1 October 2015 - 30 days to go to first step

Yesterday was my last day at work.
I now have about two weeks at home to get my self sorted, do a bit of walking and get my head in the right space before we fly to New Zealand.

Today's jobs:
Sewing up my shorts on the back seam and rear pockets. I obviously use the 'sit and slide' technique for descending quite frequently given where they were wearing.

Emailing Bivouac in Wellington to order some Back Country meals mainly for South Island so I can pick them up when we fly in.

Emailing my partner Pete to get him to print off the email, that I forgot to print, that I got from NZ Quarantine saying it was Ok to bring in some food, so I can give it to customs.

Cross checking trail notes against Kirstine's combined ones and just adding new bits.

Cleaning my shoes so they're Ok to bring into New Zealand.

Ditto my tent pegs.

Trying to cull some more stuff from my pack - lose a t-shirt; pack a smaller (no room for modesty) travel towel; and well really - just how many patches do I need for my thermarest?

(I seriously recommend practicing packing the gear you think you will bring. Then I recommend going out and buying some compression sacks so you can actually have a better chance of fitting the gear you want to bring in  your pack! Then put it on your back - carry it - apologise to your knees and wonder what on earth you were thinking,  get rid of stuff, then try again! Do this repeatedly.)

Spending time with my animals- just because.

Short walk - no load. My left knee is giving me grief following a bad foot placement descending steep stairs with a full load.  I am trying not to think about it too much. It is getting better - oh so slowly !

Pigeon xx

PS Got my palm read yesterday - apparently I won't die in New Zealand - well that's a relief...