A look inside one of Kevin’s carry-on bags.Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail
Pulling a trio of roller-bags, I've finally arrived at Heathrow International Airport - just four days before the opening ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
All three bags are jammed full of countless camera bodies, lenses, an external hard-drive, laptop and a thousand other pieces of kit I probably won't need. I've clearly over-packed. In fact, there was barely enough room to stuff in a few pairs of underwear and a toothbrush.
Over the next few weeks my Globe and Mail colleagues and I will get the chance to cover the biggest sporting event in the world and to tell the stories of the athletes who will be representing their countries here.
Several months ago I had emailed my friend Nick Didlick to ask if he had any advice for an Olympic newbie like myself. Nick is about as experienced as any photographer around when it comes to covering an Olympic games, so I knew he'd be a great help.
"Olympic coverage is like a war; don't carry every lens and toy you have. Keep it down to essentials," he wrote back. "Travel light and fast."
Now, dragging my overstuffed bags (each of which far exceeds the airline's weight restrictions) through the massive airport, I doubt this is what Nick had meant.
Oh well, at this point I'm just happy to be in London with all my gear intact.
Let the Games begin!