One More Flight

RANDOM COMMENTS ON OUR WAY HOME

I do not know how to describe how we feel now that we are headed home. We definitely look forward to seeing everyone again. I want to make sure the basement doesn’t get moldy as the house has been empty for awhile. But had we planned to be somewhere else now, we would be eager to go to that place. Meaning, we are not home sick yet. It will be nice to get back on the bikes as we barely have ridden since April, and it definitely is nice to know we like our bike routes at home. The fact we have pulled this whole trip off is pretty amazing in itself, and we appreciate the efforts of SO many friends who made it possible!!
Unfortunately we haven’t yet found a concise way to summarize our experiences is so many different parts of the world, but Craig is getting better!

- Food, including ramen noodles, fast food etc. is significantly less salty everywhere compared with at home
- Most challenging thing: not to be able to pack things the same way regularly. But despite intentionally having temporarily left a bag or 2 behind numerous times, in many countries, we have managed only to lose 1 glove, and Craig’s new neck pillow.   2nd place goes to sharing bags with a guy.
- People in MA and CT should watch out after July 5, as I haven’t driven since Aug 22.
- The overall Best, the most interesting, and the funkiest new place to stay: The Avocado Tree House on Hawaii!!
- Most majestic: overwhelmingly this prize goes to the  wild animals in Africa
- Coldest: the Himalaya
- Most active period: the first several weeks before Samoa; the least active: Africa and Finland
- Nicest surprise: how many family and friends we have met up with along the way
- If everyone we have invited, comes to visit us, we’ll probably have 50+, so hopefully they will stagger visits.
- A new sport: snorkeling, especially for Craig.
- Weirdest class to sign up for: Scuba Diving when you don’t know how to swim, or want to be in the water (a true story as told by Bev’s nephew, who is a professional instructor)
- The safest drivers are found in Australia, and the most dangerous ones in Thailand
- Best food:  country-wide: India. City-wide: Muffy’s regular places in Chiang Mai, with Kao Soi at Kanjana getting the Top Price Of All here.
- Best new chocolate: Old Gold Rum Raisin and their Dark Chocolate. Maybe I should get exclusive import rights, and we would be wealthy - see below.
- Best jam: Barker’s Doris Black Plum.

- What we would do differently if wealthy: book every flight at the most convenient time, and direct whenever possible. Craig says we would have a private jet. Aside from this, not much would be changed.
But we would have a time share in the Madikwe Game Preserve, and would not allow Kevin ever to retire. I would also support more foreign charities.

- Fanciest decorations: Heather’s fascinators
- Biggest yawn: the old lion in Madikwe

Least exotic place: Finland. But we have never arrived from the east before. All other countries were new, and so was Victoria, BC, and the San Juan’s for the most part.
- Best conversation starter: our Steripen.
- Least used item: fortunately the emergency kit, but a close 2nd is the Mosinet.
- Biggest regret, for Craig especially: we didn’t visit Borneo.
- Saddest fact: that I felt the need to explain to so many people that we are ashamed of our president and current government.
- the worst airport experience: departing Leh, due to their chaotic security measures, inadequate & incorrect pre trip info, and rushed officials. The sight of automatic guns everywhere didn’t bother me at all, though.
- Most exotic airport experience: Samoa and American Samoa - no one else comes even close.
- the best beach: the mile long National Park beach on Ofu, which we had to ourselves
- biggest disappointment: that we didn’t bike more in SE Asia, and that altitude problems cancelled our trek in Bhutan.
- most embarrassing check in: returning home with 5 checked bags
- Where Craig could see himself live: the Pacific Northwest and New Zealand

Things we’ll never do again:
- travel on a road under construction in the Himalaya.
- trust ‘helpful’ people on the street in Bangkok.
- not bring enough Picaridin wipes or bicycle tires from home.
- sign up for a house sit without pic’s / adequate info.
- use the airport in Dubai ( Craig recalls having to sit on the floor)