Well, today is Saturday, August 17 and I am ready because tomorrow  I leave. My pack is carefully orchestrated and packed. I wanted the weight of the pack to be 20 pounds but it is running closer to 25 pounds without any water or food.  Of course the pack will lighten as things are consumed like the medications, soap, emergency food, etc. However, I have trained with a 35 pound pack for several weeks and have adjusted to the weight.  At the end of the training sessions with 35 pounds of pack, I would take the pack off and I felt my legs would propel me into the ceiling but didn't. The pack is really good about placing the load onto my hips due to an internal frame and a thick belt that goes around  my hips. I would have liked to have less weight in the pack but my shoes (Teva sandals), sleeping bag, pants, etc added up. Oh well. 

I am really sad I have to leave Deb (my wife) behind for 6 weeks. We haven't been apart this long ever in 18 years. I have a Spanish cell phone number via a SIM card that I bought online.  When I arrive in Spain the SIM card is supposed to work without any fiddling or at least I am told. I have a minor data plan and texting but both are a little pricey-- a little.  It costs 11 cents USD /minute (plus 39 cents/call connection charge) to call another number in Spain and 2 cents USD/minute  (plus 39 cents/call connection charge) to call the US. Yes, I said it is much cheaper to call the US than another number in Spain.  Go figure.  I have Skype too when I can find a WIFI connection.  I figure I wanted to talk to Deb every day so I found ways for us to talk.

I am amazed at how many people have lined up to help me make this journey. Some people have helped for a couple years like my Spanish teacher Ramsey (muchas gracias Ramsey), and others that are more recent like a gentleman at Walmart's pharmacy that helped me downsize my medications to smaller containers (for free) so I could carry them in my backpack. To all of those people that lined up to make my trip possible, I salute you. To all of  those people that are helping my wife while I am gone, I am indebted to you. In the last few months I have found I am blessed in so many ways. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart that is buried under a 25 pound backpack.