This is officially our last day in the states!  We leave today to London and then get to Paris some time on Wednesday.  We’ll stay in Paris a couple days to get used to the shopping—I mean time change!  From Paris we’re literally taking trains, planes and automobiles to get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and then… we walk!

I’m packing for basically two different trips.  When we’re done with our trek, we’re going to head back to Paris for a couple weeks to celebrate all our hard walkin’.  I’m packing a backpack for the Camino that is strategically filled with necessary things like ponchos, flashlights and a sleeping bag.  My other bag (That isn’t coming with us on the walk) is rather large and jam-packed with my usual traveling necessities like skirts, scarves and heels.  So this should be pretty interesting.

I spent most of yesterday downloading and listening to music for my humungous play list, packing and repacking my backpack and trying to not cry over having to say goodbye to my dog.  She spent most of the day moping around behind me, acting like an Eeyore.  I’m pretty sure she knows I’m leaving and it breaks my heart every time we make eye contact.  Whenever I’m packing for a trip, she tends to find the highest pile of nicely folded clothes and conk out on them or she conveniently snuggles her way right into my suitcase.

Yes—she’s that dog.  The one with the huge puppy eyes and the sweetest little whiskers you’ve ever seen.

I always say that she’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Thanks to some amazing people that love us almost as much as they love our pups, I know our girls will be left in loving hands so I’m not worried.

As hard as it is to say goodbye to everyone I love for a short two months, I’m beyond excited to start this journey with my mom.  She’s such an amazing woman.  I’m hoping some more of her will rub off on me during these next two months.

My sister and my brother-in-law got me a Nike Fuelband for my birthday so I can count my steps each day.  I might be more excited about this wristband than the actual walk itself.  I’m excited about it because it is such a great way to document the trek.  It was such a thoughtful gift and I’m so thankful for them in general.

I think the idea of a Nike Fuelband is really inspiring.  The second I put it on my wrist it kind of lit a fire underneath my butt to get out and be active. I turned it on and before I even put it on my wrist it was already yelling at me to “GO!”  If a little robot on your wrist that tallies your steps doesn’t motivate you, nothing will!

Alright… I get it.  Enough anticipation. It’s time to start moving.

Au revoir, friends!