I will keep a diary each day and upload each day as a separate entry, as and when I have Internet access. This ranks as a lower priority than actually travelling, so uploading may be very intermittent. Some may be repetitive and I don't guarantee that they will be interesting, but they will detail how I go.
For those reading this, if I corrected your grammar and spelling previously, bear with me. I will try to make sure what I write is correct, but even if it is wrong at first, I will eventually correct it. If you want a bit of fun, print out any errors, correct them with a red pen and post them to me at home. You can finally have your revenge!
Pictures will be at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougmullett/sets and for those who know me better, there may also be some private material on my MySpace blog. General material I will post here.
I have finished all the bookings for January to June except for Japan. I would prefer an escorted tour, and have to wait until early January to check what is available. Otherwise I will use the trains and have accommodation booked.
I have completed the outline for the travel August to November but that won't be completed until I return. I have to visit the Travel Agent as soon as I return in June, have photos for visas ready and then confirm arrangements. Once that has been done, I have to start injections required and then will head off to Perth (assuming that I'm not too jet-lagged). I won't inform my aunt in Perth that I intend to be there because it's easier and better to surprise than disappoint.
I hope I have got things arranged properly (I will find out when I travel!) and will practise in Tassie. I have to be totally self-contained, not have too much to carry and have security for my worldly goods, money and ID.
Things are starting to get exciting. I have my travellers' cheques, some currency for each country I travel to, credit, charge and debit cards, International Driving permit, passports and a paper diary (OK, it's a thick exercise book, but it will do the job). I have a writing case (retirement gift from school), camera with two cards, SatNav (for driving), GPS (for walking), iPod (for listening), iPod (for recording - no, I'm not stuttering, they are different), torch and beacon. I won't be taking any guide books or maps with me (too heavy, not enough room). I don't need visas for the first overseas part (nor for Tassie). I must remember to take a hat (save the world from greenhouse gases? - saving what's left of my hair is more important, but it wasn't mentioned at Kyoto or Bali), shoes and clothing, including a jacket. Most everything else I can do without. My mobile will only accept SMS texts while I am away. I don't yet know what the number will be, but I presume it will be 61 411 (instead of 0411) and the rest is the same. I will try to get a SIM in each country for local calls and a card for calling back to Australia (so text me with the number if you want me to ring, but remember I'll be on overseas time - if I call you in the middle of the night, don't blame me!).
I have two friends, a relative and perhaps a pilot to see in the US. I have three relatives, two work friends and perhaps another friend to visit in England. In France I hope to visit where my grandfather won the Military Medal in World War One. I may see my sister's in-laws in Spain, visit another friend from work in Italy and see the haunts of Inspector Rex in Austria. I want to drive the Florida Keys, the Mississippi (well, next to it), the Appalachians (the highest points), the Alps (making sure any James Bond types aren't in front of me while the baddies are behind me) and from Denmark to Sweden. The second half I will speculate about later.
I have completed nearly all my Christmas cards and will post them tonight and trust Australia Post to get them delivered before Christmas. As there are 200 and I wanted to include my itineraries, they took time to prepare and print, and the latest itinerary information only came yesterday.
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