Still getting ready. Third post.

Finally making some positive progress in getting ready, got at least 10 things crossed of my list on Monday. Went to Mountain Equipment Co-op and spent a small fortune,  definitely my kind of store.I was like a kid in a candy store:-) Who needs Holt Renfrew when you can have backpacks, long underwear, :-), walking poles, water purification drops, sleeping bag liners ( made of pure silk, to keep fleas and bedbugs out,  if you have to sleep in a sleeping bag , at least do it in style)  breathable rain jackets, ultra thin towels, wind stopper gloves, smart wool socks, trekker pillow cases,  head lamps, water bottles,  got all that + more and another vaccination and last picked up my passport with now an Indian Visa in it, one down two to go.  I shopped around for Travel Insurance and found the best deal in town, after spending my life savings on vaccines I welcomed the break. Here is my new pack how cool is that, never thought I would ever be excited about that sort of stuff at this stage in my life, just when I was getting used to 5 star hotels....  I will start out my trip in a 1 star hotel  and looking forward to it!