We’re back after a
fabulous 65 day trip.
Highlights:
The people of course. You
know who you are! There are too many to mention individually, but I must say
that meeting my long lost eldest Sister (half Sister actually) for the first
time, and all of her family was very special (to say the least). Also it was
fantastic to meet friends from up to 45 years ago that we had kept in contact
with, but not met since that time. We also had some great reunions with more
recent friends, particularly from JPL and Goddard NASA centres. Along the way we
made more friends and everyone extended mind blowing hospitality – thank you
so much! Despite visits to JPL and Foothill we missed quite a few we had hoped
to see – perhaps next time….. 37 of our 60 nights (that we slept in beds –
not airports or planes) were with friends, relations, even friends of friends,
etc. We could not have done it without you…..
Places and Things:
We took two pre-arranged
“tours”. The first was a 5 night 6 day tour of the Canadian Rockies – 2
days on the Rocky Mountaineer railway, and the rest via Coach. Despite overcast
weather for the first half, the whole trip was overwhelming with superb scenery
and really friendly staff. The second was 3 nights of total luxury at a 5 star
S. African private game lodge in part of the Kruger national park. This was the
high point of the trip for me (apart from the people) – getting up close and
personal with all the wildlife was awesome.
Transport:
20 flights in all from
747s to a Cessna 180 – all well except the final Sydney/Canberra leg when they
decided to change the baggage rules. Really needed at 6 am after a long
flight….
Various coaches in Canada
& UK all went well.
Rental cars in LA,
Washington, England and Scotland. All from Hertz (amazingly the cheapest rates
of the majors), all good cars and no hassles.
Gondolas in Banff
(breathtaking), at Niagara, and Singapore (Sentosa Island) interesting and
really high!
Canal boats in Amsterdam,
Thames boats and Singapore bum boats, trams (city and park), inclined railways,
several monorails, normal railways etc!
Towers! Skylon Niagara, CN
tower Toronto (114 stories in 15 secs!), Empire State building, London Eye
(Ferris wheel – not really a tower)
Museums and Art
Galleries:
(I’m listing in some
detail as we have brochures etc. for those in Canberra who may be interested).
New Getty Museum and Art
Gallery in LA
Norton-Simon Gallery in LA
Whyte Pioneers museum in
Banff
Greenwich maritime museum
and Royal observatory in London
The London museum
Duxford Imperial war
museum near Cambridge
Shipwreck & Heritage
centre at Charlestown Cornwall
Museum of flight at East
Fortune, East Lothian Scotland
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
(Tops!)
Maritime museum in
Amsterdam
Images of Singapore Wax
museum – Sentosa
Botanic and other
gardens:
Gardens at Norton Simon
& Getty Galleries
Botanic gardens and green
houses Niagara
Battery Park NY
Brighton Dam near
Washington (5200 Azaleas in full bloom!)
The Eden Project – St.
Austell Cornwall
Kew Gardens – London
Hollyroodhouse Palace
gardens – Edinburgh
Botanic Gardens and
National Orchid gardens – Singapore
Cathedrals and
Houses/Castles (All stunning):
Norwich Cathedral
Medieval Dragon Hall –
Norwich
St. Albans Abbey
Highcliffe Castle –
Christchurch
Montacute House –
Somerset
Exeter Cathedral
Lanhydrock house near
Bodmin Cornwall
Tantallon Castle – East
Lothian
Edinbourgh Castle
The Palace of
Hollyroodhouse – Edinburgh
Dirleton Castle – East
Lothian
Bruton Somerset, and
Lostwithiel Cornwall churches
Oddments!:
Magic Castle Hollywood
(Thanks Steve!)
Kamloops B.C. Canada –
Dinner and Show (Great!)
Town Tours – Banff,
Toronto
Oundle School –
Northamptonshire
Somerset records office
Charleston harbour
Cornwall
Luxulan aqueduct, water
wheels and Cornish industrial areas
Sorry about the horrendous
listing but it may give some who are travelling an idea what we covered and
usually can supply details.
Among
the many guidebooks and leaflets that we brought home, Betty took 860+ photos
(all in albums and documented already), and I have 6 Hours of un-edited digital
video and some 200+ digital stills (one day I’ll get to these!).
We
made it back having suffered only a few minor health problems, 3 colds between
the two of us (Airline air?), and a few days of upset tummies. 2 or 3 mosquito
bites in a high risk (for Malaria) area – but no ill effects so far!
Once
again – thank you, thank you to all those who helped, accommodated, fed and
entertained us. It’s great to have so many friends.