24, 23, 22, 21, 20...

19 Hours to go until we head for Harare - our first stop along the way to Mozambique. Should take about 8 hours including the border crossing. Zimbabwe runs entirely on american dollars, not having their own currency anymore since they spoiled it with run-away inflation that was in the 1000's of percentages per day. We hear that fuel is available for dollars, and that things are quiet. Small cholera outbreak - nothing serious.

So today we're scrubbing, packing and making last minute adjustments. The dogs are in a state of extreme anxiety, poor babies! I think they know that they're not going on this car ride. Leaving them is actually the hardest part of travel - even with the cadre of care providers we've lined up. Here's Yogi helping Jeff pack the truck - there's nothing that an Australian Shepard can't do!

Trip Logo

A trip like this calls for a logo - and T-shirts!

Countdown begins

OK, we're not actually ON the epic journey yet, but the countdown has begun as has the fun!

Jeff has almost finished customizing the truck - he's built roof racks for spare tires, jerry cans and anything else we need to carry up there. Then he found an old truckbed topper and he's fitted it out with shelves, tie-downs and extra locks, so we can now stack supplies without having to dig like rabbits to get at things.

so, here's the route - we leave Lusaka and drive through Zimbabwe to Mozambique, then down the coast to Maputo, on into Swaziland where we'll stay with some friends we met while living in Ghana. Then across South Africa, passing through Lesotho, a stop in Cape Town wine country, then up to Namibia, along the coast and either home through the Caprivi strip of Namibia or across into Botswana and home via Okavango and Chobe.

If this works, i'll post a map of the trip and then i'll mark our progress as we go.