Well its now official. There is no turning back. Today was the cut off for final payment for my USA tour. I had paid friday but today it was official. The final payments have been made on this trip and its all on now. So its about time I actually told you what I was doing. I am doing two Contiki tours. The first is the 24 Day Grand Southern (link) which goes from Los Angeles (Anaheim really) to New York. Now this tour is something that I have wanted to do for quite a number of years now and I have not had the time to do it or ever really justify it. The 2nd tour I am doing is called Big Apple Explorer and is simply a 4 day tour of New York (link). This tour should give me a total of 28 days on tour. I’ll give you a quick run down of my itinerary.
28th August – Last day at work
29th August – Packing, Final run around etc
30th August – Fly out of Brisbane – Air New Zealand – NZ6 BNE-AKL-LAX (YBBN-NZAA-KLAX). Arrive same Day into Los Angeles and check in for two nights at the Best Western Stovalls Inn.
31st August – Free Day, probably catching up with Elm, Kenna, Michelle, Robin etc
01st September – Grand Southern Tour Departs Anaheim
24th September – Grand Southern Tour Arrives New York – Over Night Hotel Beacon New York City.
25th September – Big Apple Explorer Starts
28th September – Big Apple Explorer Finishes – Say goodbye to all my new friends – Start Flying Home – United Airlines – UA27 JFK-LAX Air New Zealand – NZ5 LAX-AKL
30th September – Arrive Home in Brisbane on NZ135 AKL-BNE
It will be a torturous ride home being on the move for 2 days but I do not mind. I have already started getting to know some people coming on the tour and in my mind this will make for a fantastic month off work. It will be a trip of a lifetime for me. I can guarantee I will come back with some good close friends again. This time it will be easier to stay in touch as the big majority of the tour I believe will be Aussie.
I am a touch scared though. Deep down the one thing I am worried about are the flights. I mean I love flying however this is the first time I will be flying alone for so long. I guess I will have to just relax and try and sit things out. Anyway I’m tired it has been a long day. More about the trip in coming weeks.