20-May-2005
I've downloaded software that allows me to edit pictures (as you can see by the pictures of Teffa and Lucky on this page).
We've made the grooming appointment for the dogs while we're gone. Time to go to bed as I'm driving up to Cooper's Lake tomorrow morning for Aethelmearc War Practice.
19-May-2005
Wow! It's hard to believe that it's just over two weeks until we leave. Back in 2001, when the idea for this trip was hatched (thanks Del!), it seemed like it was so far away. Well, not any more. We're making our lists, packing our bags, organizing the pet sitters and all sort of other things that need to be done when leaving for a while.
This includes setting up this website, where we hope to chronicle our journey as it happens (that's what all the extra-long flights are for ... a chance to sit down and write without having to worry about missing anything:-).
Thanks, Jan & Jeanette for all your pre-trip advice garnered through much experience at travel!
Thank you Andrew & Anita for putting us in touch with Catherine & Jessie, who will be taking care of Teffa & Lucky!
Thanks, Bill, for arranging lodging for us in Australia!
Thank you Syd & Leisje, Graeme & Jo, Lou & Alan and Lisa & Troy for allowing us to stay with you in Bedford, Cape Town, Pretoria and Sunnyvale, respectively!
That's all for now ... time to go to bed since I have to work in the morning.
26-May-2005
Well, just over a week to go! The newspaper has been put on vacation hold and we're slowly getting things together. I returned from a short business trip to Andover last night and am playing catch up here at home. So much to do and so little time left! That's it for now ... time to head back to work after lunch.
The lawn's done being mowed ... only one more time before we leave. Allergy season should be done by the time we return.
This weekend we're hosting a construction party for our camp at the Pennsic War. We're building walls for our pantry tent and possibly some more box benches (the ones we built last year worked great).
28-May-2005
Kathy is off to a dog show with Teffa and Lucky (they'll be running through an agility course; an obstacle course for dogs!). Our friend Linda has gone with her to help.
I'm at home getting ready for the construction crew who will be arriving around noon.
29-May-2005
The construction went very well yesterday. We did all the construction work on the box benches and created the frame for the pantry tent.
Teffa and Lucky did ok at their first agility competition. Lucky completed the course the second time but didn't qualify (took too long). Teffa didn't qualify but had a lot of fun running to the people who were resetting the obstacles (oh boy! ... a new person!).
Kathy took the dogs to the competition this morning and we'll find out how they did later this afternoon. The construction work continues this morning ... we're sanding and painting the box benches and building the walls for the pantry.
30-May-2005
Well, Teffa and Lucky exhibited their terrier traits and ran around to the amusement of the folks at the dog show. Teffa definitely did not act her age, running around like a two-year old!
The construction continued as we finished painting the box benches and got most of the work done on the walls for the pantry tent.
After today our house will be back to normal and we can concentrate on getting packed and taking care of the last details for the trip.
03-Jun-2005
Well, we leave in just under 36 hours! We're having dinner with Jan, Jeanette, Andrew, Anita, Jonah, Luke and Felicity tomorrow evening and Jan will take us to the airport at 4am Sunday morning.
We restocked the dog treats and dog food for Teffa and Lucky, so they're all set.
Basically all that is left for us to do is finish cleaning up the house and packing our bags. Whew! That's about it for this evening. More tomorrow after dinner.
04-Jun-2004
We had a wonderful dinner at Jan & Jeanette's place. Andrew, Anita, Felicity, Jonah and Luke were there as well. We borrowed a second backpack and got some additional tips from the travel experts in the family!
The next bit will be from Chicago, the first stop in our trip.
