Departure Eve

I have eaten my last dinner with the family for the week. Actually, I ate dinner with the kids because A was getting her hairs cut and then I sat and talked to A while she ate. On such a touching family occasion what wonderful food did we partake in? Hot dogs warmed in the microwave for the kids and brats steamed in beer for the ad-ults. (We also had salad.) What a wonderful meal to send me on my way to the south Pacific. (It was all we had in the house.)

I have opened and closed the bike box for the last time - #1,438. (I swear. I can't imagine putting anything else in or taking anything out.) I figure it's about 55 lbs or about 5 lbs overweight meaning I will incur some horrendous penalty at check-in.

I have obsessed and re-obsessed about what I am bringing. Packed lots of stuff in zip-lock bags. Changed from the small carry-on to the larger carry-on after trying unsuccessfully to cram all my shit in the smaller bag and then realizing I need to pack my helmet, running shoes and bike shoes. I am still worried about having my gels confiscated at security and equally concerned about having my chamois cream taken. All I have left to pack is my little toiletry bag after I put my toothbrush in it tonight.

The rest of the night is E's soccer game and then sitting around watching the numbers change on the clocks in the house. My flight leaves at 7:45 AM and I arrive in Hawaii at 1:54 PM. 24 hours from now I still will not have landed, but when I do and I after I check-in to my accommodations hopefully it's hit the ocean for a nice 20 or 30 minute swim. From there I am relying on others to entertain me, which means I will more than likely spend a quiet night alone polishing my axles and adjusting the pressure of my tubes (on my BIKE you sickos.) I will have a car so I can find some strip clubs, er malls to shop for all the crap the TSA confiscated on the way over. I am sure my plane ride will provide endless amounts of blog fodder.

Here's hoping I, and all my junk, make it to Hawaii in one piece.