2 Weeks and Giddy

Christie: Exactly 2 weeks away…not 2 years or even months…it’s becoming the days we are counting down. We are both giddy with anticipation of the day we pedal out of the driveway, towards Argentina. At times, each of us has our “welling up” moments, overcome with emotion, when we think about what is to come…the last 4 years of planning, saving, and dreaming is finally here. Eric recalls a saying…a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (so translated for us I think it reads: a journey of 15,000 miles begins with a pedal stroke). We know this journey will have its highs and lows, but our focus is to live in the present, taking one pedal stroke at a time, and each moment as it presents itself.

People continually ask us if we are scared…we choose to not worry about things that have not happened yet. DID YOU KNOW…Most people in the U.S. die of….guess….heart disease. Most young people die in…….car accidents. The most dangerous creature in the world is the…….you won’t get this……..the mosquito (yes we will take malaria medication-mefloquine). The most dangerous place in the world is……..your HOME! Maybe we should be worried for you (from the book Come Back Alive by Robert Young Pelton). It is incredibly freeing to put life in the hands of our creator and allow our hearts to be open to the unknown.

As our back up defenses, we bring with us lots of powerful prayers from home, big smiles (not a gun as one random man in Fargo highly suggested), a bright pink bike horn, GPS, and the SPOT. Those interested can locate us at anytime by linking to the SPOT’s web page by clicking on the link on the top right corner of this blog labeled "Spot tracking". At the SPOT website, it is neat to click on the satellite view in the top right corner, giving a true picture of the landscape. SPOT is a 4in x 3in device that uses satellite technology, so when we hit a button on it, you will be able to see our exact location with Google Earth. It also has the capability to send a message to emergency personnel in the area we are, which is gives a bit of peace.

These days, when we are not working, we spend most of our time tying up loose ends, planning, and packing. Eric is working on packing all the tools and spare parts we will need. I continue to work on Spanish, record country specific info we will need, shop for whatever keeps popping up on the endless “to do” list, and laying our supplies out on the floor.

Of course we will never be "lost" if there is a man driving.

The gear has taken over the basement.

The good-byes have started. I went up to Fargo to see my sister and brother-in-law. The Cobber crew did our adios gathering at Como park last weekend, which was a great time with the hubbies, kid-os, and pregnant bellies to boot. Crazy, knowing there will be at least 2 new babies soon, and they will both be walking when we get back!

We wonder about all the other changes that will happen as the world keeps spinnin'....we remember coming back from the Peace Corps and reading some advertisements out loud as our friends mocked us and listened in disbelief...."What is Krispy Kreme?"...."Chip-po-tle?"...."Everyone has cell phones!" (post 9-11), then they started calling us the Encino people who had thawed from the Ice Age.

Little sis Michelle and Christie in Fargo.

We invite all of you to our Mankato good-bye on Monday, August 3 from 5-7pm at 215 Oak Knoll Blvd, my in-laws are hosting. Our bike will be packed for a Tuesday morning departure!