United Kingdom

Well, it's a year since we returned from our round the world adventure and we've hardly strayed from our door since we got back. I've still got the travel bug and I'm desperate to get back to the USA. We've got a short break in Prague booked in November but I'd prefer a longer trek. Nevermind, we've got good friends coming over from Chicago soon so we will be able to catch up on our favourite place pretty soon. I'm going to keep this blog open and use it to document future travels such as Prague and this year's Reading festival.

Come back soon...

Having a relaxing few days in Somerset at Holly Bush Caravan Park (owned by my good friends Gary and Rae). Karen and I are pretty much ready to go but just have a few parties and gatherings to attened so that we can say goodbye to everyone.

Somerset has been great as usual and the food at the holman clavel in (Culmhead) gets better and better each time we come. Seafood Platter for me tonight!!!

Title again says it all. I find out if I am successful before Christmas. Let's hope that Santa is good to me!

So, Everything is sorted for leaving the country and Hong Kong is the first destination. We've used the hotel booking facility on Travellerspoint (which is very good) and managed to book into the Newton Hotel in Hong Kong which seemed close to some of the nice areas such as Causeway Bay and Wan Chai. A bit of a bugger to get their on public transport (about an hour by bus from Lantau airport) but it should provide a good base from which to explore the rest of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Since we booked it we've had 3 recommendations from people who've been before so we're really looking forward to it.

Really want to catch up with Morse Lee whilst I'm there. Hope it can be arranged.....

Finances are all sorted and we have a pretty generouse budget but we'll see if I can resist all of those gadgets when the exchange rate is £1 = $14.2493 HKD

Very Excited......

Title says it all actually. Great news is that it is before I leave the country....

Fingers crossed....

Here's what's booked so far.

November
15th - Leave Newcastle for London (to have a relaxing night in a heathrow hotel. Hopefully meet Andy / Lucy and Bobby)
16th - 19.00 - Depart London Heathrow
17th - 14.45 - Arrive Hong Kong (maybe catch up with Morse)
21st - 20.30 - Depart Hong Kong
22nd - 08.25 - Arrive Sydney, Australia
(here we'll be visiting Melbourne briefly and then back to Sydney for Christmas and New Year with Gail, Ian and Julian before heading up the east coast to Cairns and the Barrier Reef in a campervan before returning to Sydney).

February -
17th - 11.40 - Depart Sydney, Australia
17th - 16.35 - Arrive Auckland, New Zealand
(here for a month, backpacking, camping and getting around by train before returning to Auckland).

March -
17th - 14.00 - Depart Auckland, New Zealand
17th - 16.05 - Arrive Nadi, Fiji (for a brief beach holiday)

20th - 23.00 - Depart Nadi, Fiji
20th - 13.15 - Arrive Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A.
21st - 22 day trek with Trek America taking in San Diego, Grand Canyon, Monumnet Valley, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Yosemite, San Fransisco and back to LA.

April -
11th - 12.15 - Depart Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A.
11th - 14.59 - Arrive Seattle, WA. U.S.A.
(buy a Cadillac. Spend April, May and June travelling from Seattle through Montana to Omaha, Chicago, Boston and New York).

June -
- Get accross the border at Niagra into Canada and spend the rest of our money / time around Torronto.

July -
Leave Canada (probably the 11th) and return to London Heathrow. Dodge around the South Coast and then head home......

Here are the details of our planned parties and leaving do's so far...

Friday 1st October between 7.00pm and 8.00pm -
Centurion Bar - Central Station - Newcastle Upon Tyne

Leaving do for me and Brian Taylor as we make our merry way from Spark Response.

Saturday 30th October @ 8.00pm -
Dog and Parrot - Newcastle Upon Tyne

Re-union night of the damphouses (my old band). This is under threat because Adam the singer has snapped his achillies tendon. The room booking will stay and it may be a case of an acoustic gig...

The room is licensed for 80 people and is quite snug but should be a laugh. For those who haven't seen us before we're a straightforward rock band and we'll stick a few covers in on the night.

Friday 12th November @ 7.30pm -
Corner House - Heaton - Newcastle Upon Tyne

A proper leaving party for friends and family. Our friends the kookoonauts will be playing their mix of 60's / 70's / 80's and 90's rock classics......

We finally completed and sold the house on Monday 27th and have stuffed everything we own into the in-laws! We've paid for the tickets and the trek and I'll post the itinerary soon both here and at www.readworldtour.com as well....

Being a one car family whilst Karen is working is tough. It feels like having an arm cut off! As much as I respect the environment I'd drive a 50 year old tractor on fully leaded petrol without a catalytic converter if it meant I could get to and from Prudhoe easier!

It's amazing how much I rely on the car, the internet and my computer in general. It really is going to be a total culture shock to do without those things whilst travelling. A car in Oz and the states are going to be essential.

Anyway, don't want to bore anyone so I'll leave it there.

Kevin.

Moved most of our stuff out of the house. Looking to exchange contracts on the house a.s.a.p. and move on Monday 27th September.

This is my last week at Spark Response and my application for teacher training is awaiting a reference from my old middle school teacher and friend Sheila Hamil.

We've sold one of our cars, just one more to go and I have a shedload of electricals to sell. (anyone want a minidisc recorder?).

So everything is falling into place (fingers crossed) and we should have confirmed our flights (with payment) by Saturday 25th.

Kevin.

Handed in my notice at Spark Response today. Great feeling to be making such a change. Sad to know that I'll be saying goodbye to the team in little over 6 weeks.