Difficult day

Some days it seems like anything that can go wrong, will. Like today. A bunch of hard work of the last week was undone by the laws of physics and Murphy. However, with just some more work, it should all be taken care of. For example, we learned that contact paper sticks to white, but less to blue, and least to red. The result? A shredded race number and lost sponsor stickers. Live and learn.

I can't wait to be airborne, with the paperwork, the worry and the loose ends left behind on the earth below. Flying has always been liberating, and now it is the culmination of such enormous effort that I am impatient to get going.

Thanks to so many of you who have given me a push along when I most needed it, I'll see you on the other side!