Packing Day!

(picture is animated, click for slide show)

On Sunday, the day finally arrived to clean out the OA Victoria headquarters of all collected equipment. So, with a U-Haul truck, all six traveling members of OA, and some heavy lifting, we packed 1347 soccer balls and 854 pairs of cleats and running shoes. Now we have completed a major step in Project Ecuador's timeline.

On Monday, we all traveled over to Vancouver to transfer equipment from our truck to the generously donated Maersk Line shipping container. In the process, BC Ferries covered our expenses on the crossing (both ways), and we all shed a few tears of joy. This is the beginning of seeing everything we have worked so hard for come to fruition. For all of us, it was a pretty symbolic moment.

A massive thank you to Maersk Shipping for entirely covering our shipping costs - this would have been the biggest cost to PE, but now that money can go to the kids of Chimborazo. Another massive thank you to BC Ferries for covering the ferry costs, it is so great to see people everywhere wanting to help out.

The departure date for the crew is fast approaching; Brownlee, Roberto, and Brenden all leave today with Gavin following on Friday. Duncan and myself will hold the fort until mid-February when we join up with the crew in Ecuador.