Purge

Part of selling all your stuff and riding off into the sunset begins with selling all your stuff:

It doesn't look like much but we sold $335 of stuff we didn't need. Since it only took us about six hours from start to finish (including gathering everything, setting up and taking unsold times to charity) we figured we made about $55 per hour, give or take. Not bad for a couple unemployed middle aged travelers. 

The best part was what I wrote in my garage sale ad on Craigslist. I advised all potential customers that if they showed up with one cold unopened bottle of IPA they would receive one free item worth $5.00. And guess what.....a lovely customer read my ad!!!!

No More Work!

Well, in the 9-5 job sort of way. Today is Susana's last day of work at a job (career really) she's had for 15 years. She was a probation counselor and supervisor for her county's youth services/probation department. I'm extremely proud of all she has survived, overcome, conquered, exceeded and excelled at during those years. Many co-workers have admired her dedication and commitment and are quite sad to see her leave. However, I know they are excited and overjoyed that she's embarking on a new stage in life that includes a great adventure. She's my partner in crime and the love of my life and I'm extremely proud of her. It takes courage and a whole lot of faith to walk away from security and into the unknown world of travel and adventure. 

One of her goodbye cards had these great words: "Explore, Dream, Discover...leave the safe harbors behind and catch the wind in your sails." Yes. We. Will. 

Countdown

I'm not much of a writer or blogger, but it would be a shame to embark on such an epic adventure and not memorialize it in some way. And so it begins. Today marks the one month countdown. We'll be leaving on our bicycle tour on June 16th, 2014, from Portland, OR. We'll have a stopover in Eugene, OR before heading to the coast and pedaling south, south, south.

I plan to write a few preparation posts prior to our departure. Until then, I'll leave you with these words of wisdom: