Set and ready to go!!

Hi guys!

For those of you who don't know what i'm doing- I'm here in Vancouver, Canada, to walk from here to the east coast (approx. 3,500 miles as the crow flies). However, despite what you may or may not have heard, it's not because i'm mentally unstable, and has nothing to do with being dropped on my head as a small boy. It is, in fact, to raise money for a couple of charities- Cancer Research and the PSP Association (Progressive supranuclear palsy). I don't think Cancer Research needs any introduction, but chances are that most of you have never heard of PSP. The condition usually starts to affect people when the reach early 60's, and affects nerve cells that control walking, balance, vision, speach, and the ability to swallow to mention a few. My grandmother is currently suffering from PSP and, i suspect, that she may not be around by the time i get home from this trip. So, to make my being here to be worth while, your support is vital! If you can afford anything then please go to my secure sponsorship sites- www.justgiving.com/samthomas1 for cancer research and www.justgiving.com/samthomas2 for PSP. EVERYTHING you donate goes to the charity you give to, NOTHING of what you donate goes to paying for this trip, or anything else other than it's intended for. So please, take a couple of minutes out of your life and make a difference to thousands more.

Well, on a lighter note, i'm here in Vancouver and have been for a week now. I've almost got everything ready- just a few more things to buy and i'm set to leave this friday (march 13th). Obviously, the weather is crappy as of friday due to Sod's Law! The rain is due to come in friday night and stay right over my head for at least the first week.
For those who may have glanced at my other blog (which is no longer going to be updated), there have been a couple of changes to the route- nothing to drastic, just a case of staying a little further south for a couple of sections.
My last night of relative normality was yesterday........ only in a bar can you find 5 guys getting so much entertainment from stabbing beer mats with small pencils and making spinning tops- good times, but i guess you had to be there!

This blog will be updated, on average, once every 2 weeks with photos and general info on what's happening here. Please take the time to read up on my progress, you never know- you might enjoy it!!!