K- Arrived at Crater Lake in Oregon this morning. It is truly beautiful and enchanting but also freezing! There is still 20 feet of snow on the ground and it started snowing as we drove up to the rim..... in our open topped car..... and Mark in shorts. First rule of traveling is obviously to do your research and ensure you are as well prepared as the most zealous boy scout. But apart from the fact that Mark is wearing shorts - we skipped that part. I had also forgotten how glamorous traveling is - just look at the attractive fleece, body warmer and ski hat ensemble I just 'threw together". I also just noticed that our blog is obsessed with clothes (or lack of them!) which is weird because even (especially) our best friends would ... read more

M – Ok, it's official, I’m blogging! The things you do at 6am when you can’t sleep. Those of you that saw Kate’s blog of yesterday will be pleased to know that I am not sitting in the closet in a towel. I have graduated to the kitchen. To save the neighbors (American spelling) blushes I am however dressed in my wife’s bathrobe. You may ask, ‘is this a new phase and a sign of cross dressing tendencies to come on the trip?’ No, it isn’t. Those with long memories (thankfully well before the age of the digital camera) will recall a certain bachelorette night which I attended in full make-up, a blond wig and rather fetching little pink and white dress and matching pink handbag. Unfortunately the caterpillar boots I was wearing on my feet ... read more

K - Have spent the morning piling up every piece of clothing I own across our bedroom. Mark is being very tolerant as his stuff is neatly stored in his rucksack whilst I seem to be in some sort of travel denial and have not yet even determined how many pairs of knickers I need to take! I am using the excuse that my rucksack is still in the UK (my friend Jane has kindly lent me hers) so of course I can't determine how much stuff will fit in. This is of course complete nonsense - I just seem unable to take the next step from "planning" in theory which has been my comfort zone for the last several months and where we are now which is actually having to leave our house on Saturday ... read more