The Rat Maze

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By now, we as a group--the Gaudeamus ElderHostle group-- are very efficient at this traveling business--packing, waiting, shopping, eating lunch, loading up the coach - luggage and all, and driving to the Sydney airport. Unloading coach, linning up for airline agents to check in your luggage, showing propper forms and picture ID, taking your place in line again for declaration check, waiting, then another line for security check. At least, all of these lines are done "Disneyland/rat maze" style instead of the old "push and crowd out your neighbor" style. Filing through the duty free shop, yet another security check, and sitting down (at last) at your gate lounge to wait for flight to be announced. Then filing down a long runway to board your plane which has 2 asiles and 7 seats across for 77 rows! A BIG Quantas plane!! Next, eating dinner strapped in, next to your spouse, knee to knee, elbow to elbow, cheek on jowel, as the saying goes, and "sleeping through the night?" the same way being "rocked" by the rough air your plane is trying to fly through. Only to have your "significant other" ask you "Did I sleep at all last night?" when you're spying your luggage pass by on the carousel. I ask you "Did you ever feel like a rat in the maze??" The next topic of conversation is the snow storm in the mid-west US that has shut down major airports - Chicago, JFK, Dallas-Fort Worth, and canceling flights. The news says St. Louis is without power?? Welcome Home!! We had already planned to spend the night here in LA and fly to Portland tomorrow, but we assune many of our Gaudeamus friends will also spend the night. WOW!,is it really over? The Gaudeamus Tour is done and what a time we had!

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Photos

Last buffet lunch !
We had our last buffet breakfast and lunch in Ceezen's restaurant.

John talks it over
Hazel and Bernie discuss the arrangements with John

Suzanne and Brian evaluate
We all completed our evaluations!

Mt Hood from the plane
We're home to Portland OR

Comments

[carroll Novak]

Wow
Marty... you did an excellent job!! I just relived the trip... it was prettyf special wasn't it? I ended up flying from LAX to Denver with my brother since Chicago was late. So poor bro had me for one more night before he could put me on a plane to Iowa. Thanks so much for sharing your photos and running commentary of daily events. carroll

[Eleanor]

TravelBlog
I just had a chance to read your blog and I am so impressed with the way you put this all together. I love it! My things are still in a bag or on a DVD and not organized at all. Now that I am in FL. I'll have a chance to put it together. Thanks so much for sharing this with me, it is a real inspiration. Great to meet you and the Elderhostel friends. Eleanor

[Norma Artman]

images refresh the visual memory
Hi Marty It was indeed a great cohesive group ,traveling through extraordinary vistas, meeting knowledgeable, erudite tour leaders and kind ,generous fellow hostelers. Thank You PS I have told numerous people about your $$$ orange.Thought you would get mileage out of that