And they're off! (almost)

Well, we are just about ready to fly out of Richmond and head to Hotlanta (although a bit cold right now) and sit around a little before boarding the plain for Moscow. Our layover isn't very long, just enough to get a bite to eat and exchange some money for rubles. Fortunately the exchange rate is going up in our favor so we will get more for our money. We only need cash for things like meals and souvenirs, and we don't know how much would be dollars versus rubles. We can still exchange money over there, but this way we'll have money as soon as we land to buy a Coke or a snack.

Now, as people might not now it is snowing here in Richmond. It is supposed to stop before noon tomorrow but might leave up to 6 inches of snow. We are hoping to still fly out of here but there are flights leaving from Newport News and Norfolk if we need to go there. It started off as rain, then sleet, then snow and turned into a slushy mess. I had an ice hockey game but turned after I got to the end of our road because it was slushy and slippery. I think it's a good thing that I didn't go, so it really wasn't too bad.

We are packed and ready to go, but you always have that nagging feeling that something is being forgotten. I think we'll be fine but it is a long flight and we will be in Russia ... in Siberia ... in the winter. We arrive Wednesday morning at 5:40 am their time (5:40 pm Tuesday east coast time) where it will be about 13° F with the wind chill dropping that to about 2°F. The high for Wed is 21° and will get warmer as the high on Friday is 30°F. (Here is a link for temperatures) I think we are ready for the temperatures, but at least it is only a few days if the cold really gets to us. The funny thing is that the indoor temperatures are very high over there, so a greater difference between indoor and outdoor temps. We'll probably be in the hotel in shorts and t-shirts cracking a window for some relief.

So, hopefully we will get out tomorrow and maybe even blog while over there. We will have pictures to post when we get back and I'll try to mark them on a Google map to give a location to where the pictures are from.

I've made a change to the blog so you can post comments without having to sign in or anything. Just click on the 'Comments' link and choose the 'Anonymous' identity.

We'll see everyone soon, wish us luck!