Pre-trip prep

Trip Start Nov 15, 2006
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Trip End Jul 15, 2008


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Flag of United States  , Michigan,
Wednesday, November 1, 2006

We will set off on Nov. 15, 2006 to go to a motel near the airport and early the next morning we'll board our plane for the big trip; the really big trip; or the ultimate trip. We haven't decide which one yet. In the meantime were doing all we can to get ready for take off. There is so much to do to get ready for a year or more of travel. Who'll take care of our cat, plants and properties, how will the bills get paid and of course what to pack. Lot's to figure out and problems to anticipate. We are busy, busy and to Irina's distraction Arvid keeps reciting verses from "The Golden Journey to Samarkand" by James Elroy Flecker,

Away, for we are ready to a man!
Our camels sniff the evening and are glad.
Lead on, O Master of the Caravan
Lead on the Merchant-Princes of Bagdad.

Have we not Indian carpets dark as wine,
Turbans and sashes, gowns and bows and veils,
And broideries of intricate design,
And printed hangings in enormous bales.

And we have manuscripts in peacock styles
By Ali of Damascus; we have swords
Engraved with storks and apes and crocodiles,
And heavy beaten necklaces for Lords.

We travel not for trafficking alone
By hotter winds our fiery hearts are fanned,
For lust of knowing what should not be known
We make the Golden Journey to Samarkand.

Sweet to ride forth at evening from the wells
When shadows pass gigantic on the sand,
And softly through the silence beat the bells
Along the Golden Road to Samarkand.

According to the Wikipedia the poem is fully inscribed on the clock tower of the barracks of the British Army's 22nd Special Air Service regiment in Hereford.
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Comments

sand
sand on Nov 17, 2006 at 10:59PM

Hi
Welcome to Tucson, you worldly souls, you...
Nice drink, Arvid.
It is great pool sitting weather here...not in the pool, but beside it...
Sand

martinsth
martinsth on Oct 2, 2007 at 04:12AM

Hey, Arvid & Irina
I dig your site.

Tommy Milwaukee

martinsth
martinsth on Oct 2, 2007 at 04:12AM

Hey, Arvid & Irina
I dig your site.

Tommy Milwaukee

martinsth
martinsth on Oct 22, 2007 at 02:40AM

What up in Afghanistan?
Hey, A & I,

We haven't heard from you since 10/3 in Peshawar. Are you in Afghanistan or elsewhere now?

Tommy Milwaukee

bigb0
bigb0 on Dec 6, 2007 at 10:53AM

Good Morning Arvid & Irina
It dropped down to below 10 degrees here so I guess Winter is here. We have several inches of snow as well. On the bright side, we will have more time to read your logs now.
Bruce

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