Final Countdown

Dont' get too excited boys!

The shoes in which I plan to trot around South America

Well well welly. It's getting down to the final days before I leave on my Big Trip and there are things to organise all over the show. Tonight I am going to pack up my room at the Goodwood Rd place and do some cleaning for the new tenant. He moves in on Friday I think. Tomorrow night dad comes down to grab the bed and take it up to his. My friend has kindly lent me her car for the day so I can move all the rest of my stuff over the MM's place. And then I am officially homeless until I leave next Wednesday.

I have created a new blog for my travels. It's cool, has a map that shows my location as well for all those who are geographically challenged. Now that I have my snazzy new camera I will be able to update that blog with photos too. The address is: www.travelpod.com/member/lingo83

My last day at work is tomorrow so my next post will probably be from Chile. YAY! Oh so exciting!!!

Rain rain

Only 2 more weeks of work left before I leave! VERY excited. I have one more week left in the house with my bro before I have to start moving out. He is conveniently leaving for Melbourne that week so I can't get him to help me... Should OK though, plenty of other offers going around. I don't have so much stuff that it can't fit into one car load. Only big item is the bed which is yet to find a new home.

The weekenend was SO WET. Unbelievable amount of rain for Adelaide and we didn't know what to do with it. I somehow managed to avoid getting wet on my bike, although there was plenty of opportunity. But the wind was enough to contend with really. It made touch footy pretty fun on Sunday morning. Slipping around all over, but it was exciting to actually have some mud on my boots at the end of the game!

Gangsta me

I finally got around to transferring my photos off my camera so here's one of me before the touch club EOS Gangsta themed party at a pool hall in Glenelg. Looking the part? I did win Best Dressed so it must have been OK!

Getting right into my count down to departure now - only 3 weeks left! I have most things organised. Still a few things to buy, but it's fun to spread it out over a few weeks as I don't normally spend much money. My friend from Norway phoned me a couple of days ago to tell me that she is still alive and willing to host me for 10 days in August. Phew. I hadn't heard from her in months and was beginning to worry. Hostel bookings have been made for Mexico City and Santiago now. The rest we'll play by ear. BV girl and I will be making things up as we go along. After the Inca Trail Trek we're heading off to Bolivia for a while, then back across to the coast and head up to Isla de la plata for some scuba action - hopefully see some whales! Then back through Quito to the Amazon, hiking up a volcano and rafting. Rainforests aren't my favourite place - too many creepy crawlies in humid environs for my liking. But it'll be amazing so definitely can't go past it. I'll just have to hope I don't meet anything too creepy...

I am going to be starting up a new blog for my trip. I like to keep things separate, a new blog for a new chapter and all that... Keep ya posted on the address!

Prep time

Last update I think I was amidst the Latchy Diet. I survived it. It felt nice to eat so few processed foods, might try and incorporate that more into my usual diet. But I certainly need more carbohydrates than the Latchman. Everytime I leave my house I am burning calories and carrot just doesn't cut it when it comes to replaces them. I wonder how people who drive everywhere manage to maintain a healthy weight really because it sure is easier to exercise more than to eat less!

This week I am mostly becoming motivated to start sorting out my trip. I spent up a storm at Kathmandu last weekend but still need plenty of items. Thermal leggings, sleeping bag, windstopper etc... It just goes on and on! I am still not convinced that I will need the sleeping bag. Sure it will be cold at night, but I am going to be sleeping inside a dorm with several other people, all presumably warm blooded. Going down to the outdoor shops again at lunch today to try and figure it out.

Oh, life is so hard!

Went to Rugby 7s on Sunday. It was great! Kenya was fantastic, they were so happy when they scored tries - although it wasn't as if they hardly scored - they ended up in the final. It was a bit sad to see the typical booing and jeering going on for anyone playing against Australia. Aussies are such bad sports. Will definitely go back again next year!

The Latchy Diet

I have started my first ever diet this week. It is a dare - or bet - or something. MM came up with the idea of eating as one of our mates does for a week. He is always munching on carrots, tomatoes and boiled eggs out at touch games and seems to only eat that kind of food. MM and others being sugar addicts cannot understand this obsession with fresh food. So we asked him to write down everything he ate for a week. We now have an Excel spreadsheet with our week's menu laid out for us. An example day would be:

Breakfast
1/3 capsicum
4-5 stalks broccolini
Mixed nuts
1/2 cup protein shake

Morning tea
2 carrots
1 banana
1 peacharine

Lunch
2 eggs
1 tomato
snow peas

Afternoon snack
1/2 cup protein shake

Dinner
Pan Fried Atlantic salmon
baby spinach
1 tomato
2 eggs

After
Coffee
4 Lemon crisps

As you can see - a lot of fresh food, no carbs. Obviously I can't eat the salmon so I am substituting tofu or beans when he has meat on the menu. So, this morning I had raw capsicum and broccolini and my first taste of protein shake. Not a fan of the shake - but I will need the protein since I am not eating as many beans and dairy products as I usually do. Have to say - thought I would be hungry but I am not. I haven't even eaten everything on the menu but I am full. It's not very satisfactory eating raw broccolini, but only 4 more days to go and I can go back to muesli and yoghurt!

I do enjoy eating fresh food, but I like to mix it up a bit more. Latchy's diet is the same every day except sometimes the dinner is different. I like to eat a variety of fruit and vegies and definitey need more beans in there!