in heading off on any sort of trip. Obviously the first thing is the leaving party where we empty the flat of residual food and booze in the company of good friends, all bringing food and booze, so a new "drink-up the new stocks" evening was swifty organised. Note to self, try not to do massive amounts of bike maintenance the following day or self-doubt will creep in ("I'll never get it all back together again")

At the moment, our (vague) gear list is tent, sleeping bags, therm-a-rests (read following blogs for Imogen's back problems..) & chair converters, ground sheet, Trangia etc, maps, guidebook, spare bike parts, new toys (the mini speakers for the MP3 seem like a necessity at the mo), medical bits and pieces, a weeny pack for clothes (yes, one t-shirt only), Imogen's insistance on shampoo ("No, I can't use Fairy household soap on my hair") and James's many books on birds and butterflies, but at least Imogen managed to convince him that the uber tripod was really one item too much.

Just over a week to go, don't worry, it'll be fine.....