Ok, here it is.  The first picture is all our gear laid out on the bed, the second is it all packed up.  Believe it or not, it did all fit!  

Please note the best travel pillow cases going to South America.  They were created shortly before midnight last night by the world's best Mum.  Thanks Mum!

Total weights, including carryon: Anna 18.1kg, Ben 23.1kg.  Not quite sure how Ben ended up with so much more - but it could be something to do with the 5.5kg of camera gear!

Off the airport in 40min!

One day to go - in less than 24hrs we will be winging our way to Santiago, Chile, then on to Lima, Peru.  After a night in Lima we are hoping to catch the 24hr bus up to Ecuador, to end up in Cuenca for 2 weeks of intensive Spanish.  The bus looks very comfortable with recliner lazyboy type seats, all meals and even bingo games - you can win another bus ticket :-)

All the gear is laid out on the spare bed.  I'm wavering between thinking it looks like an enormous amount of gear to fit into two packs and thinking it looks like a tiny amount of gear for 8.5 months.  I guess we'll find out . . .

The count down has well and truly begun - only 2 weeks and 5 days to go!  I almost can't believe that we're really going so soon; it feels like I have been poised waiting for months.  Oh wait, I have :-)  Ben's knee has delayed us somewhat, but it's now on the mend and all clear for the trip.

1 continent, 12 countries, 8.5 months and two keen travelers.  Though we are planning on concentrating mostly on Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Argentina the continent is waiting and who knows where the road will take us.