Jurys Inn Brighton

Eek - 3 weeks to go! Sitting here in our half empty flat trying to tie up loose ends, sort out visas, cancel direct debits, plan leaving parties etc etc. So little time, so much still to do...

Quite a few people have suggested we start a travel blog so they can see what/ where in the world we're up to over the next year and a bit, so for those of you interested, here it is - watch this space!

I think we are almost ready!

I've packed my bag but Charlotte still needs to pack, she has had more to sort out and finish here though, along with having to buy a new bag!

I can't believe we have less than 24 hours, then we will be in the air on our way to Cairns,

... in a plastic bag in the fridge!!!! Now what kind of service is that - i'm used to a warm round thing - that said, when needs must - i managed.

Daddy obviously felt sorry for me - as he fed me some of that grown up stuff. They look at me as if i'm some kind of idiot or gifted child - of course i know what a spoon is, where it goes and ...

Here I am …

Today is the big day; I am off to South Africa. I left my brother's house this morning, after attending his wedding at the weekend, to go to Rennes airport and fly to Southampton. I am now at Gatwick airport waiting to board my flight to Dubai where I will take a connection ...

... just Betty from down the road with a scarf on her head - and basically everything came together as a seaside summer fair. This intensified when we arrived at the pier which was huge and had an amusement park, games area, cafes, bars and shops. It was like we stepped back in time and I had to go and buy some rock candy with 'Humbug' written through it. Yes, HAD to. We went and got some tokens and played some games, though the pokies seeping in from the sides kind of took away from it ...

... things out independently. The British Museum was enormous. The Hadrian exhibit took up the large 'round reading room' in the center, and it was covered with banners of Hadrian and Antinous, his male lover. There was no photography allowed in the exhibit, which is why I packed my sketchpad. I took notes in ink along the margins and the main area ended up being filled with sketches of busts and columns. I learned everything about Hadrian, soaking in the ...

... was hassle free. There are loads of bars, restaurants, and sites to see to keep you busy. I found Brighton a very social city, there are always people out for coffee, drinks, or just a stroll and the pubs are usually busy. I came in the winter season so the pier and the beach wasn't as busy as it would be in the summer but still it is full of banter and fun times. The North lanes are full ...

... and a bit of a boogie. It's only a Wednesday night, but theres enough people in here to make it interesting, and no shortage of rather happier looking girls on the dance floor. L'viv has been an absolute surprise, and a city we can both highly recommend as worth a weekend visit. A real jewel of the Ukraine and a nice example of an Eastern European city prior to the Cheap Flight Fungus that will eventualy blight them all. June 21st KM START = 22,910 (Trip = 12,540 ) KM END = 23 ...

... way of saying that obtaining visas to certain parts of this planet requires a bit more planning then what can be squeezed onto a beermat at your local pub. Cross off Iran, strike through the Middle East...hmm, the options are starting to look a bit limited for our big 2 wheeled adventure. OK so lets cut out all the painful countries that don't want to give us Visas, and focus on the ones that will happily stamp our passports and give us full escort to our ...

... of the civilisations that had inhabited what is now a filthy strip of coastal desert. Flick through a copy of National Geographic and you'll likely come upon some excavation or other that has revealed yet another complex society that at some point existed in this area. Later, when we went to the National Museum of Peru in Lima, I was overwhelmed by the sheer scale and variety of ceramic artwork that has been dug up in this area. And what is on display in the ...