Celebration! Of the potential for hot porridge...

As you may have gathered, I was a little apprehensive about booking my flights. This was partly because I'm a little nervous about embarking on such a physically demanding solo excursion in my....ahem...current state of un-fitness. But most of my anxiety actually stemmed from the fact that some of the gear that I had bought to replace old, heavy gear had not yet arrived.  One crucial item I ordered in from Australia (since it was sold out in NZ) and as the days were passing I was growing increasingly anxious that it wouldn't arrive in time...

Happily however, this morning there was a knock at the door and my new camp cook pot arrived.  I'm embarrassed to say I spent a bit of time researching what cooking gear to take.  My criteria were to have a single nonstick aluminium pot with a lid that was big enough to house my gas canister and no more--and I found one in the form of the GSI Pinnacle Soloist (it actually also comes with a bowl and a spork, but they don't take up any extra space and are made of lightweight plastic--see, I am trying to minimise the weight, where practically and financially possible!).

So I can make my final preparations now, happy in the knowledge that I won't have to be cold-hydrating everything, will have hot porridge for breakfast, and perhaps most important of all--can make a hot cup of tea!