Jun 11th, 2008
T-Minus 48 Hours ‘Till Touchdown
Almost time to leave, people! I head to Chicago on Wednesday evening to fly out bright and early at 6:00 AM on Thursday morning. After a sure-to-be-awesome 7 hour layover in Fort Lauderdale, I’ll touch down in Lima at 10:00 PM. Ha! Excited? You bet I am. This calls for another picture of me giving a thumbs up.

I returned from Wilmington, North Carolina where I joyfully fulfilled my best manial duties at my brother’s wedding (see left) and braved the possum-playing cockroaches (see right) and offers of cocaine (unfortunately not pictured) at the Wilmington Motel 6 apartment complex. Shoot, bugs and coke peddlers — it’s probably pretty good practice for South America, right? I’ve spent today doing final packing and getting my stuff in storage. The bags pictured below are what I’m bringing actually bringing with me. The backpack is carry-on, the cinched up duffel full of knives, liquids, and gels (oh my!) will be checked.
I had some nervous moments over the weekend thinking about the trip, but today I’ve just been both relaxed and excited about the prospect of finally starting this baby. No nervousness now. We’ll see how I feel once I’m actually on the plane to Lima.
I have reservations for four nights at the Barranco Backpacker’s Inn in Lima. Their website is awesome? During that time, if I like Lima, I might look for a room or apartment to rent for a month.
That’s all for now, kids. I need to go and make a fake bus or airplane reservation to print as “proof” of onward travel from Lima. Apparently I’m technically supposed to have that before I’m given a tourist visa or allowed to enter the country.
My next post comes to you from Lima. My next post comes to you from… victory! Hah.

Ahh, Nathan, you are an intrepid soul. May the cockroaches in Lima be every bit as friendly as those we found at the beloved Hotel 6, and may you always be blessed with a plethora of clean towels. I will be following your travels faithfully.
Go get ‘em Nate! Bon Voyage!
Thanks, y’all.
Chris — root ‘em on to victory this weekend!
- Nathan
Eep, I’m so excited for you!
ULK!! You didn’t tell me about the cockroaches. Bon voyage, Bub! Can’t wait to read on…
I wish you the best, dear friend. Time to get crackin’! (Or as they would say at Sea World, “Thank you for riding Kraken!”)
So – did you make it? Thinking about you.