Hailey, Brande and Lana (left to right) the ladies of our 7 person Mount Kilimanjaro team!

This past weekend I was “home” in Alberta for the weekend and had the absolute pleasure of meeting my bestie Lana and little sister Hailey early Saturday morning for a Mount Kilimanjaro stair climb training session. Followed by a yummy brunch at my beyond favourite Chinese food restaurant ever (mmm Sam Wok).

Lana, Hailey and I make up the female complement of our 7 person Mount Kilimanjaro trek team. Girl power on the mountain! This is our first and last time we will be able to train all three of us being that we live in different Provinces and all.

For our training we hit up the Wolf Willow Stairs in Westridge Park – just a simple little stair case really. It starts at a high lookout point over the Saskatchewan River and in just 200 stairs takes you down to the lovely riverside. Please read that last sentence again and make sure you apply a healthy dose of facetiousness especially when reading the 200 stair part! Ouch and fun!

The stairs looking pretty easy from up here but we know what goes down must come up.

The stairs looming from across the river valley – sweat and steps here we come!

We got started with a nice jaunt down the stairs, a brisk walk across the river valley bridge and back again to warm up. Then it got real! We went up and down those 200 stairs as many times as we could for an hour+. Basically stopping just before the leg wobbles got too bad to make it back to our vehicles and drive to brunch.

According to the trusty Fitbit Hailey wore, we did just under 4 km and completed 5,000 steps, and yahoo burnt 539 calories. Not too bad ladies, good stuff!

Twice during our slog on the stairs we were asked “What are you training for?”. I assumed people were asking us because we looked really fit, like we were pros at this stair climbing stuff and clearly dedicated. But let’s be honest, we were wearing weighted backpacks and heavy hiking boots to climb stairs. If you aren’t training for something you are cray-cray doing stairs with all that. (For the record however, we did look super fit and quite dedicated that early in the morning. ha ha)

When asked the seemingly innocent “What are you training for?” question, I had the easy answer of ‘Mount Kilimanjaro’ which prompted some follow up questions about the trek and some ‘that’s so cool, good for you’ comments. It was quite energizing to have people notice and ask about a goal we clearly must have.

While, I didn’t think anything of the question at the time – later on I realized that “What are you training for?” is actually, a totally loaded question! Think about it.

The question could have a wack load of different and possible answers: personal promises to yourself or others, bucket list intentions, self-love or possibly self-loathing reasons. Oh for sure the answer may be as simple as a marathon, to stay fit, to feel good, a competition, or to climb a mountain (like our answer was on that day). But the answer may also be as complicated as: to change my life, to recover form a horrific accident or event, to achieve an item on my bucket list or an item on behalf of someone else for their bucket list, in honour of someone, etc.

This question “What are you training for?” has really been on my mind … what is MY honest, bottom of my heart, belly of my soul answer to this question.

Sure, Mount Kilimanjaro is on my Must-Do List In Life List (yes I have an actual list in my journal named this – likely not surprising too many of you) but there is more to this than just training to reach a summit. Heck, all the stuff I have read suggests anyone “reasonably fit” can make the summit if altitude sickness stays at bay. So all this training is for something greater than the summit, I was already “reasonably fit”.

Then it hit me. I do know the answer! ME!

Kilimanjaro is a re-invigoration for me and my love of adventuring over long distances on my own two feet.  My happy place! I have a list of walks across this fine globe of ours that my amazing Asolo boots are itching to discover as much as I am. On my own, with friends, with family or with a combo of any of that. Sorry to sound cheesy but “these boots are made for walking”!

Before even stepping foot on Mount Kilimanjaro it has set in motion a wave of energy, inspiration and adventure seeking that had taken a bit of a back seat to my everyday great life. This pre-departure epiphany feels great – wow – I can only imagine what the on-the-mountain-epiphanies may be. Thanks already Kili!

Of course … I could just be totally over thinking the whole thing, and those nice ladies on the stairs in Edmonton were really just nicely asking why we were crazy enough to wear packs and boots up and down stairs on a summer day.

Brande 

PS 24 sleeps to our flight outta Canada

Or for those of us whose ability to speak French is only in our minds…

The Epic Journey to Africa!!!

