I have so much to do before I head to the airport tomorrow. It’s as if I had no idea that this was coming, or probably more accurately, that I booked this trip so long ago it crept up on me gradually. “Boil the frog”, you know.
No Riding Last Night
For the reasons I discussed yesterday about my body I decided to to take another day off from riding. Pity. Instead I worked a little later than I wanted to, mostly to wait out traffic, before driving home. I spent my night fighting the urge to scratch (man has it been difficult, especially given how much of my body has been overtaken by this!), starting to collect the things that I will take with me to Germany, talking on the phone with my mother, and watching Apple’s WWDC keynote.
Germany Is Confusing Me
For days I have been consulting weather forecasts for later this week in Düsseldorf. So far the weather looks, well, meh. Forecasted highs are in the mid-60s to low-70s, with lows in the low-to-mid-50s, and each day has a potential for rain. It has not been that long ago that I wore clothes for similar temps here in Atlanta, but for some reason this was not the weather I was expecting, so my packing habits have been thrown for a loop. How many long-sleeve shirts do I need? Will a light fleece, which I was not intending to take at all, be sufficient? I suppose I should pack a second pair of sneakers in case the first pair gets soaked? Oy!
To further complicate the issue my cycling trip won’t start until a week from tomorrow, so I have no idea what the weather will be like then…
I Should Take Trips More Often
One of the benefits of packing for trips, though this can happen any time you are accessing parts of your house that are accessed infrequently, is finding long-lost items. In the past two days I found a photocopy of my driver’s license displaying my first Atlanta address and on the back was a MasterLock combination sticker. Now I have to find the lock for which that combination works… I also found the waterproof iPhone pouch that I thought I’d gotten rid of because I figured that I’d never be able to own a “small” iPhone again (this was mysteriously in my hash bag).
What will I find tonight? Only The Shadow knows…
Things Still Needed To Accomplish
This morning, after calling into some conference calls from the house, I am going to mow my lawn. I thought about doing this last night, but got sidetracked and never did. I’ve even considered pressing my luck until tomorrow morning, but why do this to myself if I don’t have to, right?
I also need to stop by a bank and covert some of my American currency into Euros, but first I have to decide how much I am going to allow myself to spend. (More on a similar topic tomorrow.)
If I could just get my body to stop itching and clear up then I could focus on the tasks I need to do a lot better. I’m trying not to stress about this, though you’d think otherwise from my writing, because I don’t think that a stressed body is a body in a good position to heal itself.
Hope you all have a great day!
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
If I remember right – you can get Euros with an ATM card or credit card over there. I can’t remember how we did it – but it was pretty simple.
Did you call your credit card company so they know where you are, so they don’t shut you down? Ask them then.
Are you planning to only take a backpack and have very limited space? If not – take enough to be comfortable. Or – but a jacket over there as a souvenir.
Oooh I forgot about calling the credit card companies. I will do that today. Thanks.
I am taking a backpack and a “camera” bag so I will be traveling “light”. In the worst case I can find a store and buy something.
my co-worker is going to Europe in August, and she already called her credit cards, as they are pre-booking some things. That’s what made me think about it.
Oh – I went to a new to me yoga class last night, this was a called a SLOW class, which I need, as I can’t move fast enough for the regular flow classes. It was interesting. Did some great stretching. I might have to go to it again sometime. The instructor was a fill-in for the regular girl, she was really good with the yoga & hipster lingo, and her favorite word was yummy. I was trying not to laugh as she said it so much. And – it was probably 1/3 men at this class, it seems more & more guys are going to yoga classes.
And not all banks handle foreign currency. There’s a place in Buckhead- Altour, as wel as the kiosk at the airport. I remember going to the one in Buckhead and riding Marta. Sounds like you’re doing your typical last minute packing… not surprised.
Your outerwear should be waterproof/resistant. No need for a fleece, as the rain gear should also handle your riding.
I managed to ride “around the block” last night. The shortest possible non-out and back loop is still over 15 miles. I started with ice in 2 bottles and returned with a half of one bottle, still slightly cool. It. Was. Hot.
Dentist this afternoon, then Games meeting tonight.
What time is the flight tomorrow?
-FP
Last time I traveled I got Euros from the Wells Fargo near my office. I will try that again today.
I always wait until the last minute to pack for a trip; it’s what I do. 🙂
The (lightweight) fleece is for nights when I am standing/walking outside when the weather is in the 50s. It maybe overkill but if I have the room I will take it, because the last thing I need to buy is another fleece.
As for riding I plan to wear “technical” shirts and shorts and pack a rain slicker in case I encounter rain along the way.
If Delta is correct it’s wheels up around 6pm tomorrow. I should land in Germany early Thursday morning.
Euros purchased!
AmEx called, said I didn’t need to call to warn them.
Now all I need to do is pack everything…
Never believe them – always call………….