The purchase date on my British Airways and Air France plane tickets reads 3/9/06.

Wow! Three months ago. Where did the time go?

Tomorrow afternoon I'm off. To Corsica. Via London and Nice.

Headed square on for a 15-day trek across the mountainous interior of this ancient and mysterious and beautiful and rugged island, on a route called the GR 20.

I've been assembling my kit for weeks now. Sorting and sifting. A little pile here, a little pile there. Thank goodness for the check list!

Everything's on my living room floor now. Set for the final viewing and the ultimate stuffing into the pack.

Packing up for Corsica, with a little help from my cat Molly (upper right), and my gear check list.

If I had two more days to frig around with it all, I'd take them. But I don't. So tonight is it.

As we speak, of course, I'm confident that my two wily but lovable cats are continuing to rearrange and hide a few items. Ever adding to the packing adventure.

But it'll get done. And then I'll be off.

And some 24 hours after take off from Boston, I hope to be nestled in a comfy gite d'tape in the tiny village of Calenzana, ready to find a Corsican pub where I can practice my French once again.

"Deux grand bieres sil vous plait madame."

Yes, it will be a good adventure. I can finally feel it.

Talk to you all in a few weeks. Have a safe and fun June in the Maine outdoors!