As the countdown to Kilimanjaro continues at an alarming rate, my days seem to be disappearing more and more quickly while being filled with less and less time to myself for much needed prep. It is just 39 sleeps til go time and I find that my to-do list has not changed in 2 weeks. There have not been any items scratched off the list nor added, my training is at a standstill, and nothing has been incorporated or removed from the dormant pile in my Kilimanjaro corner – with the exception of a black furry H2O bladder that was inadvertently left for 10 days at 30 degrees, full and stagnant in my Osprey pack, after a mosquito-swarmed hill hike near the river with 2 fellow Kili trekkers. Ninety-seven percent of the surface area of my feet believe they are enveloped in a heavenly cloud of billowy comfort, while my heels are still lifting in my beloved Asolos, creating hotspots and blisters no matter what type of concoction I devise. My shift pattern at work has been changeable – working 18 shifts in the last 14 days – and I feel as though my free time is reserved only for sleep. This must, of course be a misconception, as my Fit-Bit Surge assures me that my average daily sleep duration is 5 hours and 23 minutes with only 7 periods of wakefulness during that time…

I am unsure if this is happening to anyone else in our group with Kili breathing down their necks or if it is just me (the time crunch, not the hairy hydraulics system – I do not wish that clean-up on anybody!). The posts on our “Climbing Kilimanjaro” and “Africa or Bust” Facebook pages contain photos of mountain hikes accomplished in 4.5 hours and confirmed safari bookings, the final invoice and pre-departure manual for Kili, and research updates and itineraries. Meanwhile, I feel slightly disenfranchised, more than a little inadequate, and I must also admit to entertaining horrifying thoughts of everyone in our group bounding up the mountain, fit and prepared, while I lay defeated and short of breath in a fetal position with a resting heart rate of 151, being mocked by Colobus monkeys throwing bananas at my head before I even reach Simba (Sekimba) Camp – 2635m.

Of late, these fleeting moments of self-doubt have had the sneaking ability to transform themselves into a full-fledged storm of negative self-talk. Trust me when I say that if one is not careful this storm can easily spiral into a goal-less, black hole of a pyjama-day filled with endless carbs and NETFLIX. On a positive note pyjama days are good, as are healthy carbs and Netflix. It only has the potential for disaster when it is all rolled into one with underlying elements of apathy and indifference. The past couple of weeks I’ve been tired out and burned out and it seemed I had temporarily lost that desire to learn more, see more, to experience and do more. Thankfully, it has been short lived and I am again able to recognize how mightily I am blessed to have the opportunity to embark on such an incredible journey.

I find that when I change my focus from me to what surrounds me, that I am able to see a very small part of some of the things that are wonderful and amazing in this life. When I shift my thoughts from how tired I feel from working to how thankful I am to have two jobs, I am able to see that there are people struggling each day because they are unable to work; When my thoughts move from how much I have to do to how much I am able to do because of my family and friends, I am empowered to do even more – not just for myself but for others; And when I start to look outward at circumstances that often can not be changed, at what surrounds me and overwhelms me, I stop, am still, and look within. I do this because when it seems that everything around you is conspiring to keep you from your goals, desires, and dreams, it is then that you will see not only the strength that comes from inside you, but what strength surrounds you in friends, family, and even strangers who have never had the opportunity, or perhaps the courage, to follow their own dreams.

Hiking Goatfell, Scotland 2014

During the time I have written this wee post, my circumstances have not changed in the least!! The shiftwork prevails, the blisters are peeling, my to-do list remains, and the time for training has not increased… but the dream lives on!!! My family is behind me every step of the way, I’m not yet out of ideas for blister prevention and lacing techniques, and I am one hundred percent confident that my trekking team won’t leave me with the monkeys. This trip has already turned out to be more than a vacation, a hike, or a trip with friends… In the short time of preparation it has proven to be an incredible learning experience, a time of getting to know myself, and a fascinating pilgrimage to the center of my being which has not been explored in a long while. The beginning of this adventure has been amazing and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for us on our beautiful Voyage Epique pour L’Afrique!

I have been hiking all over the lower mainland of British Columbia for the last few months as part of my training for Mount Kilimanjaro and really just because I love to hike and live in the coolest place ever for easy to get to, really amazing hikes!

However, throughout these past few months of hiking I have noticed a few things that scare me about this wonderful, amazing world of British Columbia trails…

Bear Sightings In the Area! Mount Thom Trail, Chilliwack

Bears

I really like teddy bears and think they are cute and great and wonderful. I have this little one from my nephew that when you press his paw there is a recording of my nephew saying “Love you Auntie B” and then he makes a kiss sound. So cute. Or my favourites Benjamin the teddy bear who loves ice cream or the amazing Tenderheart Care Bear from when I was a kid. Oh so cute!

