I woke up today acutely aware that i have less than 24 hours until I leave. And it looks like still a bunch of stuff to do.

I realize that I had intended to be blogging quite a bit already about the preparation for the journey and I haven't done so.  As I woke this morning it occurred to me a possible reason why that is. For the last 6 months or so as the reality of the journey really began to take hold friends, family, loved ones came out of the wood work to tell me the various ways that I could or would be killed on this trip.  I received  You Tube videos about various animals, spiders, fish, snakes,  and larger animals that could kill me. The lonely planet guide reminds readers of various things and places to be cautious about including being robbed and various things to do and not do (I will get into that in posts to come).  One friend even thought it prudent to point out that there are pirates on the Amazon River along with an image and story of a rather bloody  incident  with some wealthy tourists. Now let me say here that consciously I see the various risks that are there but I do not believe they are as  overwhelmingly significant as they are described, Not that they are not real. They are. But that 1) people live there 2) people visit there 3) people return unscathed.

About a month ago I was sitting here at my desk in my home where the thought passed through my mind, "What would I do, how would I live if I knew I had only a month to live?" Or  if I thought  that the reality was that what I would be doing had a much higher risk of dying. How would my life and living change?  What choices would be different in how I spent my time. And I decided to embrace this idea. Blogging took a back seat to cleaning  up my house, getting rid of things, putting my affairs in order, thinking about what would the people I love find of mine, How would I want them to find my things, who would I want to find them. I prepared my will and took care of my business affairs.

Also let me say I have spent significant time thinking about what were the various risks that I might face and have attempted to prepare for them. Of course I have  got all the vaccines that seemed  even remotely reasonable. Rabies, Yellow fever,  Hep A/B, Tetnus, Typhoid, I am going to start anti malaria medication today, I am bringing various antibiotics and medical supplies. A friend  patiently gave me  suturing 101 in case I injured myself in the jungle  and needed to suture a wound myself.  I have obtained several water purification systems including my primary which is a solar powered / charged  UV light water purifier, back up filtration systems and lastly the classic iodine tablets. I have a solar battery charger so I will have batteries for my camera. I have sewed into my various clothing on the inside pockets. And am carrying 4 fake wallets and one real one to give to potential robbers (which will work fine unless of course they just strip me naked and take everything which would suck to be in the jungle and have happen).

So today I am off to what will likely be my last yoga class, I have to drop off my motorcycle, and I'd like to see if I could find one more set of rechargeable batteries for my camera/ flashlight etc.

Today after 3 PM I will have an "open house" as I am packing so if anyone wants to drop by a to say good by I would love to raise a glass to you.
More later,
Rob