D-Day! (as in Departure...)

This blogging is hard work! Hard to believe its been 17 days since my last post but it has been hectic, challenging, and always-on-my-mind to get everything ready for our departure in 3 hours. (It's a dark and windy 4:54 am as I write this.)

Pat left her sterling career at Seneca College as planned on Thursday Dec. 18 2008. She had had to go in after hours and on weekends to clear out her office because there were so many well-wishers, and some who just wanted her office! She was supposed to have a final tribute lunch on the 19th but that was the first of a wave of 3 snowstorms to hit southern Ontario, and the lunch was cancelled but she had to drive to Kemble in whiteouts and ice, the usual 3 hour trip took 5 but she arrived safely for the first day in the rest of her life.

Since then we have had more storms, 3 feet of beautiful clean white snow, the winter solstice/shortest day, Christmas (unusually un-festive ---- no tree, no travel, no presents), and just plain more planning/packing/loading/checking.

I had not anticipated the early winter and cold, so there was not enough dry firewood for the days here. I had to carry in 5 wet chunks of hardwood per trip to the woodpile. Then I had to pile it inside, hoping to dry it somewhat. Not much good as the wood steamed more than burned. At least we had good glowing embers. The fire has been on for 14 days now, and will go out today until our return in April.

Had to put away Pat's Tracker softop for the winter, like I put away the 1964 1/2 Mustang, in the barn. But it had to be washed and dry --- in the sub-zero weather. Up on wood, gas stabilizer, gas antifreeze, remove battery (and carry up the hill through snowpiles), mothballs to discourage mice, oil and filter change. Oh, and suspend the insurance coverage.

(I just lost 500 words when I lost my internet connection....damn. This will be a short version of what was lost --- not much time left.)

Loads up and down the hill. Loading the van and the cartop carrier. Using up the food in the fridge, winding up with pickles & bacon, or clementines & lasagna! Cleaning up the place so it is ready for spring when we return in April. Turn off hot water and have last shower. Etc. Etc.
Record warm spell and pouring rain. Checking weather enroute online --- looks like we can slip through the approaching bad weather and get far enough south (Nashville?) before the roads are bad again.
The logistics and thinking ahead and doing all the necessary details is boggling. Banking, identity security, computer backup files, etc etc, even new wills. But if we can't do it, who can?
Pat has been thorough and relentless. I have been thorough and maybe too casual. But somehow it works. This is more complicated than any of our long backpacking trips, because we have moved households and its winter and so on. The cats are the wild card, but they have been in the van up to 8 hours in the past, so this is just a stretch for all of us. We even have a "calming" liquid called Rescue Remedy that is put on their paws. when they lick it off, it is a mild tranquilizer. Supposedly good for humans too --- anyone want a lick?
Today we drive 6 hours or so, across the US border which can be difficult, especially with cats and a story about driving to Mexico with a vanload of wordly possessions. Then a night at the Cooksons where I'll get to see family memebers that I missed at Christmas 3 days ago.

I've probably forgotten some fun details because it's almost 6am and I have to wake Pat and get the day going. But I hope to post updates on our adventure as often as we find a wifi spot enroute. Our angels have taken us this far, and they will take us to Playa Azul and back. Pat and I send our best wishes to all of you.