Now that it is officially the last week of work, the countdown towards Sunday has begun.

On Saturday our POD got delivered. We ended up going with a POD instead of a U-Haul or similar because of the ease of which loading the container seemed to be. The cost was a bit more but we felt like it would be worth it not to have to shuttle everything across states and load and unload it countless times. Now we can load the POD up when we want and take our time throughout the week. It is about 1/4 full at the moment and more work will be done every evening this week.

As for work, I’m trying to focus and keep finishing a few projects, but it is getting difficult. Next week I won’t think anything of it because I will have my hands full trying to visit with family and friends and then plan out our mail drops for the trail. And somehow fitting in hiking and working out for the trail in the midst of it all.

I was thinking of doing an ‘ask me anything about the Trail’ post, so if you have a question about the trip, ask it here. If you want to know what sleeping bags we’re using—ask away. If you want to know if I’ll see bear—ask it here. I’ll write it up and answer it in a few days.

I know I said my trail name is going to be Ridley, but Chris told me right after I posted that post that he was going to be Panther. Ridley is for Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, my favorite, and Panther—well, Chris has seen six panthers in the past few years and so I think he started liking them a lot.

We’re packing and working every night this week. We still have things to get rid of; bookshelves, day bed, futon and other items. One thing I’ve learned about listing things on Craigslist and Freecycle is that people are very flaky. I had two different people come look at a bookcase and didn’t like it and get emails from people and then they back out after several conversations back and forth. I’m not sure what we’re going to do with the left over furniture, I guess put it out at the curb and hope someone takes it.

Wednesday night we’re getting together with some of our friends down here in SoFlo and having dinner. I’m glad to see them all again before we go. I’m trying very hard not to think about Baloo. I miss him already.