Any who, I am NOT taking about teddy bears here…

I am talking about the real, beastly bears that stalk the forests looking for blonde Scottish Ukrainian women to munch on. Oh yes, you read that right. Studies say that bears like haggis perogies and especially those like me who cannot run faster than a toddler with a sippy cup in hand.

This whole idea that bears can run in bursts at speeds up to 55km per hour, they have an acute sense of smell and hearing, good eyesight, they are strong swimmers, can climb trees,  and that all bears are dangerous –  is more than a bit nerve racking! Hello of course they are dangerous. They are mighty warrior omnivore beasts. And the last time I checked, all the other meat in a forest could run or swim or climb much faster than me!

Every time I enter the forest, I feel like one of the plates at a sushi restaurant that just goes around on that moving plate carousel thing in front of the diners – just waiting to be picked off by the bear that has a hankering for my particular fleshy taste that day!

Caution Cougar in Area! Veledrome Trail, Burnaby

Cougars

I like to imagine that all cats are the same. So cute and cuddly, they all make that great little purr sound when you scratch their neck just behind and below the ears, and all like to roll onto their backs and look at you upside down with that wonderful little I-love-you-and-would-never-eat-you look. Yes of course many are well a little snobbish and could care less if you exist, but through their kitten snobbishness I feel their love all the same.

Well now, this is obviously not true for cougars…

Hmm any “kitty cat” known for saying hello with a crushing bite from behind between the spine and base of the skull, is up to 2.5 meters in length, weighs 90 kilograms, eats only meat, and is more likely to attack a child under age 16 – is not a nice pet!

The fact that every pamphlet I have read says something like “we do not understand what triggers a cougar attack” is not ok with me. What do you mean we don’t know? We can fly into space but we cannot figure out a cougar? People! Can we get NASA focused on cougars please!?

It goes without say that me on the moving sushi plate buffet applies to cougars as diners as well. Seems I prefer to be the only cougar on the trail ha ha ha

Keep Calm and Hike On 

I do most of my hiking alone, so have to find ways to get out there without over thinking the fear of cougars and bears (not to mention random creeps that may be trolling the trails). I have a couple of “tricks up my sleeve” for making the trail my happy place. So far they have worked perfectly so don’t be busting my bubble here!

1. I spend a lot of time selecting the trails I hike. Usually this means trolling the Vancouver trails and BC Parks websites looking for great, long hikes that take me deep in the beautiful wilderness BUT where there are NO comments from hikers that mention bears or cougars or creeps.  Bugs, mud, no views, poor parking, overgrown trails – none of those comments scare me. But you mention one claw mark or potential sighting of something that has fur on it and that trail is dead to me.
2. I pretend to fix my shoes and/or pack at the start of a trail until a couple or maybe a few hikers have started up the trail and then I quickly join the trail as well and work my butt off to keep them in at least hearing distance. This way I am not really hiking alone. So if Mr. Bear found me, hopefully these random hikers would hear my screams and come to the rescue. I know I am putting a lot of faith in the human race but I trust hikers. They don’t litter and people who don’t litter must be nice people, right! They are probably also really nice to dogs and old people and recycle. I like that. Good people.
3. If alone on the trail, I yell out loudly at fairly regular intervals (+/- 50 steps) the word “Yuup”. When I say yell, I do really mean a good, loud holler. I may actually sound a little like that guy from Storage Wars now that I think of it – hmm that’s a bit disconcerting and unattractive. Any way…I understand that part of the reason altercations between woman and beast happen is because the furry hell creature has been startled by what seems an out of nowhere appearance of a human.  With me yelling “Yuup” as I hike there is no chance of startling anyone. This includes bears, cougars and other hikers who hear me and walk past wondering if I have sampled the mushrooms from the forest floor or something.  Even if not alone, the “Yuup” theory is encouraged (much to the entertainment and eventual participation of Lana, Lance and Matty on the Lions Bay Loop in July).
4. Finally, as I hike I keep a sharp eye out for natural weapons on the trail. I am not even joking. I will pass a rock and make a mental note that it would be good to pick up if a bear attacks me or see a pointy stick and think hmm that will be good to grab if a cougar jumps out right now.  Don’t worry my sharp eye is not about depressing stuff. I also look for items that look like hearts. We are a family that loves hearts. For the hearts, I stop and take pictures for Pinterest and Instagram (of course!). For the weapons, I just make note of as part of my exit / fight back strategy should I need to invoke my inner cave women!

