Well it's 5 mintues to midnight and the planning is officially over. Time is up. Our bags are packed (almost) and we leave tomorrow morning.

How do I feel? Not something I usually comment on...but I'm nervous; it's a bit like waiting to get on a roller coaster where you can't quite see all the track, but you know there are dark bits, loop the loops, that you will certainly feel uncomfortable in places, and knowing that once you're on there's no getting off...

I'm sure when I wake up this feeling will have passed.

Check out our itinerary (with markers, photos and commentary) on Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=212269187247530967939.0004ce35b4292d994476a&msa=0

Detailed Itinerary:

Saturday, 29 December, depart Melbourne at 12.00pm. Arrive Singapore at 4.45pm sharp. Strap in for some budget flying Aussie style! Bring a packed lunch and some sultanas boys. Depart Singapore at midnight; flying against the clock, we've got a long haul overnighter to London...famous red bus tour then back onto the big metal bird, red-eye, flying over the Atlantic direct to Buenos Aires.

Monday, 31 December, arrive Buenos Aires. PM and following day to rest and explore. Welcome to the land of Tango, Cowboys and Whole Cow Meals (did I mention a moribund economy, jingoistic politcal leadership and tragic football fanaticism?)

Wednesday, 2 January, we travel to San Carlos de Bariloche, the gateway to Patagonia. Euro-style city on the shores of lake Nahuel Huapi, from here we'll explore the oldest National Park in Argentina. Camping a definite possibility http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nahuel_Huapi_National_Park

PM, travel to El Bolson, counter-culture capital of Patagonia; a "self styled ecological municipality and non-nuclear zone"! A fertile valley full of bounty and beautiful rivers and forests to explore. Overnight at Refugio Cajon del Azul, rustic charm deep in the forest - only reachable via foot and rope bridge…run by a semi-hermit who grows all his food on site, powered by water-driven turbine...

Friday, 4 January, travel to Esquel, home of "La Trochita" - the old Patagonian Express train - steam engine and rolling stock from a bygone era…(crica 1922) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Trochita

Saturday, 5 January, (attempt) travel to Coyhaique...today we cross the Andes and enter Chile to join the Carretera Austral - the lifeline to the sparsely populated South…we'll be passing thru thick millennial forests, fjords and waterfalls, pasture-land and mountains hewn by glaciers - magic! Next day, onwards to Cochrane, then Tortel and Villa O'Higgins, the end of the line - the road/track goes no further and we need to continue via boat and trekking from here…

Wednesday, 9 January, travel to El Chalten: all aboard the fair ship "Quetru" with an early morning departure to Candelario Mancilla, passing La Florida Peninsula en-route. Lunch at Candelario Mancilla Port. PM we continue on foot, trekking to the unspoilt El Chalten, where we will be camping. Next day we trek a moderate circuit up onto the slopes of the enigmatic Mt FitzRoy…deep in the Parque Nacional Los Glaciars. Camping overnight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Fitz_Roy

Saturday, 12 January, travel to El Calafate (bus), our gateway to the Glaciar Moreno. Overnight El Calafate and next day visit the glaciar. Pacific storms, crossing the Andes deposit hundreds of metres of snow here, growing and pushing the famous glaciar down the valley into Lake Argentina, until suddenly massive icebergs carve off. Stand well back http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perito_Moreno_Glacier

Monday, 14 January, travel to Puerto Natales, our gateway town to Torres Del Paine National Park. Next day we visit Torres Del Paine, another signature piece of Patagonia, with spectacular towers of hard Andean batholith rock sheared away by glacial ice millennia ago… camping overnight on the mountain.

Some time later: travel to Ushuaia. Another long bus ride as we head towards the end of civilization and Tierra Del Fuego.

Sunday, 20 January, late afternoon we fly to Buenos Aires, overnight and then next day, fly onwards to Sao Paulo where we explore briefly before an evening/overnight flight to London. Another day in London before we start the long journey home, via Singapore. I'm pooped just thinking about all these flights.