A crazy day it has been with a million things to get done before hike-off ...
Started off with Chamoun visiting us in Hamra for us to finalize some details. The good news is most hiking days will be around 20 km. The bad news is some may go up to 30 in order for us to get to our lodging. Those appear to be towards the end of the expedition, so Samer and I think we will be OK. The map has been charted
During the day, we went around buying last minute stuff that we needed to pack, including water, immodium, less hair so as to avoid the potential of any ticks, as well as chaffing cream, which would be helpful before every hike.
More weight adjustments to the hiking bag. I figure with the water camel bag (a bag in the hiking gear, which has a tube protruding our to provide water without needing the water bag to be taken out), the total weight will be around 15 kg, which should start going down once water consumed. The weight range is therefore likely to be between 12 and 15 kg. Thankfully Samer has taken on some of the camera load without increasing his load to too much.
Lots of friends and family members wishing us good luck. Thanks to all for all your support, especially Abiro for safe keeping Samer's stuff, Karim D. for doing the same with mine and providing zoom lens, phone..., Diab for his digging out of a Mobi data modem at the last minute, and Samer D. for his and Roula's moral support. All of you guys are awesome. Rani called to confirm he will be joining us on Day 9 and 10 with his sister. All the merrier.
I am glad Samer is back at the hotel fast asleep now, as I am trying to install the Mobi modem on Windows 7 at Tasty Cafe. Fortunately, it is open until the wee hours of the modem and offers a reliable Internet connection unlike I am sad to say the hotel where we are staying. Interestingly, it is Sunday evening, and there are stores in different parts of Beirut that are open 24/7 selling data recharging plans not to mention customer support. A pleasant surprise, and a direly needed one.
It is almost 1 am now, and the wake up call back in the hotel is for 4:45 am for a 5 am taxi pickup. Having finally downloaded all the Mobi drivers, I will run back to the hotel now call Mobi's customer support to give me username and password, and hopefully my data cconnection will work without the WIFI I am on now.
A crazy end to a crazy day ... hopefully it will be happy one.
The start of tomorrow's adventure beckons ... Samer and I are all excitement- so is Chamoun !!!
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