Hiking … doesn’t this make it sound wonderful!

Brande 

PS: 46 Sleeps to Departure for Africa

Altitude sickness UP ahead …

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), is a real and scary thing on Mount Kilimanjaro and other high altitude destinations.

AMS is basically the impact on the body when you cannot get enough oxygen at higher altitudes. AKA the air is “thinner” which really means it is less pressurized so while the amount of oxygen in the air is the same, the rate at which you take it in is much lower. Basically, I won’t be the only one who sounds like Darth Vader up there when trying to get a good breath. Finally!

The symptoms of altitude sickness can be mild: headache, no appetite, sick to your tummy, vomiting, feeling weak and tired, not sleeping well, and dizzy. With a list like that its easy to see why people say it feels like having a hangover. Imagine climbing a mountain feeling like you enjoyed too much red wine last night! Yick!

AMS can progress quickly into something very dangerous. Climbers can go from a simple mild headache to a confused state, inability to walk straight, blue lips or fingers, and very taxed, audible paper bag sounds when breathing. Scary terms like High-Altitude Cerebral Edema or HACE (fluid swells the brain) and High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema HAPE (fluid fills up the lungs) are something climbers and guides need to be aware of and know how to identify and mitigate.

If the symptoms are mild you ideally remain at your current altitude and allow you body to adjust before proceeding higher OR if your symptoms are moderate you get your boots and butt down down the mountain double-time OR if your symptoms are severe you will be getting a lot of help getting off that mountain.

The question is: will your body adjust? Will you be able to continue? Or, is your climb to the roof of Africa over and you can just lay your weary, pounding head down on a comfy rock pillow and wait for you altitude-immune friends to summit and come down for you? Or worse yet, are you even aware you are suffering and can’t understand what that whip-whip-whip sound of the medic helicopter is? Scary stuff potentially.

Here is the rub … no one can predict who will get AMS. They have not found that one piece in our DNA that predisposes you to AMS. It has nothing to do with being male or female. It has nothing to do with being fit enough or a couch potato.  There are some rumours that it may be genetic but I haven’t seen too much that officially confirms that. Basically, let’s be honest, you don’t know if the altitude will get to you and by how much or how long … until you get UP there!

There are some suggested precautions we can take though, and we are:

• sleeping at a higher altitude than you normally do a day or two before you start ascending on a day-to-day basis (we are staying 2 nights in Arushu, Tanzania 1,400m before the climb which is higher than our usual 723m in Edmonton, AB or sad little 81m in Vancouver, BC)
• climb high and sleep low whenever possible on the hike (we get to do this on Day 4 of 7 just before the Summit night)
• take Ibuprofen every 6 hours to reduce the symptoms of headache (I know I will be taking Advil by an alarm every 6 hours)
• take high altitude medication (example: Diamox)
• avoid alcohol, eat plenty of carbohydrates, drink loads of water

In addition, we are travelling up that mountain with a very reputable hiking company, Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. They are experienced and they are trained! While the food and shelter and toilet (yes you read that right) they provide is awesome and will make our hike super enjoyable; it is the regular monitoring of our physical condition and quick reaction to any signs of AMS that will make our climb safe.

In addition to the above precautions, this climbing crew also has a little extra in our safety blanket! We have a paramedic, firefighter, nurse and a pharmacist in our group of adventurers! Not only are they all great company; they are wicked-smart!

Summit or not, we are all coming down that mountain on our own two boots alive and smiling (OK a slight grimace or two from blackened toe nails and screaming knee joints allowed). Hello! We have a safari to enjoy the next day!

Important note: any of the medical mumbo jumbo noted above is in “Brande speak”. This means it is how my brain has translated a bunch of medical info on the internet or guidebooks and reproduced it here for you in a way that I understand it. You may have guessed I am NOT one of the medical professionals climbing! 🙂 

Brande 

PS only 52 Sleeps To Go

Lance (husband), Brande (me) and Matt (stunt double) from left to right at the top of the BCMC

Another great day on the trail training for Mount Kilimanjaro!

