Only one hour to go until my departure. Things are getting very real now.
Last saturday we gave a farewell party, i got a lot of presents, hugs and advice. I've stored them in my (mental) backpack, whenever i'm down and out during the Tour, i'll use them.
Of course the subject Kenia was discussed very often. It is allmost two months before i'll be at the Ethiopian/Kenian border, so there still is plenty of time for things to cool down. For the time being i don't worry to much about it.
The bags are packed, the bike is installed in a special box. Since I take exactly as much weight with me as is allowed, i have used the bike-box for some other items as well.
From all parts of the globe people are wishing me luck, and are providing me with all sorts of advice. A lot of people are watching, which is nice. The Pola van der Donck-foundation is allready better known that i had expected, so chances are good for collectting a nice sum of money for them.
The emotions are in a sort of rollercoaster-mode: they go from form up ("yes, it is going to happen") to down ("how will we survive 4 months without each other") and back again. This happens a few times a day. The malaria-pills aren't exactly a stabilising factor in this process! I'll be glad when i'm in the plane.
No more to-do-lists, no more bike-shopping, no more training at night on deserted roads, i want to ride my bike. Let's go!!