Happening All Over Again

It doesn't have a great deal to do with Lonnie Gordon, but it seems to be happening all over again.

After over 4 months of travel last year, and a subsequent 8 months in Melbourne (Its near the Antarctic you know) - it didn't take much to twist my arm. Another adventure is underway!

Miss Julie asked me to go away for five months. We leave Sydney on Tuesday, July 13th.

I pondered and considered then thought... my goodness, we could drink an awful lot of beer in 5 months, why the hell not. I negotiated two grand prix's, a paralympic opening ceremony, and the land-mine avoidance tour of eastern Europe into the itennerary and Hey Presto ! Miss Julie agreed.

However. Because, during my stay in Melbourne and befriending several locals, I may have developed a propensity to spend a lot of beer on money, I decided I would come home somewhere near November.

Julie has bought a pair of hiking boots that apparently make her look like mini mouse (which I find interesting because Julie doesn't have big ears). These (the boots, not the ears) will certainly be handy. Perhaps especially in Bosnia, should they have anti-mine capability built in. Now we only have to work on replacing the suitcase on wheels with a backpack.

It all starts with One night in Bankok (because of the song) followed by 6 nights in Koh Samui and two in Hong Kong. Then off to Africa (with a flying 24hr visit to Victoria Falls followed by a 5 day safari) and then Egypt (Via London for 12 hours).

Moving on to Hungary for our first F1 Grand Prix (Arriving Budapest 10th August). We then plan on touring Eastern Europe - Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Albania, Slovenia, before heading to Milan for the Italian F1 GP in Monza on September 12. We spend three days in Madrid before catching up with Liesl in Athens for the Paralympic Opening (17th September)and then off to the Greek Islands, back through Albania (Tirana and Durres) and across to Southern Italy (Bari) for a fortnight through the south up to Rome.

We part company at Rome and Julie goes on to London, New York, Mexico and Las Vegas. On October 15th I head from Rome to Miami and then on to Cancun and Mexico, and a stopover in Dallas before arriving back in Oz on or about October 29th.

I'm just a little bit excited but will be looking forward to keeping in touch. More Soon!

Ric.