Almost Ready

Well, Folks. Just 4 more working days, 4 more babysitting days, (I am going to miss Mr.T terribly), 1 more weekend, and 1 extra day to do last minute jobs.
Then it's on the VIA train on the 19th, and in Edmonton on the 21st, in Vancouver on the 22nd, and back on the VIA to Edmonton on the 29th. Two or three days later, I leave Edmonton on my bicycle, heading for Ontario on the Trans Canada Trail.
Six years in the planning, and I'm not ready.
Here are some last minute things to attend to: insurance on my new bike and equipment, getting a cell phone and cancelling service on the home phone, packing and unpacking the bike to get used to it, sleeping on the thin little sleeping mat in a light sleeping bag, getting in and out of the tent and setting it up/taking it down, riding the trails every day until I leave (you can see how horribly rugged our Millenium Trail is here in Prince Edward County in the above picture), figuring out the best credit cards to carry and where to 'wear' them, think about buying opera binocs or taking the heavy bulky ones we already own, getting a small pore water filter (a musthave), learn how to change a flat bicycle tire, and, finally, decide what stove to buy.

Here are some of the important supplies to carry: lots of water (cage)(camelpack), chlorine w eyedropper, small pore Katadyne water filter in case you HAVE to drink pond water, salt tabs, small candies to prevent 'bonking', camera, notebook/journal, pen and pencils, sunscreen, walking stick for when my bike breaks down (kidding), bungis, locks - Picton bikestore owner, Ed, suggests 2 locks, pepper spray, duct tape, bike repair kit w chain cleaner/fluid/rag/tire/tube repair, hot chocolate mix and/or poweraid mix, stove, matches in plastic bag, lighter (Bic), noodle soup mixes, dried fruits/veggies and/or emergency dried meals, light (tin,plastic) cup, bowl, knife, fork, spoon, pot, pot scrubber, Swiss Army knife, address book, extra plastic container, rope for caching food at night, dish soap, bar soap, dish cloths, rag(s), garbage bags, toothpaste, deordorant, dete sheets for bugs (Muscol can ruin camera lens), flashlight, pillowcase (holds clothes, too), hand cream, klennex, 1st Aid kit, tums, vitamins, aspirin, tensor bandage, PeptoBismo, blood group card, needle n thread, playing cards, Sudoku pages, book, extra eyeglasses in case yours break, tent, hammer for pegs, sleeping blanket and extra fleece blanket, extra clothes, rain jacket (Gortex), small tarp, sleeping mat, helmet, gloves, family pics.