Last day before I leave. Everything is completely under control...(ish)

 September 19

7:45 am.

Check in day!  6:15 am for Air Canada to Vancouver (I paid for the bag, against all of my natural instincts).  7:15 for Air France to Paris and onto Antananarivo.  Window seats always. 

I have to work today, I'm not sure why I made that decision, but at least it is from home. I can finish packing over lunch.  Gotta get that bed cleaned off for the cat sitter.  Which reminds me, I should probably confirm that he is still on.  ....   He is.  

Yoiks! 

Just last minute piddely things to do now.  Clean out the fridge, run the dishwasher, take out the garbage.  Apparently write a list of things to do so I don't use this post as a list of things to do.  

4:24 pm

I worked today. I figured, I won't book in any students and I can do some packing etc. over lunch/coffee breaks.  Umm, that did not work at all.  I literally went backwards on packing!  How?! It's supposed to be quiet at work at this time of year!  Poor Robynne.  

My fridge has not been emptied.  My garbage has not been taken out. My list hasn't even been written.  Valerie M, little time temptress, is ordering take out Chinese so I am doing that before I do anything else.  I'm trying to remember if I even ate lunch or if I just unpacked in some sort of fugue state.

8:08 pm 

You are probably thinking I've come on here to tell you that I am done packing.  Wrong, of course.  After dinner, I went and picked the poor straggling, struggling tomatoes in my back yard, cut them up, bagged them and froze them.  And a bit of rhubarb.  Then I fried up some prawns to add to the left over chow mien to freeze for lunches when I get back (sorry, Kelly, future fish in the microwave!).  Then I bagged up some cream that is 2 week past the best by date so I can add it when I make yogurt when I get back.   Did the dishes.  Took out the garbage (actually, that last one is a lie but soon).  

All the while I was deciding on which sandals to take.  I took a vote of four.  Three for the Keens, one for the other.  The boys all went for the keens (Rob, Dwayne and Melissa).  The girl (Amy) went for the exposed toenails.  I have been wearing each pair as I work about the house while not packing.  Keens it is.

Oh, and I started my malaria pills with dinner.  

Ok, time to get serious.  I'm going in.  It's packing time (again). 

9:18 pm

Ok, you bunch of nervous nellies. I'm packed!  I almost forgot to add my bathroom bag but I did not.  It's in there.  All for around 25 pounds.  Plus one tiny but heavy carry on.  

You may notice that I gave in.  I am using the wheelie duffle.  I should have just given in to fate when I switched over to tech quick dry pants.  I remember dividing tourists in Ecuador:  those in technical pants and those in just normal pants.  We were in normal pants at the time but there was a definite leaning to the tech pants crowd.  

I think that is it for the night.  This is the last you will hear from me until I am en route.  

One last stolen Lemur image:  

Mongoose Lemur

The final countdown...

Just in case you have the 1986 song, The Final Countdown by Europe, in your head like I do ... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw
I was 1000% sure this was a Rocky song, but apparently not.  

September 15

Time to get serious, people!! This is not a drill.  I am leaving in 4 days, 14 hours and 52 minutes!

I was printing some confirmations.  I noticed that my 'booked' seats are not showing on my Air France flights.  That was a rabbit hole, and two hours later...  

After unsuccessfully trying to book them on the AF website, I just called them. I could book my seats for the Van->Paris and Paris->Van flights but not the three in the middle.  But that led me to figuring out when I can do my online check in'.  7:15 on Tuesday for outgoing.  And Oct 11 for my return flight.  Alarm set in my phone for both. I downloaded the AF app to my phone so I would be ready.  

And then I remembered the unattached Air Canada flight to Vancouver. That one is Tuesday at 6am.  Sure, why not.  Alarm set.  AC app downloaded. I am going to be so awesome at work on Tuesday...  

I went to the bank yesterday and emptied my bank account so I would have enough money to buy my Euros.  

Packing has not progressed.  

Bloody hell, I just noticed that I have to pay for a checked bag to Vancouver.  I guess that will affect my packing choices.  Will it be cheaper to pay $31 for a checked bag.  Or buy new bug spray and suntan lotion etc. in Madagascar?  I'll probably use the charm offensive (stress on offensive) when I check in and hope for the best.  

September 17

It's Sunday.  I leave in three days.  Today is my day to pack.  So, I went downtown with Valerie M for 'something to do'.  What is wrong with me?  Now I am sitting for a bit to cool down after my walk home and instead of turning on the tv which will  be the kiss of death for getting anything done for the rest of the day, I decided to start up my travel computer and make sure all of m necessary websites are accessible.  I seem to have new passwords every trip.  Anyway, all set.  Here I am writing this from my wee computer.  