Well you may not be surprised that I couldn’t resist my new favourite trail the BCMC on the North Shore of Vancouver this weekend – the weather was too nice to resist and with only 54 sleeps to Africa, getting some upward hiking boot time was the right and great thing to do.

And upward it is! By the count on my Fitbit we are talking 3.84km or 9,000 steps up and by quarter way into it you are aware of each of those steps!

BCMC Trail – Lance and Matty slogging it up!

I did it in 2hrs 14mins that’s faster than last time a couple of weeks ago yahoo! The boys clearly were not practicing the Mount Kilimanjaro mantra ‘pole, pole’ (slowly, slowly) like I was. Lance beat me by 40mins and Matt by 20mins. I don’t have the wheels to beat those boys but I do like what a little competition did for my time!

A post climb top of the mountain selfie, gondola down and a pint on a patio by the marina after – a perfect Saturday in my books!

Brande

PS only 54 sleeps

The growing pile of gear – waiting in my “Kilimanjaro Corner” for our departure.

There are a great number of things to consider when undertaking a task as huge as Kilimanjaro, and the first questions logically include those related to budget, trekking agency, choice of route, when to go, and eventually, what to take. Fortunately for me, by the time I committed to the trek, the “when” had mostly been decided and the agency and choice of route, after a bit of research, were easily voted unanimously amongst the 7 of us.

This left me pondering the most exciting question – What to take?

I started memorizing the content of “What to take” from Henry Stedman’s Climb Mount Kilimanjaro guidance under the headings of Clothes, Essentials, Highly Desirables, and Other Useful Equipment. The next step was making a prioritized list of what I needed, what I wanted, and what I already had. Easy, right?  Upon completion of the all encompassing list I discovered that I already owned most of the cold weather clothing I needed for the summit, the technical warm weather trekking gear, and the best 70L Pack a girl could ask for from Scotland, 2006.

Relieved and foolishly thinking I would save a load of cash with my previously owned items, I made a list of priority purchases:

1. Boots
2. Day pack & Duffle
3. New Rain/Wind Shell Jacket & Trousers
4. Sunglasses
5. Trekking Pants x 3
6. Sleeping Bag Liner
7. H2O Bladder System
8. Gloves, Liners, & Hat
9. Thermal Underwear
10. Casual Attire

After completing the list, you can imagine that I was feeling quite pleased with myself, so I set out with the intent to conquer the hiking outlets, have my bags packed months before I needed to leave, and prove to myself that I was as organized as I thought I was… the reality was shockingly different. My actual purchase list to date is as follows:

1. The North Face Summit Series Down Jacket (not even on the list!)
2. Casual Attire – Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) Capris, Technical tank tops x 3, Skort (Outdoor Research – little and black, and oh so perfect!), Long-sleeved safari UV protection button down (Technical fabric that actually looks like denim!), A new Buff (desperately desired and always a practical purchase)
3. Trekking zip-off trousers
4. Osprey H2O Bladder
5. Boots – Amazing Asolos!!!
6. Osprey Day Pack w H2O Bladder included – Mantra 36 (give originally purchased Item #4 to my best friend Brande!!)
7. Zip-off Trekking trousers x 2 (perfect fit Columbia tan and The North Face stone grey)
8. Thermal Underwear – Columbia Heavyweight with thermal reflective Omni-heat
9. Outdoor Research Sunshower Sombrero (never, ever, thought I would love a hat like this!)
10. A few more items that could technically be classified as Casual Attire… and another a new Buff!!! (fun and oh so practical. One can never have too many!)

And so it goes… One can see that the best laid plans do not always go accordingly and if you’re anything like me, this is especially true when it comes to shopping!

Don’t get me wrong, preparation for an undertaking like Kilimanjaro cannot be taken lightly. Research, reading, and educating oneself about the mountain, the country, and the people is the top priority. An exhilarating secondary priority however, is the pondering, planning, and purchase of old and new, serious and fun, and necessary (and not so necessary), equipment for the upcoming adventure(s).

We have 2 months until go time but I am not worried. While I am certain that a thermal sleeping bag liner, gloves, and rain proof gear is essential for the trip, I am not uncertain that I won’t find it on one of my many adventures in and around the outdoor outfitters of Edmonton, Alberta. I feel justified in holding out just a bit longer – not because I am a procrastinator – because I am that if nothing else – but because I love a good bargain!!!

