Tuesday, 11^th March, 2003.

Hi Folks!

Well we got loads done since our last posting.

• Received our flight tickets from Trailfinders .
• Received our travel insurance from travelcover.co.uk.
• Signed our tenancy agreement with the new tenants and they will be moving in in two weeks time.
• Purchased new Sleeping Bag. Coleman M10 rated to minus ten celcius.
• Purchased "Pacsafe". This essentially is a big wire net which fits over the rucksack and can be locked to immovable objects. Nothing is going to stop a thief from taking something that they really want but it’s that added bit of security since we will be carrying everything on our backs and a slashed rucksack isn’t much use.
• We both had a trial run of packing our bags. Both were full and reasonably heavy. I dumped a long sleeve heavy shirt and long sleeved T-shirt to save on weight and space. We know that we will be dumping old clothes and buying new ones along the way. Not sure what the packs weigh in at yet. I have a feeling that mine may be about 28lbs (12.75KG’s) which isn’t so bad since I weigh about 175lbs (80KG’s)and you are only supposed to carry up to a fifth of your weight!
• Took our second course of Larium antimalarial drug. No bad side effects so far. My nose only ran for about a day this time and now it has stopped. Very vivid dreams though which is a bonus. The doctors advice of taking the tablet on a Sunday is a good one to keep in mind.
• Found a home for my rowing machine and so that will be shipped off shortly.
• Packed most of our books and files away into airtight boxes and they are now in storage.
• Booked Hostel in Mexico city for the first three days and another in Oaxaca for the day after that. We are currently searching for a good hostel in Caye Caulker in Belize.
• We now know that we will be travelling from Mexico City to Oaxaca, San Cristobal de la Casa, Palanque, Chichen Itza, Chulum, Cancun and then into Belize. We will make our plans more concrete as we meet people along the way.

There is still however so much work which still needs to be done:

• Redirect post.
• Postpone telephone number. We have been told that telephone bills can be stopped for up to 12 months and then started again. Since the tenants don't want a landline we can get our old number back when we move back into the house.
• Change gas and electricity over to the new tenants.
• Service the gas appliances in the house.
• Postpone car insurance until we arrive home.
• S still needs to pick up some odds and ends for travelling.
• Travel books to be picked up. We might as well try to improve ourselves while we are away!

Since it’s the 11^th today and we are leaving on the 1^st April that leaves only 21 days. Three weeks from now at the time of writing S and I will be mid Atlantic.!

S is still promising to write a journal soon! I am not hogging the limelight even though it may seem that way. Also, where are all my mates eh? I’ve been watching the messages board and nearly all of them are from S’s friends!

L8R

E