One Month To Go...

Yesterday marked exactly one month before we depart on our epic adventure to Laos and Cambodia.  Training is well on the way, flights booked, shots had, fundraising targets met, etc.  All that's left now is to buy some additional clothing, soak clothing in repellent, charge the cameras and pack.

I also bought a Contour+2 (http://contour.com/products/contour-plus-2) camera and a bike mounting kit that I plan to use over the couple of weeks that we are away.  I'm playing with it at the moment and taking some test videos.  If I get the chance, I'll post some up here before I go. I would love to get some feedback from you as to mounting positions you think might work.  Stay tuned.

Don't forget that even though the fundraising targets are met, the more we raise, the more can be done to support the Laos Water Project.  Donations can be made here.

Over and out.

Preparation Ride

This weekend I went on another ride with my mate Mike.  We ended up doing about 60km all up at an average pace of 22km/h. The ride was almost entirely on bike tracks, many of which were tricky to ride on and slippery too because of the rain that we had the day before and during the ride.  If it wasn't for that, I think we could have done a better average.  I tracked the ride with the Endomondo iPhone app, but it is in two parts because I accidentally stopped the tracking when we stopped for a short break.  Anyway, if you are interested, the data is below.  The data shows that we rode 51km, but I wasn't tracking some of the riding we did before and after, which would take it to about 60km all up.

Not long to go!

There are now just over 50 days before I set off with 15 others on our long cycling trip through Laos and Cambodia.  Training is now in full swing and with the help of all my supporters, we've raised almost the minimum target of $8000.00 for the Laos Clean Water project.  It has been a phenomenal effort.

On the training front, I've been riding consistently at least twice a week, but a recent trip to Europe and some work travel I've had to do has slowed down my preparation.  This week, I'm aiming to get out on the bike three times in total.  I rode to work yesterday, I'll ride again tomorrow and then a longer ride on the weekend.  I think if I can maintain three days consistently, I should be prepared enough.

Of course, no preparation would be complete without a visit to the travel doctor for the dreaded shots.  It's not that I don't like needles or that they bothered me, but as a precaution, the doctor decided that getting a tetanus shot would be a good idea.  "You never know when you might fall off and sustain a wound" she said.  "Better to be sure" she said.  That's all well and good, but if you've ever had a tetanus shot, you will know that your arm remains quite sore for days afterwards and that was something I was not looking forward to.  I tried to get out of it, but given that my last one was about 12 years ago, and they are only supposed to last for 10 years, I caved.  This was on Saturday.  It is now Wednesday and it is only just starting to feel normal again.

Visas are also now complete, but my wallet is now much lighter.  Between Visa fees, express post envelopes, passport photos, money order fees and $150 later, I should now be able to enter both Laos and Cambodia without hassle...I hope.  It was a worrying time though because the process is that you have to mail your passport to the embassy in Canberra, they do their magic and then send it back to you with a nice shiny sticker inside representing your entry Visa.  The whole time, your passport is completely out of sight and what gets done to it is out of your control.  I had to do this twice; once for each Visa.  I'm not suggesting that either the Laos or Cambodian Embassies would have done anything untoward with my passport, it's more that I had no idea where my passport was at any point in time.  I have to say that I was relieved with it returned to my both times.

I still need to work out what I will be taking with me and what I still need to buy.  Don't forget that you can still make donations at http://www.everydayhero.com.au/aldasilva.