Andy's to do list for before we go....(5 months)

Buy equipment
Specifically modern,synthetic,purpose built equipment. No matter how much I harbour a desire to travel the world in slacks, brown shoes and a cotton shirt, unfortunately, I don't live in 1800s England, and will not have a team of servants following me. Best go for stuff that makes me feel like a member of the SAS, except without, y'know, the training, or fitness, or blood lust.

Buy Books
Between you and me, Internet, We both know I'm going to spend all the time I set out to buy equipment buying books. Not even books I'm going to bring, just books about guys called Yevgeni, and trainyards.

Rationalise excessive cold war spy novel purchase with thoughts of 'Research'
Because I am going to have to read up on the places we're going, otherwise they're not going to be as much fun at all...

Fret about various contingencies
What if one of us gets sick, what if someone at home gets sick, what if we run out of money, what if our stuff gets stolen, what if our money gets stolen, what if that vague headache is the first sign of a brain tumour...

Daydream about implausible contingencies
So, when we're fighting the russian mafia, having played the columbian cartels off each other, saved that orphanage in Cambodia, landed that 707 in the jungle...

Research the route.
Mostly, do a google image search for the places. See if the women are pretty. Try and remember any films set there, if Scarlett Johanssen was in any of those films. Daydream for a while about Scarlett Johanssen.

Find that Australian Girl's email address
Man, she was totally hot.