Well, the first leg is over...but the tragedy of the tornados in all of our favorite places have dominated our consciousness. Oxford was spared, as was Bakersvillle, and the airport at St. Louis was as normal as usual when we departed yesterday...the concourse that was heavily damaged was built separately, so we had no idea of any damage as we waited to board. Only when we took off over Bridgeton did we see blocks of devastation. Our hearts go out to all of those affected by the storms. They are in our prayers.
Out of a total of 25 different flights, we have completed two: St Louis to Oklahoma City and OK to Denver...we are enjoying the snow that is left over on the mountain tops...they are gorgeous...we are all layered up in our clothes, but the sun is shining (haven't seen that in days) even though the thermometer does not get above low 50's. But, as I just said, the sun is shining...and we are drying our clothes outside.
The visit to St. Louis was wonderful, spending time with the grandsons, Jacob and Sammy, Mike and Betty Ann, and reminiscing with friends of long standing. This is a freedom of schedule we have not enjoyed before! We spoke to Jacob's kindergarten class on Monday about this trip (they will follow us on their globes and maps), and tried to Skype them today, but had some techie problems. We will try again tomorrow before we leave for Los Angeles. It was cute to see the kids waving to us. Maybe tomorrow we can hear them!
Terri and Al met us yesterday and we are taking things slow and easy...can you believe it? It is a great beginning to a lifelong dream....hope you are all in good health and that the sun begins to shine in your world! Email me sometime!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Here's the "easy to read" itinerary
GRISHAM ITINERARY:
ROUND THE WORLD TRIP
APRIL 23 TO JULY 23, 2011
April 23, 2011
We drive to St. Louis to visit the grandsons there and good friends before we head west into “tomorrow-land”. Celebrate Easter and a half marathon at the same time, and “teach” Jacob’s kindergarten class about our trip…got a beach ball globe so they can follow us throughout the trip.
April 27
We depart at 10:30 am for Terri’s in Nederland (near Boulder, CO). Get to stay there until Friday morning…just enjoying the mountains from their deck. A good way to get into the New Zealand mode.
April 29
Fly to Los Angeles – and get ready to launch into the journey…Bruce and Rhonda will “host” us there for two nights, doing some sightseeing.
May 1
That Sunday at 11:30 we depart from LAX on China Southern Airlines to arrive in China (Guangzhou) for a three hour layover, then on Korean Air to Seoul for another three hour layover, and once again, into the night as we head for New Zealand.
May 4 (remember – it is a day head of our day here)
At 7:30 am we arrive in Auckland, NZ where we will stay for two nights before heading for our bnb in Te Anau, on the South Island. There we will take life easy and tour the mountains and bays – hoping to see the penguins or other such wildlife and enjoy the country and its people. By the way, read an interesting book by a NZ author – I am Mr. Pip. I can recommend it. (Maybe the name is Call me Mr. Pip)
May 12
Depart the South Island for Auckland, and remain there for another two days.
May 14
Leave Auckland at 8:30 am, headed for Seoul, Korea and a twenty-four hour layover, where we will meet with Hyan for dinner and meander around the city.
May 15
Depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia where we will spending time with Ben and Leong Yeo. Their names are on the contact list.
May 31
Depart KL for Bangkok where we layover and catch a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa via Amsterdam. We arrive in Jo’burg at 9:20 PM and our contact there is Ivor Jenkins. Hotel there is Vile la Va in Pretoria
June 7
Depart for Shumbalala Game Lodge outside of Krueger Nat’l. Park where we stay – looking hopefully at the five big game animals of Africa.
June 10
Depart the game lodge, return to Jo’burg and depart for Cape Town.
June 13
Depart Cape Town, layover in Jo’burg and on to Amsterdam and Helsinki, Finland.
June 14
Arrive Helsinki at about 5 PM today – Contact people there are Taru-Maija Helila-Rasimov of Jyvaskyla and Tarja Harkonen of Savolinna. Their names and contact information is on the list.
July 2
Depart Helsinki for Amsterdam then on to Berlin. There we can be reached via Michael Wachholz – also his name is on the contact list.
July 10
Depart Berlin, via Paris for Dublin, Ireland. Contact person there is Therese Smith, also on your contact list, and our last international stop on the trip.
July 18
Depart Dublin, via Paris arrive in Chicago. Staying at the Tremont Hotel, going to a Cubs game on the 20th with Rich, Jean and Jeanette.
July 21
Take the train down to St. Louis and stay at Mike’s for two nights then back to Oxford.
Important thing to remember is that we can be reached by email any day – I will be checking it daily, except perhaps when we are on planes all day. Telephone calls will be expensive, and texting is verboten by price. So….we will have to miss your voices for three months, unless there is an emergency.
Let me know if you get this and have any problems understanding it…
REALLY Getting Ready!!
Just checking in as we begin our final packing. Latest news is that we will "teach" our grandson's kindergarten class for a short while Monday -- let them follow us on the trip. I can hardly wait to sit in one of those tee-niny little chairs and tell them about the water going counter-clockwise down the drain in New Zealand, instead of clockwise as it does here, what penguins look like in real life, and where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean mix the blue and the green at Cape of Good Hope, etc.
Have chucked the back pack idea and will take our faithful suitcases, though a friend suggested we pack half and half -- so each case will have part his and part hers...in case of loss of luggage, we wouldn't be without clothes.
We are closing in on the loose ends...today checking on malaria, Hepititis A, and Tetnus shots and 90 days worth of prescriptions. There has to be lots of organization on the front end of a trip like this...I am hoping when we depart that I will cease to worry about details and just enjoy the journey.
I think the next time I post will be after May 1 -- as that is when we truly leave the country. I just wanted to let y'all know that things are working on the blog site...and that I will try to download the simplified itinerary with this.
Remember we are always available via email.
Take care in y'alls worlds...Sandy
Have chucked the back pack idea and will take our faithful suitcases, though a friend suggested we pack half and half -- so each case will have part his and part hers...in case of loss of luggage, we wouldn't be without clothes.
We are closing in on the loose ends...today checking on malaria, Hepititis A, and Tetnus shots and 90 days worth of prescriptions. There has to be lots of organization on the front end of a trip like this...I am hoping when we depart that I will cease to worry about details and just enjoy the journey.
I think the next time I post will be after May 1 -- as that is when we truly leave the country. I just wanted to let y'all know that things are working on the blog site...and that I will try to download the simplified itinerary with this.
Remember we are always available via email.
Take care in y'alls worlds...Sandy
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