Okay, so further to getting ready to go, I am now officially moved out of my apartment. I also have my truck for sale, which has become a huge pain in the butt.

Last Friday, I had several people interested in taking a look at it. The first was this woman named Edna. Edna was looking for a beater because her son has a fancied up show truck that he doesn't want to drive during the winter. Perfect, because my truck is definitely in the beater category. So Edna decides to take the truck out to her mechanic for him to have a look at it. Fifteen minutes later I get a phone call from Edna. The truck has stopped and just before it did there was a lot of blue smoke going on. I should note here that I have owned this truck for three years, and not once has it died on me. But now it has, with Edna at the wheel, and on a Friday afternoon, on top of it all.

So I called a tow truck and went to pick up Edna and her elderly mother, to drive them back to their car. And of course, because it’s Friday, no one can tell me what's wrong with the truck till Monday. Which means I have to field phone calls from prospective buyers all weekend.

In the end, it turned out to be the clutch that had to be replaced. I decided to go for it, because I can't imagine being able to sell it with no clutch. So $885 (stupid taxes!) and two days later, I've got the truck back. Still no sale, though I've had a few people look at it, and I've got a few lined up for later today. I am crossing my fingers that someone decides its worth some amount of money.

I hate selling things; it’s so stressful and not fun. Let's hope it’s all over and done with by the end of this week.

So today was another step in getting ready to go on my trip. My friend Sam took my truck to have a mechanic check it out. And if the mechanic gives it the thumbs up, it won't be my truck anymore, it will be Sam's. Although I know I don't need it anymore, I will miss this truck. It was the first (and only) car I've ever owned, and it’s been through a lot with me. I even drove it most of the way across the country a few years back! And there was the time I toyed with turning it into a convertible. Yeah, I know it would have been hideous, but it also would have been incredibly awesome! Also, I have just realized I don't have a picture of the truck. This will obviously have to be rectified before I hand things over.

One of my favourite things about my truck (beyond the fact that it really is a great vehicle) is the way people react to it. Something about being a young woman with a truck makes people look twice at you. Like maybe you are worth taking another look at. Its fun to surprise people: to have people think they have you pegged and then shock them out of it.


So not quite RIP blue truck (although I can't imagine its going to be too much longer), but this is the end my friend, for sure.

'allo

Okay, so I'm starting this blog to keep people up to date on stuff while I'm on my upcoming trip.

So far, I have booked my flight (though I have yet to pay for it... yikes!) and gotten my working holiday visa. The visa was ridiculously easy to get. As long as you have $185 Australian kicking around, and have never had tuberculosis, you are in!

Further updates to follow.