It's really happening!

We have our tickets, Bill, Mike and I leave on Valentine's Day. Will seem a bit strange not to be spending Valentine's day in Ohio . . . well, anyway, we land in Auckland on Feb. 16 (crossing the International Dateline), and Mary has reservations on the same flight out of Auckland for Melbourne that we do.

Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, Ayers Rock, the Great Barrier Reef, and Sydney. Then Bill and Mary head back to Auckland, Bill for two days before heading home and back to work. Mike and I board the Diamond Princess for a 12 day cruise to Auckland, stopping in Melbourne, Tazmania, Fjordland Sound, Dunedin, Christchurch, Tauranga, and finally, Auckland.

There, we'll meet up with Mary again and head out for an adventure weekend in Rotorua. They've planned rafting in a cave - they'll be in inner tubes and I'll be in a nice comfy big raft - then sledging (rafting on a grade 4 river on something that looks like a snow sled) while I soak in the thermal baths. They're also planning to go Zorbing. Basically, you climb into the inner ball of a big double ball, and roll down a very big hill. I intend to be at the bottom, making sure this is recorded for posterity. I have got to see them do this!

Then, Mike and I head home. I'll try to post as we go, but don't know how the internet connections will be. Wish us luck!

I've got a lot to do to get ready, we leave two weeks from today. I still am pinching myself to be sure it's real . . .