A very hot difficult day 23 November 2014

now then this is a lesson in beware of what you wish for Unlike back home the weather is very hot and humid even more so today,  but I decided that I would go into the city last night to photograph it at night from the ferry,  but got lost, had sandles on for a change so ended up with blisters, made worse by the fact I got lost walked much further than I should then just missed the ferry(well thats not so bad you all think but it gets better ) I should of just been able to cross over and return, no such luck so stuck there with poorly feet for an hour, never mind tomorrow is another day.

so today Sunday I was packed and ready for the off ordered a taxi for the airport, blisters still very painful. Trip ok got some blister plasters,  went to check in, oh I forgot to say normally I would of been able to use the ferry and train but not working due to engineering works. Got to check in young woman said could not find my booking asked for itinerary informed me i was a day early, checked she was right, ooops rang hotel they had noticed but could not get in touch, but room free. Now got free bus into town so as to catch ferry, what a mistake, so did everybody else and Sydney was hot and full, finally got back here after 2 hours, now exhausted foot painful  cannot walk so lying here to hot typing this,  wish I was home, worse I have to do it all again tomorrow.

This was a good time to catch up with various websites and e mails plus to do this blog, sorry I am not really that bad just frustrated with my feet, life could be much worse, plus had a chat with Jane and felt much better for that. But then decided eould go to the village for something to eat so sorted out shower and foot, another issue when on your own who dresses your foot if you need help, but got there, then off I went, in the end decided to try a pizza, went in went,  Rob had warned me about the mans attitude, still hard to accept, went into restaurant section and young ladies very helpful, pizza was good, went to pay man, still rubbish attitude and overpriced just as well not need to go back again. Got some bits for tomorrow just in case returned tried to watch film as foot still very painful but kept falling asleep. Believe it or not next we had heavy rain storm but not any cooler,  for a change had another chat with Jane before packing case for tomorrow.

One more week to go 26 October 2014

It seems so long ago since my first chat with my son about a trip to the Grand Canyon, that developed into this marathon of 30 days away with over 60 hours in the sky, 5 countries and 10 destinations for me. Now there are three of us the latest addition is Gulliver Chico Glasser, see previous blog for more about him, dont forget to follow him on Facebook, he hashis own profile and will keep you up to date with his travels as well as photos with me.

They will be with me on my first leg to London that origionally was just a train trip, but thanks to you Maggie is now going to be an exciting adventure, with visits to the Poppy garden at the Tower, then a trip down the Thames by boat, a meal at the O2, then cable car across the river before a train trip to Docklands.  If I time it right it will then be a trip to Heathrow after rush hour to rest before the start of the real trip with our first adventure in New York.

So far it seems we are going to visit staten island ferry, the Statue of Liberty, the memorial to the Twin Towers and the Air Sea museum, but the first adventure there will be to find our hotel, as it involves a trip into the centre first.

After a few days there we travel to Vegas hopefully to visit the Grand Canyon, it came as a surprise that it gets cold in Vegas and the Canyon so it could affect our ability to get there and my sons planned bike ride on the Rim, but we will see. I am still hoping for the chance to meet up with my Buzzer friend Geri if her health is up to it. My son informs me we are having a look at casinos and the Strip is obviously going to be included, think may need to hire a scooter to help cope with distances.

My son then travels back home then its me and my new trusty friend Gulliver Chico Glasser for the rest of the journey. If you read back a little you will read about him, he is with me to promote ME Chronic Fatigue Syndrome awareness and promote our local group as well as encourage people to sponsor him on the groups behalf.

The next leg is to Auckland for a couple of days, then to Oz, Port Douglas, Ayres Rock, then Sydney. I have found a place there to stay where  whem I come in on the ferry there are spectacular views each day of the Opera House and Bridge at each destination it will be an adventure.

Then its onto Malaysia with a trip to visit my friend in Penang followed by a trip to Singapore and finally to Shanghai before returning back to London again for the last leg home.

Its thanks to Sue at Ace Travel2 that its all been possible,  thanks Sue for all your time and patience over the months in the planning and sorting out paperwork for the trip as well as encouragement with the mammoth task, I must stop making lists as my luggage will be overloaded with them.

My visas are in place,  Sue is coming this week to go through all my paperwork to make sure I have my E tickets transfer and hotel vouchers, my GP has sorted out my prescription and  I should have a letter from her, so there are no issues for the medication I will be carrying for pain relief. I have had all necessary inoculations and more recently my flu jabs and just to make sure, have travel insurance to cover the trip.

After I thought about the cold in New York and possibly Vegas and the Canyon, I have made sure that I will have sufficient clothing that will cope with the hot and cold weather, I have tried packing my case and everything I can think of is going in and it is still under weight,  sorry have not included yet all of Chicos clothes some kindly donated by Caroline and  Mandy, do another task for me. I have decided as I am travelling with Chico that this time I will not take my SLR camera rather, my tablet, compact camera and recently purchased camcorder to record what I see on my travels and also to copy onto my blog but also to keep copies to show when I get back home. They will take up less room and be more inconspicuous I hope as I travel around.

Although it is now so close I still have not sorted out the best way to deal with money in the various countries, despite advice from my friend Paul which has been helpful on the subject and other aspects of my trip. But will finally resolve this week, its so complicated with a range of currencies to deal with in particular when I first arrive at destinations in the different countries and the first few hours whilst I find my bearings, so different as a lone traveller than with an organised trip, but much more exciting I hope.

Well I will close for now, hope you enjoy the read and will continue to follow the adventure as it unfolds.