There are many ways and countless opportunities to save cold hard cash and I grab hold of every one. The best thing to do is to plan ahead. Up to a year before leaving if you can and buy off-season. There are tremendous deals to be had. I purchased my Columbia thermal underwear for 75% off merely by picking them up in June. In the spring it seems that footwear is cleared out to make room for the new year’s releases. I got my amazing Asolos for 50% off! My Summit Series down jacket from The North Face was 66% off when I bought it in late spring.

Since writing this I have added a few more non-essential items to the list such as a Pistil belt and wool hat both 75% off, my rain trousers from The North Face 30% off, and of course, some Gaiters by Outdoor Research and SmartWool socks.

Paying the full price for any item is not too much to ask, especially when the items are well-made by hard-working and reputable companies such as those listed above, but if you do have the time and the energy to shop around and compare, and to wait for that one amazing deal that you know might be out there, I think it’s okay to waiver a little on the priority list.

After all, they are never written in stone, merely paper… and more often than not, temporary paper… more than likely, a Post-it.

Lana-Rae

Sometimes I wonder if my husband just might be into this Mount Kilimanjaro thing way more than he lets on …

For those of you who know me (Brande) and my husband (Lance) you can skip the next couple paragraphs; you know all I am about to say about Lance and hiking. For those of you who don’t know us or don’t know us as well – keep reading, I am going to give you a glimpse into what hiking means in our relationship.

In a nutshell – Lance hates walking. He just doesn’t get it. Why would you walk to walk, hike to hike, or pick a random hill to just walk up and over for absolutely no reason? Do you have an actual destination? Couldn’t a car or plane get us there? Why wouldn’t you just play a sport? If there is no ball, no rules, and no competition then there is no Lance. Fair enough, he likes his sports and everyone has their own passions.

Here is the rub however –  this husband has a wife who loves, loves, loves hiking! Her heart beats in time with her hiking boots – no joke, it is her happy place. This works out fine for Lance and I usually, we do our own thing and then meet on the deck for dinner talking about his rugby game and my hike. We are each other’s biggest fans.

Then one fine day his wife says “I need to climb Mount Kilimanjaro”.

My hiking world and Lance officially collide!

As a hubby, you cannot imagine seeing your wife walk up and over a mountain, through the death zone of altitude where you take in 50% less oxygen than you need, in the middle of East Africa, without you at her side as support and encouragement. So he bought some boots, a backpack and assortment of other hiking necessities, signed the waiver, and he is walking, hiking, climbing up that mountain for me and with me! Wow!

Now, Lance does not think he will enjoy it much but he does think it is a pretty epic opportunity. His level r lack of enjoyment has not registered with me yet; I am still all melty goo-goo ga-ga deeper in love with him for doing this with me.

Enough of the mushy love stuff …

The amazing Osprey Backpack broken.

The other evening Lance and I were on one of our hill-training walks (up and down big hills in all of our Mount Kilimanjaro gear in our neighbourhood) when I discovered the right strap on my backpack was a few threads from busting – literally.

Gasp! Scream! Denial!

Kick and punch at the air dramatically!

Nooooo! This is my amazing, much loved, molded to my spine, heavens open and sing when I am wearing it Osprey Backpack!

This backpack has been with me through at least 1,000 kms of trails in Canada, Scotland, Wales, England, Spain, Greece, Italy, France, and the United States since our paths met by divine fate at the Robinson’s Outdoor Store in Victoria, British Columbia the summer of 2008. (best store ever by the way!!)  I am NOT ready to let go of this pack, in fact, I kind of refuse !

{Not to mention, I am super cheap and about to go on a very expensive African adventure and I am not spending $150+ bucks on a new backpack 65 sleeps from departure.}

The amazing Osprey Backpack fixed and ready to roll again!

Well it seems Mr. Lance Romance is so excited about our training for and the actual Mount Kilimanjaro climb; that the very next day he went out and found a tailor who fixed it right up ship-shape and even reinforced the other side for me. Hmm this makes me wonder a couple of things ….

Does this mean Lance is more into the training, the mountain and this hiking thing than I think?

OR

Does this mean I would stress about my pack for days, and the best way to get me out of melt down mode was to go and get it fixed and get me back outta the house training again so he could have back his peace and quiet when watching some international rugby game on TV ?

I think its door number 1. Definitely.

Brande

65 sleeps to go!