That bittersweet tang

This is something I should really get use to, it'll be happening a lot over the next 18(ish) months. That bittersweet taste of leaving one place and all that's there (the people who are there) and going to another. As much as I'm looking forward to my time in Toronto and seeing Jean-François, it is a shame to be leaving Steve and Lisa in DC.

Given how small the planet is, it's far too big at times.

The local taste (part 2)

Part of the local taste is creating new local dishes, which will be part legend and part folklore. An example of this is the Paco, the pork taco. Slow cooked pork, wrapped in ham. Washed down with a beer.

See also the Paco sandwich: bread roll, slice of ham, slow cooked pork, freshly made coleslaw, more ham, top of the roll, all with a generous dash of Chipotle sauce. Washed down with a beer.

The legend is pictured. Folklore remains for those that were there.

The local taste

One of the nice things about being somewhere that isn't home is the sampling of new, local, things. In the case of when I visit my friends near DC this means one thing and one thing alone. Beer.

America had a reputation for really bad beer and if you drink the likes of Budwiser: 1) it's true (cue the canoe joke); 2) there are many many other beers you could be drinking which are really very good.

Things to add to the trip

Having spent the last few days in Lost River National Park I've found something I need to make sure I add plenty of to my trip - darkness.

Two evenings sat outside in the pitch black staring at the sky and a field of stars. Being able to see the arm of the Milkyway is really very cool (not a reference to the freezing cold conditions) and something that I'd forgotten just how nice it is. If nothing else it made me remember being in the Namibian Desert and falling asleep out under the stars.  Heaven.

Oh so glamorous (part 2)

Yesterday I spent about 17 hours getting from my place to a friend's house near DC. An 8 hour flight with a 4.5 hour delay and 2 (yes, two) hours to get through immigration at IAD.

The Beijing to Lima jump is about twice that (excluding delays). That is going to hurt. Lots.

Oh so glamorous.

In related news, the beer and pizza when I arrived tasted *so* good.  Kinda like the breakfast in Lima will.

Oh so glamorous

A 4 hour delay on an 8 hour flight. This travel lark, it's oh so glamorous.

Packing

I've come to the conclusion that there is very little difference between packing for a 10 day trip and a multi-month trip. The amount of crap you seem to need for either is about the same, where the only real difference is that I'm not taking a sleeping bag on this trip. (and there are plenty of multi-month trips where you don't need one.)
I'll put a little (lot) more thought into packing for a multi-month trip, but I'm willing to bet that the results look a lot like what is currently routing its way around LHR T5 in an effort to find me in DC in about 10 hours time.
In related news, this is the first time in a very long time I've been at an airport and not hated it. For someone who had travelled a lot (with work, mostly) I really don't like airports.

I wonder if I could do my RTW without flying. :-)