Getting real - 78 days to go

It feels like its getting real now.  The overnight train to Munich no longer runs and I discovered that it would take me 3 days to get to my starting point if I went on the train.  This seemed to be an unnecessarily arduous start to the whole journey, so I opted for the easy alternative of a cheap flight to Venice from Manchester and then a train from there to Trieste.  It will be nice to start at the Med and Trieste looks an interesting city.  I'll then get a bus to avoid the tedious forestry roads and start at Cerkno as originally intended.

I've also booked the train back - just £58 from Nice to London and 8.5 hours.  A bargain! 

I've ordered some lightweight technical kit for the via ferrata and early mountaineering on my own.  I reckon my pack will be at least 10kg plus food and water, even with lightweight stuff, so I won't be zipping along.  If you fancy joining me for part of it, I will have a handicap!  Talking of which I could do with some more support for the mountaineering sections, especially Piz Bernina and Mont Blanc/Aiguille de Bionnasay, and friendly support in the valleys is always appreciated, so if you fancy it ....

my usual hill - whiteside pike on my 100th day in a row up a hill

I've not been doing any long distance training, having been worn out by intensive computer work, but I've continued to go up a hill almost very day - I've only missed 5 days since 5 October.  I'll get fit on the journey, or at least that's what I'm telling myself.  I've a family holiday over easter, then a 2 and a half week trip to Bolivia to make a film on the cochabamba project, then its only 5 weeks to go.  The countdown begins!