ON THE EVE OF A GREAT ADVENTURE

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS. It's the eve of our departure and a 2,000-mile trek through the heart of India. Anticipation has mounted, along with nervousness. Plans and preparations that go back two years are coming together. On Christmas Day we are on the brink of a great adventure. We will spend this day with our families and loved ones--our last day with them until February 10.

PACKING DECISIONS. Our bikes are already boxed and ready to be checked through as luggage. We're packing our bags painstakingly. We weigh them carefully so that we clear weight limits for both international and domestic flights. What would take with you on a six-week bike ride through India that weighs under 100 pounds--including your bike? Decisions, decisions.

AVOIDING MALARIA. We also begin our rounds of oral malaria prevention medicine today. No one in North America will think a thing about mosquitoes or malaria in January. But this dread disease--and other common tropical conditions--is on our minds. Temperatures in India are in the high 80's and malaria-carrying mosquitoes are prevalent, particularly in south India--where we begin our journey. On Sunday, 90-year old retired man who worked in India for 25 years offered this blessing to us: "May your mosquito nets not have holes in them!" Mosquito nets? Okay, we'll have to get some of those!

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