Dad was kind enough to agree to give me a loan.

The summer flew by quickly and it was just a few weeks before I would start my adventure in Vermont. It was September 1st. I began packing even though I was two weeks away before "lift-off". Things were getting more exciting by the minute. I went shopping at Orvis and other outlets like Columbia, Patagonia and Eddie Bauer. Mom agreed to by me new skis for my adventure as an early Christmas gift; as she knew I would not return before April. I reasoned that I should return to Boston for Easter Break to visit Samantha.

I hoped and prayed that Sam would visit me over winter break. Certainly she would be home for Christmas, and I thought I might even visit her at Christmas, but it would be entirely dependent on how and where I was in my adventure.

The packing began after much shopping. I decided on some Rossignol skis and boots. If they were good enough for the professional downhill skiers, they would certainly be good enough for me. I reminisced on growing up in my early years how I would watch the downhill slalom and Super-G skiers navigate the mountainsides of hills I could never traverse. I was an accomplished skier, but not that good.

The ten grand that my father agreed to give me would have to last six months. It was time to research some places to stay along the way. Hotels would be out, as in peak season they would be too expensive. Oddly enough, Lee had some relatives in Killington, so I asked him to chat with them about me staying over the detached garage that they had as a place of respite for a time. I would be  staying in Killington for only a few weeks, but this would certainly lower my expenses for that leg of my trip. Certainly, they would offer me the place for a few weeks, and I would not overstay my welcome.