Hi all, Jean here giving Andrew a day off from blogging. We’re making great progress with packing here, not just for The Ride, but also for our simultaneous move to Melbourne. Everything is sorted into what’s coming on the trip, what my Mum is bringing over at the end of the month when she comes to collect the car, and what will come at some later date once we’ve got an apartment – it’s the world’s biggest jigsaw puzzle.

In terms of trip stuff, a corner of the house is gradually filling up. The cooking gear and food are sorted, and we’ve got a small bag of clothes each packed, plus plenty of water.

Andrew and my Dad have been working on fitting the bike rack to the car, although breaking news is that this ancient one isn’t going to fit their fancy new bike frames, so we’ve got to dash off to a sports shop for another one, oh well.

I’d like to include a huge thank you to my parents who have been so supportive on both big-picture and small-details levels. They’ve been hugely patient as we have taken over their house, and are always happy to help us out with the million little things that need organising for a trip like this. We really couldn’t have done it without them.

Well, I’m off to keep organising those millions of things. They’ve got to get done because tomorrow is the big day!