Perhaps I ought to recap on some of my earlier trips. After my partner Daemon died in 1999, I decided that I ought to go round the world at least once. This was to be no backpacking Sabbatical Year. I decided to travel in style but I only allowed two weeks for the task!
On this trip, I set off Eastwards, just before Christmas, 2001, calling first in Thailand. I was in Bangkok over Christmas and spent some time with my friend Dheb Dhebpunya who I'd met during earlier business trips.
Sydney was the next stop. I loved the city and managed to try out most of the ferry routes and undertook the Sydney Bridge climb - a wonderful experience and nowhere near as demanding as I feared. Having never flown in a seaplane, I couldn't resist a sightseeing trip from Rose Bay.
All too soon, I moved on to Auckland. The weather here was mixed but this did not stop me trying out the ferry routes, climbing to the top of the extinct volcano on the island of Rangitoto and visiting the island of Waiheke. I visited the Glenbrook preserved railway (did I mention my interest in railways?), managed to get a footplate ride on the massive 'Ja' class and fire the locomotive for a few kilometres. I made a flying visit to Great Barrier Island (literally - in an 'Islander' aircraft along with a few passengers, the newspapers, the milk and other cargo) and was charmed by the island and the kindness of the residents. Finally, I got a bird's eye view of Auckland from the Sky Tower before flying East to Fiji.
In Fiji, as well as spending time on the superb beaches around Nadi, I had a thrilling ride in a Jet Boat, took a helicopter trip over the jungle and outlying islands and spent a day cruising on a clipper. Taking the helm for a while was a new experience!
Then, East again to the United States, transiting through Los Angeles to San Francisco, which fully lived up to my expectations. I tried out the MUNI and BART (rapid transit systems), ferry, bus, streetcar, cable car and Amtrak. I had a spectacular helicopter trip, the highlight of which was flying UNDER the Golden Gate Bridge!
Then I flew home, totally exhilarated by the whole experience.
The photographs on this trip were taken by my trusty Canon EOS film camera. Once I get 'em scanned I'll post them.
Meanwhile, if you'd like to see something similar, go to Round the World Two
