The pleasure of returning home, I find, is usually after “too much of a good thing.” Nevertheless, I was reluctant to, on the final night of my 69 night odyssey, accept that “this time tomorrow, I shall be in my own bed” for the first time in ten weeks. Prior to boarding Queen Mary 2 in Southampton, I with my neighbour who had driven me down in my car, “over-nighted” in Southampton. He then borrowed my car to visit Mission Direct colleagues in the South of England, of course with my blessing. Missionary work in Kenya would prevent my being taken home again; it’s my turn to “do the honours” on his return to the U.K.
It’s Tuesday 13/8/19, and I am enjoyng a coffee at Cafe Nero’s. I have been home since the late afternoon of 8th August, a Thursday, and only now am I beginning to settle into the routine of “normality.” I still wake in the middle of the night with the momentary sensation of being at sea. And when I was at sea, dreams of being at home were a nightly annoyance!
I have not returned to any kind of a legendary summer. But neither has it been miserable outside. The extremes, possibly to do with climate change, have now subsided. Those who prevented the collapse of the dam very near Whaley Bridge averted a disaster which would have resonated globally; indeed, the fact that the dam was so very close to bursting did make the world’s media, and for a short while, was up there with Trump and Brexit.
I am pleased to be home, and relishing the freedom retirement offers, and, of course, the continued realisation that one does not need to travel to Alaska and New Zealand for gorgeous countryside, although I would like to go back, and have already booked a repeat and more extensive trip around Alaska. Instead of returning eastbound, I shall stay on board and visit around eight places in Japan, giving myself two full days in Tokyo before a 12 hour westbound flight to the U.K.
Therefore, there is plenty to anticipate in the currently far off coming year, during the early part of which I shall also have experienced many days in and around South America.
So, to those who follow my travel writings, there is plenty more to come, as well as occasional snippets written on home ground.
For the time being, I shall enjoy my copy of “Steam Railway” over a second de-caff latte!
Comments are always welcome and in most cases responded to, hopefully, satisfactorily.
In and around Buxton.
Thanks for reading, David. 13th August 2019.
David's Cruise 