Amit dropped by this morning to say good luck for the 'long walk' that 60 year olds do too. Thank god for Amit - always brings you down to mother earth. We managed to catch Vidur on the phone too to say hello.

Then I went to Def Col to run errands - medicines, camelbak and stuff. 

Rob says - I'm going to go to Sikkim / Leh so I'll see you when I see you ;)

Ishan says go with the flow and come back and catch a beer with me when you're back. 

I pick up the meds and a huge pack of sunscreen and then head to the adventure store. I think there I make one of the best decisions to date by picking up a 3 ltr Camelbak - I think its going to be a lifesaver

I might take a big decision tomorrow and pick up a Suunto with an altimeter, barometer and alarm. If I do - I am going to have to plan another trek soon to make sure I out my money to good use. ;)

 

Its down to the details now for the EBC and ABC trek. Wrapping up work while running multiple errands is the tough part. But here's what today looked like

- camera spare batteries and charger procured. Little bit of running around to replace the faulty charger but worth it
- quick run down of inventory. Thanks to Chandini I now have a neck warmer and a spare beanie that fits my big head to boot AND
- a cool set of - 'expose to the air and have them warm' pads that are great to insert into a sleeping bag at night - final list of missing equipment - camel pack, fleece jacket, wondering if I need gor-tex lowers.

No workout today on purpose. I feel pretty fit. I have not lost much weight or maybe none at all but I've been throwing myself at the cardio bikes, cross trainer and treadmill. I've pushed and pulled weights. I've eaten early and slept a lot. I think I still carry 4 kilos too many but I think the legs and back are strong. I definitely find the regular gym routine - bike 3 km at a resistance of ~ 11, cross train ~ 3km at a varying resistance, 100 push ups / 60 stomach curls, 40 deadlifts / 60 squats quite a breeze. Usually I'll also throw in an extra km on the mill, few minutes on the bike, 40 extra push ups. The back niggles are gone - I've been doing a lot of horizontal lying swing from the hip. Feel like I have a new back. I don't think I'll be the sinewest on the trek but I think I'll be battle hardened with Everest for a solid hike up Annapurna.

I've also had a very heart warming response to my trip from friends and colleagues - I sent out an email and collectively the replies gave me goose bumps when I replayed them in my head. This stuff is what dreams are made off - ok, maybe small dreams :)

I also managed to close the day by extracting four 5 rupee coins out of my gorgeous dinner date. Not bad eh? Sent from BlackBerry® on Airtel

At this point I am most concerned about having my gear in place for the EBC and ABC trek.

I think the physical fitness is more or less there. I feel good and I think I am looking forward to the mountain air like it’s the fix I have been waiting for. 

The major part of the gear is done:

- I shopped a fair bit last week in India (light shoes, thermal and blister preventing socks, medicine, inner layers) and pulled out my trekking boots and packs. The headlight and torch (trusted maglite) and spare batteries are also ready

- My friend, Chandini (and an adventure type herself - you should check out her Antarctica pictures sometime) carted all the stuff I ordered via Craghoppers online all the way back from London. My beanie is small! I think she’s lending me hers. Sweetheart.

- Craghoppers took sometime to process an international order but the stuff is fabulous! The stitching is great, the finished products superb and hope they last well. I got a few kiwi trousers, a couple of shirts and waterproof stuff

- A friend of my Dad’s gifted me a telescopic walking stick and a waterproof pack cover – essential items for this trek

- Ma’s been nice enough to stitch a sleeping bag inner layer – critical for cleanliness and warmth

The list will go on – I think I pack up day after on Wednesday and then I’ll rush for last min stuff. 

Intrepid wrote in with a sweet note to check if I was all set. Like that about them – and as I told them, I cannot wait to go.

Tomorrow is the day to collect cash and travelers cheques, pick up memory cards for the camera and scoop up some music for the iPod. 

And oh yeah – Kaberi popped some great recommendations for reading on the trek. I think I am carrying some Pico Iyer and Marcus Aurelius’s – Meditations. Looking good yet.