'Around the World in 274 Days'... Doesn't have that certain ring to it, does it? But I was back at the Reform Club, oh no, sorry, home, last Friday 1st August. I had a wonderful welcoming committee at the airport - Emma made it to me for the first hug, having snuck under the barrier, but Katye and Alex soon joined in for a tearful, happy reunion.
Reflecting on my trip - I've beaten no records, covered no ground that hasn't already been covered by many others, but I have achieved personal satisfaction in a goal achieved. Nine months ago I was on the brink of my great adventure, wondering what it would be like to travel with fewer possessions than I usually take for a week away, with no one on hand to make my decisions, further away from family and friends than I have ever been. I'm sleeping better now than I did that last week in England before I set off! My trip has taken me to S.E.Asia, New Zealand, Australia and the USA. I've seen spectacular places; I've seen areas where people live their daily lives. I've made new friends; I've visited familiar ones. I've lingered in some places and sometimes moved on the next day. I can honestly say that I have found something interesting everywhere I've been and have never been bored for a moment. For someone whose life has been pretty ordered up to now, it has been challenging to set off in the morning not knowing where I would be sleeping that night. Life will never be the same again! I was encouraged to keep this blog by several people before I left. I had no idea what a link it would be with home. The feedback I've received from it has been amazing - incredibly, some of you are still out there, reading this! While I'm typing, I always feel close to you, and after blogging I always feel uplifted. So thank you to all of you - the faithful, read every line ones, and the 'dippers' who check up on me every so often to check I haven't fallen off the edge of the world. Without you all, I wouldn't have continued to blog, and it has served to focus my thoughts and make a lasting record for me to examine in years to come. Caution - travel is addictive - you may be subjected to more blogs of this nature when sufficient time has elapsed for funds to be topped up and memories of scary moments to have faded.... watch this space... you have been warned...
Reflecting on my trip - I've beaten no records, covered no ground that hasn't already been covered by many others, but I have achieved personal satisfaction in a goal achieved. Nine months ago I was on the brink of my great adventure, wondering what it would be like to travel with fewer possessions than I usually take for a week away, with no one on hand to make my decisions, further away from family and friends than I have ever been. I'm sleeping better now than I did that last week in England before I set off! My trip has taken me to S.E.Asia, New Zealand, Australia and the USA. I've seen spectacular places; I've seen areas where people live their daily lives. I've made new friends; I've visited familiar ones. I've lingered in some places and sometimes moved on the next day. I can honestly say that I have found something interesting everywhere I've been and have never been bored for a moment. For someone whose life has been pretty ordered up to now, it has been challenging to set off in the morning not knowing where I would be sleeping that night. Life will never be the same again! I was encouraged to keep this blog by several people before I left. I had no idea what a link it would be with home. The feedback I've received from it has been amazing - incredibly, some of you are still out there, reading this! While I'm typing, I always feel close to you, and after blogging I always feel uplifted. So thank you to all of you - the faithful, read every line ones, and the 'dippers' who check up on me every so often to check I haven't fallen off the edge of the world. Without you all, I wouldn't have continued to blog, and it has served to focus my thoughts and make a lasting record for me to examine in years to come. Caution - travel is addictive - you may be subjected to more blogs of this nature when sufficient time has elapsed for funds to be topped up and memories of scary moments to have faded.... watch this space... you have been warned...
