1&2-03-2003 It has all started getting rather 'real'. I left work at the end of January and now we are having a leaving 'do' at my parents' house in Devon with my family. Caroline, Richard and the boys came down from London and Kevin and Helen from Tewkesbury were but a few who arrived. It was a great time but still it didn't seem like we were really going - there is still so much to do. But it's a great excuse for a party, alcohol and food all laid on and a fantastic cake made by my Mother, which was made to look like a desert Oasis! Its all beginning ……………………… 16-04-2003 After so many weeks going through things, throwing away, taking items to charity shops and having car boot sales, we now had a totally empty house that was looking good. Everything we hadn't thrown, sold or given away was in storage: Our beautiful kitchen was gleaming - why on earth were we leaving it all?? I was now feeling surges of panic and the phrase 'oh my God - is this the right thing to do?' kept on entering my head. At least we knew that our tenants Simon and Fiona were going to look after our house well - we had meet them a couple of times and spoken to them on the phone a bit and we really liked them - which to both of us was an important factor. It was bad enough seeing all our furniture being taken away by the storage contractors - but this was worse - walking away from our home that we had worked so hard to get 'just right'. At least we were going to my parents in Devon to be looked after - which was something to look forward to because I knew we would both be spoiled rotten! Simon was however, disappointed that I didn't share his excitement in the fact that they day had come to leave and this was all just the beginning: I just felt rather sad to leave our home. 17-05-2003 The best laid plans……Yeah, right! Well after 2 years of planning, deliberation, countless sleepless nights and a few sacrifices along the way, the day had come to say goodbye to Lisa's parents, where we'd been staying for the last few weeks since renting out our house. We'd planned to leave at 2pm from Devon and take a leisurely ride up to my mum and dads in Cirencester for a goodbye 'do' with friends and family on the Sunday. That was the plan- the reality was a little different. Last minute bike checks, last minute packing, which included…Oh, everything…we'd been so busy we hadn't done a 'dry run' pack. Bags were filled with a 'token nod' to kit priority and daily use, corners of bags stuffed and filled as Lisa used up every conceivable last bit of space. Oils decanted, chain lubed, fluid levels checked and pannier lids forced shut whilst the contents try to make a desperate bid for freedom. The bikes were already groaning about the load they were having to carry. By the time we were all done it was getting dark and the sky was looking ominous. With kit bag zips straining and Lisa and I looking like the Michelin man due to the layers of clothing, we said goodbye to Lisa's parents who had so patiently looked after us for the last few weeks. More than a few tears were shed and it was a lot more difficult to say goodbye than any of us had anticipated. By now it was 10:30pm and we still had to ride to Cirencester, 3 ¼ hours away. Mmmmm, not the most auspicious of starts. Never mind it's all part of the challenge we told ourselves. We arrived at my mum and dads a little after 1am. Mum was still up (thanks mum for the sandwiches). With the bikes and gear tucked up in the garage we were off to bed. 18-05-2003 The Thomas family 'do' was great all apart from the weather! Simon's dad made a huge paella which I thought would never be finished but everyone enjoyed it so much hardly any was left - much to the disappointment of Simon! It was lovely to see everyone and say our final goodbyes and we were so pleased that the Powell clan turned up as a surprise as we had run out of time to say a proper goodbye to them. I know we had hoped to say a proper goodbye to many others but due to our unexpected Irish dash we had had to change our schedule and bring forward our leaving day by about 5 days. This rushed things slightly!! Despite there being a few tearful goodbyes Simon and I were now on the final run-down realising that in only 24 hours we'd be off 19-05-2003 Last minute welding, last minute photocopying, last minute re-packing! We were now ready - sort of.   ok this part is over click here to go to the next chapter