I have somehow managed to contract a typing virus, symptoms being the forgetting of where the letter 'p' is on my keyboard, going blank when having to spell simple words like 'of' and ending each sentence with words like 'alriite!' and 'rubbish!'.

Apologies over, I have some good news, at least for me anyway. Yesterday I had a fantastic meeting with my new nickwalksamerica Partner Coleman exponent. These lovely people (they already partner none other than top explorer Mike Horn) are going to be kitting me out with all the equipment I need and backing me up along the way.  Now I dont know if you've ever been in a formal business meeting suited and booted, but when someone puts a brochure in front of you full of expensive stuff and says "what do you need?" its very hard not to jump up, scream like a girl and sit on his knee shouting "thank you Santa!"

Having the worlds leading supplier of outdoor equipment now backing me I've moved up a gear in the preparation, and I've now devised a timetable (below) of when I expect to be going through the major cities on my route. obviously these dates will not be exact but it gives you a flavour of the pain to come:

17 June-when it all kicks off
27 June-Harrisburg
1 July-Gettysburg
13 July-Pittsburg
26 July-Columbus
2 August-Cincinnati
10 August-Indianapolis
28 August-St Louis
12 September-Springfield
24 September-Tulsa - half way point
2 October-Oklahoma city
21 October-Amarillo
11 November-Albuquerque
2 December-Flagstaff
13 December-Kingsman
2 January 2009-Los Angeles & finish

Alas my typing virus has returned so I will be back for another instalment soon. Alriite!