And then I uploaded this meta-photo from the blogspot app on my phone!  Doubly set!

I bought my Euro yesterday.  It better be enough.  13 nice crisp 100 euro bills. Hopefully I'll have some left over for a future trip to Germany? TBD

I did my last load of laundry today.  I am charging the many electronic things that I am taking (computer, camera, water filter thing, e-book).  

Ok back to the task at hand - PACKING!!  

September 18

Today I set up some payments to go out while I'm away.  I don't need a hit to my credit score on top of my actual money situation.  On that note, my bank felt the need to rub it in. 

Packing

12:10

12:11

Last minute details.   Made the decision to take an extra pair of pants. Sewed my secret third pocket into my second pair of pants. Culled two shirts to make room for extra pants.  

I can't find my waist wallet from my last trip.  Stop at the mall and bought a new one at Bentley's.  How is that place still open?  

I'll sign off here with a hairy eared dwarf lemur

Packing, shopping, fretting, the usual for the last days before launch

 August 30

I went to the travel clinic yesterday.  But first I had to find my vaccine card.  I could not find it where it is supposed to live - in my travel wallet with my passport. I have to admit, I never really unpacked from Morocco.  I just left my travel stuff in my backpack and shoved it in a closet.  So, I pulled that out and emptied everything onto my bedroom floor.  No vaccine card.  I never did find it but I guess the 'unpacking' is the start of the packing process.

I'm glad I am already booked for everything.  Nothing like a very serious travel nurse reading off all of the things that will kill me in Madagascar.  I might have reconsidered.  Let's be honest, probably not but still. 

I had to get a Polio booster!  I am going to vacation in a place where I might get polio.  POLIO!  And let's not even talk about the rabies, plague, dengue etc.  

I got my Dukoral.  And I am going to do the malaria treatment.  I haven't done that for years but I feel like all of the National Parks and huts hanging out over water make malaria a possibility and the shady health care and questionable infrastructure makes me want to avoid it if at all possible.  I will be leaving too early for Flu vaccine and Covid booster so fingers crossed for those two. 

September 9 

September 10

Ackkk.  just barely over a week to go before I leave.  I started my 'packing' today, which always starts by just throwing things I might need at my spare bed.  I still haven't decided on a bag yet.  I bought a new wheelie duffle with pack straps, trying to get the best of all options.  I am almost certain I won't take that.  Something about wheels makes me feel like i'm cheating. Even though I am old and broken and booked on an organized tour, I can't let the 'backpacker' ideal of myself go.  So, bag: TBD.  

I took my Dukoral today.  I took my Malaria prescription  to the pharmacy yesterday.  I just have to remember to pick it up.   I counted my medication.  I like to take a full two rounds in case I lose a bag.  I have enough for 1.85 trips.  I don't have time to get a refill so if I lose a bag, I will ration I guess.  It'll be fine.  I've only had my medication lost once (to leaking bug spray) which is when I learned, double and divide!

I think I forgot to mention that I bought a new camera to replace the one I destroyed in the Antarctic. I actually bought it months ago but it was another hit to the budget.  But I need a decent camera.   You'll all remember the camera situation in Morocco.  We can't have that again (a compact point & shoot - although it did take some good photos IMO). 

September 11

So, the no need to shop situation just couldn't be tolerated, clearly. I was on my way to dinner last night with 15 minutes to spare so I stopped in at MEC.  I like to use hotel kettles to purify my water and avoid buying plastic bottles.  My travel nurse agreed with this as a plan, but since I don't know the kettle situation on all of the stops, she suggested I get a SteriPEN as well.  Kind of expensive but it will probably be usable for years, the rest of my trips, the rest of my life...

Anyway, I bought the cheapest version.  It purifies water using UV light.  Here's a short video.  

September 12

I ordered Euros today.  I was trying to figure out how much I need vs how much I have in the bank so I can actually pay.  Lots vs nothing.  So, I just ordered lots and I'll figure out the rest of it when my Visa bill is due.  Did I mention I found €145 in my travel wallet from my last trip.  I read on the G website to take big, crisp, new bills.  So I ordered 100s.  My €145 is all 5s and 10s.  I'll save those for the Paris wine and cheese, airport gift shop extravaganza on the way home.  

Speaking of my last trip, my guide Mohammed and his family in Morocco are all fine after their terrible earthquake.  I'm still in a WhatsApp chat with my group.  I really hope the Madagascar group is half as good as the Morocco group/guide.  

September 13. 

One week to go! 

12:10 pm

12:11 pm

Ok, time to wrap this post up and send it out to the world.  

Here's your dose of lemur: 

Pale fork-marked dwarf lemur