14 August 2014

Woke this morning on the other side of the world…..very strange.

One minute you’re riding your bike around Scandanavia, interacting with Danes and Swedes and Finns……and the next, you’re in a hotel 12000km’s away and already your life on the road is sliding further into the distance.

It was about 7am when we began our lives once more in New Zealand. First, Julia claimed a nice long shower….to be followed straight after by me. Confirmed our flight to New Plymouth and after checking a couple of messages, we strolled along to breakfast.

Very nice too, as was the hotel itself. At 10.30am a lady shuttle driver came to pick us up to take us to Auckland Domestic Terminal. Now….last night our bike boxes had virtually been torn apart….thanks to a customs security check, so we were turning up this morning hoping we would still get on our flight. In the terminal there was a long queue, so Julia went to the service desk to get some help. They sent us down to  oversize baggage, where a guy oohed and aahed about the state of the boxes.

‘Not our fault’ we said and told the story. He was actually very good and gave us some of the ticket tape to act as a makeshift binding. However…he did then make us take a bedroll from one of the boxes as it weighed 1 kg over the allowance. Did that and then went and waited with a coffee for our flight. Message over the speakers reminded passengers to make sure they were not overweight .as they would be scrutinising passengers getting aboard.

Had no problems there and we were soon winging it toward New Plymouth with a sou-westerly wind blowing. Got pretty bumpy coming into land and I thought the pilot did really well to get her down.

So….here we were back home after three months tripping all over Europe……

I  should have felt great to be home and seeing the kids and family and friends….which I did….but part of me felt I should still be out on the road. See …that was always the way it was with me years ago. We’d go touring somewhere and when it was over Julia was ready to return to wherever we were and carry on. With me…it would always take a few months.

It was good to see everyone and after cutting the boxes down, we loaded the bikes on our bike rack and headed for home. Spent the afternoon catching up with family, just talking, before pottering around putting stuff in for wash….or placing gear away.

The hours rolled by and after everyone had gone Ju the kids and I sat down for Taco’s for tea.

Whilst we were away the kids coped. I won’t say they excelled in many areas….but hey at 19 and 17….they didn’t wreck the house with wild parties, they still went to work and did socially what they normally do. Georgina did the business paperwork for us and took care of the banking, which she did admirably. Both the kids will soon be ready to do their own travelling which….as with Julia and I….really opened our eyes to what’s out there and broadened our outlook on life.

So…. That’s it really. It was a long time in the planning…..even longer in the actual getting round to doing……and now that it’s done….well…..now comes more planning…only this time……it won’t take anywhere near as long to do.

Our final blog will be our thoughts on the trip.