Day 31 – Saturday, July 27, 2013

Today was spent finalizing all of our preparations. D & D Wheel Alignment had kept our vehicle overnight to finish the repairs I had requested. We got it back about 11:00 AM. Then I had to have a complete oil change and servicing done at a quick lube place. Not so quick. I think I was there until about 1:30 PM.

Julie spent the day doing all the laundry, dishes, and “house” cleaning. She also packed up all the children’s clothes that Alison, our daughter-in-law, and her friends provided us for gifts in the countries we will visit. Julie and I supplemented that with colouring books, crayons, pencils, books, and a few more children’s clothes. I packed the RV and vehicle with all the clothes, gifts, and spare vehicle parts we will carry.

We had our drivers meeting at 5:00 PM to review tomorrow’s 6:30 AM departure into Mexico. We reviewed the border crossing process and routes we will take. The first day will be a long day of about 300 miles.

While we were doing all of our organizing and preparations the temperature reached its highest point since we arrived – 39.4C. Julie notes “Yes things were a bit steamy and not in the good way.”

For supper, we ate the chicken with its head cut off that we purchased while doing a final stocking up on groceries. Julie notes “Brad is hoping we are not driving around Mexico tomorrow like this chicken with its head cut off. Our leader kept emphasizing ‘you must turn here, must stay right, etc.’ With me at the navigational post what could possibly go wrong? Especially since I was maybe paying a little bit too much attention to Wally Wally Bing Bang’s stories about his geckos and perhaps not enough to the leader’s instructions. Bonus though…There is an award for the ‘first to get lost’. Something to aim for?”

…on to Mexico tomorrow, stay tuned for our first travel day post, the muleskinner and his sidekick.

PS: The first travel day post, and future posts, may be delayed until we reach a wifi location. We aren’t really sure how readily available wifi will be as we travel along.

Julie notes “As always, thoughts are with our family across the country.”