T-Minus 50 Days

With March 19 fast approaching, I have a lot of stuff left to do. That “To Do” list is long and getting complicated. So many of the items left to do, require others to take action. My time line is of little concern to those whose schedule and priorities are focused in a different direction. Case in point. I left my job on August 31, 2017. I have a 401K that I left behind. In December, I sought information from the administrator as to what actions I needed to take to move my moneys. Two weeks go by and I receive no reply. I make a second request. Another week goes by and no reply. I drive down to my former employer and seek information as to who I need to contact to start this process. Three more weeks go by and NOTHING. Long story short, the administrator states I need to wait until “the Plan is actually reconciled for 2017” before anything can be done. When I ask when that will occur I am told in 2017 they received the reconciliation notice of completion in September, for 2016. I would go into my response but you get the picture.

Making sure bills are on bill pay and automatically paid is a pain in the ass. Stopping all periodicals as well as ad based emailings is also a PITA. Making sure all vehicles are serviced and prepped for sitting for 5-6  months, also a PITA. Then there is the planning of where and when to send re-supply boxes and what to put into them. When I planned this adventure in 2012, I made 23 re-supply boxes and pre-filled them with various foods, supplies and items I thought I would need at certain points along the trail. This time, I am labeling the boxes and putting together a list of items I might need or want in that particular box. I’m not filling them with items this time.

I have purchased all the equipment I will need for this hike. I changed out my back pack from an Osprey that weights over five pounds to a Granite Gear pack that weighs in at two pounds two ounces. I changed my cook system from a Jet Boil to a MSR Pocket Rocket 2 and Toaks 750 ml titanium pot, saving myself almost eight ounces. I changed up some of my clothing choices, saving more weight and have reduced the amount of clothing I am taking. On my last attempt, my pack weighed over fifty pounds on day one. On day three I cut out eight pounds and on day seven I cut another five pounds. My pack was still too heavy by the time I stopped. This time I am shooting for a pack that is sub thirty pounds, total weight.

I have been battling a knee injury for the past month. I tore my MCL the first week of January and have been trying to re-hab it with the help of physical therapy at Kaiser. Getting better, but has slowed my “training”. I was up to eight to twelve miles of walking a day. I lost all of that. With fifty days left before I take my first step toward Canada, I have a lot of stuff to accomplish.