42. Travel

I've written here before about the travel I've done. I'm not such a big traveler as some, but I've certainly been more places than most people. All the continents. Almost 50 countries. I've lived in Australia, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands.

Now, I am about to embark on another trip: to Kuala Lumpur—a place that was never on my radar, but a cryptography society is giving David an award there next month, for a paper he wrote that has stood the "test of time" (he presented the paper 20 years ago, in Edinburgh), and he will go collect it, by gum. Followed up by a couple of weeks in Western Australia—where I was some thirty years ago with my mother, on a beautiful wildflower tour. 

This time, it will be three of us: me, David, and David's sister, Patty. Patty, in fact, was the instigator. She was all in for an adventure. I wasn't so sure—until she was.

Since deciding that, yes, this trip is on, I've been doing research. I found an excellent itinerary for wildflower spots north of Perth, and then I started exploring to the south. I have managed to book hotels on a punctuated course all along the way: north to Kalbarri, on down to York, and then a long drive to Bremer Bay, and eventually up to Margaret River before returning to Perth and home. Two weeks.

In there toward the end, we'll meet up with a friend we made almost twenty years ago while hiking, biking, rafting, and kayaking across Costa Rica, an Aussie who lives in Albany, one of our stopping points. That'll be fun. (Thank you FB for keeping us in touch.)

It's interesting to witness the anxiety I'm feeling, though. I have been in charge of booking hotels (all except KL). Mostly, it's been fine—and good grief, how did we do it without the internet? (Oh, right: all those travel agents, now jobless. Which makes me wonder how they did it, without the internet. Good grief, what a chore!) There were a few hiccups, but now I've got all but Perth booked—and yes, I should get to that this week. Also a car. 

I've been feeling a mix of excitement and dread. So strange. I love to travel. Don't I?

Well, yes—once I'm there. The lead-up, though—not so fun. Did I find the best information? Did I make the right decisions? 

Oh heck. It really doesn't matter. We will make of the experience what we do. And the three of us? We will have a good time. I can guarantee that. And it'll be great to see Albany Keith again. Something to look forward to, for sure. It'll be great!