With less than 72 hours until we push off from Fort William Historical Park, it feels somewhat surreal that our ten-week journey is beginning. Hadley and I received the exciting news that we were hired as student trail ambassadors by Path of the Paddle in April, and since then this trip has been at the forefront of our minds. There are an incredible number of tasks involved in preparing for a 10-week canoe trip. Whether it was spending countless hours creating our maps and route outline, or cutting, cooking, and packaging our dehydrated food, it seemed like there was always more work to be done. Then there is the stress associated with trying to ensure that you remember to pack all of your essential gear and food. I could not tell you how many times I have ran through this mental checklist over the past week, but despite these anxious moments the packing process has been both educational and fun. At this point we will pick up a few more items in Thunder Bay, but as soon as we get out on the open water we will have to find a way to get by with what we have regardless if we have everything or not. It’s a very exciting feeling to be done with the planning and packing and to finally get the trip started. But more than anything, undertaking this type of an excursion makes me realize what a wonderful support group we have back home with our family and friends, and how lucky we are to work alongside all of the incredible folks involved with Path of the Paddle. This is truly our dream job, and the opportunity of a lifetime. I can’t wait to get out there and share our experiences with all of you along the way! Right on, right on, right on…