How Long Are You Gone?

How long will you be gone again? My daughter asks me that often, as if not believing the answer I gave her last time. Almost seven months, I say. Almost seven. Every time she looks at me with a puzzled look.

An Australian friend sent me this map, comparing Australia with the U.S. Pretty much similar in size. Even this doesn’t explain to my daughter why I’m gone so long.

And for review, here is my plotted route again.

Almost every day, I review the route I made. It is almost to the point where I think I’ve memorized where every town is on the route and the distance between each. Still, to this day, I keep making little tweaks to it. Although the main contours have generally remained the same as the “Final Route” I decided on in December, only minor detours were made as I found more things to see en route. (And I’m sure it’ll be tweaked every day as I ride!)

Details are coming together. Visa in hand? Check. Doctor checkup? Check. Travel insurance? Check. And still I review all the equipment I may– or may not– take.

It’s February today. I leave in March. Egads! My daughter sees all the stuff spread out in the dining room. And she is still puzzled.