http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , United Kingdom , England , Lincolnshire en-us Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:47:40 +0000 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:47:40 +0000 So here we are the final blog. I am safely back in England and on the journey back I put some thoughts together and here they are3 MONTHS ON THE ROAD A REFLECTIONThese 90 or days or so I've spent have been easily the most exhilarating of my life. Every day has been memorable. Unlike before when too many days blurred into one every day here was different. I could probably recollect all 87 days in http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/blog-458142.html Gibraltar to Cairo The Long Way Round As I am now less than a week from the beginning of what is one of the ultimate overland trips I thought it was about time I looked into setting up some form of travelblog so people can track me across Africa. I am not promising the beginnings of a best seller or anything to the high standards set by Ray or Michelle.So almost 8 years since the end of my l http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Woodhall-Spa/blog-449895.html I travelled among unknown men In lands beyond the seaNor England did I know till then what love I bore to thee... William WordsworthShires of Lincoln There is no place quite like home...I have spent most of my life in a land where any undulation over 100ft is considered mountainous and where the landscape is strewn with muddy fields and drainage streams. Sheep cows and corn barns are l http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/blog-446685.html In the past nine months I have had the craziest whirlwind of fun and adventure resulting in me having my best summer everThis time last year I had just begun my degree at the University of Lincoln and was planning on doing a summer camp programme the next summer.It wasn't until the next January however when I eventually took a deep breath and applied to be on BUNAC's Summer Camp USA programme http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Lincoln/blog-443854.html We have had a very busy few weeks and we thought we would put up some pics of our exciting activities over here in rainy England. We have had some very mixed weather sunshine and showers all round and we have had a few chilly days too. Mind you we went for a walk last week along the river bank by mum's house and I got burntWe have caught up with so many people it has been brilliant. So many pl http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/blog-420237.html We have had a complaint that we have not written since we have been away so due to popular demand we are back Only a brief one mind as I don't have many pics at the moment...more to followOur trip back was ok but not great. Our flight was delayed but on the plus side this meant that Soph went and chatted up the pilots and they were both invited to go and see the cockpit before we took of http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/blog-418247.html Leaving Grimsby we continued up the east coast headed for Whitby we stopped in the town of Scarborough and visited Scarborough Castle. This ruin was started in 900 AD. There was evidence of settlements in 500 BC from archeological digs and there are remains of a Roman signal station. Scarborugh is also a great shopping town with huge pedestrian malls. Did a little shopping for the grandkids.On up http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Grimsby/blog-414881.html It's Canada Day and we are off to tangle with more roundabouts and pubsLeft Norwich for Sandringham the Royal summer home. Queen not at home She is defintely avoiding us.Toured the grounds and left for Cleethorpes on the east coast.Landscape in this area is gently rolling hills and quaint little villages.Arrived in Cleethorpes and walked the promenade looking for a pub. Found the Smugglers Inn http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Cleethorpes/blog-414174.html Nottingham to Lincoln 200509 Okay...I'll admit it. For those of you a bit more clued in you may have noticed I magically went from Peterborough to Nottingham. Magically aka In used a train. I cheated I know BUT moving on I'm currently in Lincoln and its really pretty here. I arrived from North Hykeham it's quite large so it took me awhile to get into the center to the BB that I'm staying in http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Lincoln/blog-400779.html First post test. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Louth/blog-394645.html So anybody would think that after 34 hours of travelling with very little sleep that I'd still be in bed at 630am on a Saturday morning. But no instead I was eating toast and cornflakes due to waking up absolutely starving Understandable considering I hadn't eaten since 2pm UK time the day before but still somewhat annoying I'll come to the travelling home in a bit but first I have to wri http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/blog-385467.html Nearly 24 hours to go before our first flight and we are panicking. Overnight Spalding has been covered in a blanket of snow and it's still falling. We are due to leave for Heathrow at 4am in the morning but we have to go on the A1 and apparently it's BAD. Oh dear. Heathrow is currently operating on a nearly full schedule so fingers crossed the flight will go ahead it's just the getting there http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/blog-370581.html Well I have sorted out all my bits for my trip narrowed it down from about 4 bags to 1 just by taking out my tart bits It gets less and less each time I go through it. Have been mailing some people in Thailand and getting the low down on the course and things over there I'm taking about 4 shirts for the teaching two pairs of Kecks one pair of jeans two T shirts and the trainers http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Sleaford-/blog-366182.html It's just gone 3am and I am sitting up blogging. It will be my last day contracting today before I take a week off to pack the last bits and chill out before flying off. It is getting real now as the day gets closed and is really exciting.I have my headphones on and am learning my Thai. I seem to pick up the words so slowly although Helen is finding it just as hard so I'm not so stupid We have http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Sleaford-/blog-363890.html Getting ready to go off to Thailand with Helen to do a TEFL course with a view to possibly taking it up as a living. It's an exciting time that we are looking forward to very much. My background is it IT and stupidness and Helens is in teaching. I do have some reservations about leaving my own children behind but I will be back soon and be able to see them then. We chose Thailand purely for the ex http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Sleaford-/blog-363887.html HiIm in Grimsby at my Grandma and Grandads they haven't aged a day and im being spoilt rotten ..plus im going to be SO fat when i get back picture this everyday we eat breakfast then lunch then dessert then high tea then dinner then more dessert then supper holy crap whos coming for a run when i get backhahabeen hanging out with my stepcousins tannith richard johnny an tannys bf http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Grimsby/blog-361549.html Well we have arrived back to a very chilly China but hopefully our power has been fixed now so that we don't have to choose between being warm in the lounge vs the bedroom or being warm vs cooking jacket potatoes in the ovenboiling the kettle for a cuppa It is strange being back.....however it does feel very much like home and we know both the children are clearly quite settled already espe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/blog-360021.html Tomorrow at 9.30pm me and Shaun will be heading off to Bangkok in Thailand on the beginning of our epic round the world tour well almostMy bags are all packed and hopefully Shaun's all sorted too I'm in Spalding and he's in Maidstone and we'll be meeting at the airport. After much deliberating on what to take it's all finally sorted. Although earlier today we hadn't sorted out our accommod http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Lincoln/blog-347005.html I'm snuggled in front of a coal fire with the dogs sleeping at my feet. Here I am at Ray's house at Sutton Bridge. I am back in the land where I am tuned in once again. I can understand the conversations around me and read the signs. This afternoon when I took the dogs for a walk I photographed the pile of wood that will be the bonfire for Guy Fawkes night. Apparently it will grow even large http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Sutton-Bridge/blog-339712.html Well.. Ive just this evening rediscovered my blog and photo sites from my trip to Australia in 2006 and have become very nostalgic It's around about 2 and half years since I left there which seems really strange to think Looking back at all the things I wrote about and photos I took I realised how much I had forgotten about the trip. It really was a fantastic time. I also forgot how many peopl http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lincolnshire/Lincoln/blog-331251.html