Retracing steps

Today I'm in Monaco, in Monte Carlo, for the final time this voyage. From here on it's an exact reverse of my first journey aboard the Voyager, except that Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay have been replaced by Captain Knute Hansen and Staff Captain Fausto Mazza.

Tomorrow and the day after we hit two of my favorite places, Barcelona and Malaga. Being that I have picked up far less Spanish on this contract than I have Russian, French, or Italian I don't know why I find these places so wonderful, but I do. Perhaps because they were my first mainland European ports. Either way, once we pass Malaga...

It's Morocco. Casablanca, then Agadir. Then Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands, then Funchal, Madeira. Then SEVEN DAYS AT SEA. Woof.

That puts us in Ft. Lauderdale on November 21 for an encounter with the US Coast Guard and immigration authorities that will by all accounts be arduous. Any ship that's been out of the US for 6 months can apparently expect an exhaustive examination and inspection. As long as I have time to ship some stuff home, I'll be happy. Then we sail to Key West, and on the morning of November 23 I leave the Voyager behind and head for home. I have so many gifts from the trip, most of which I shipped home from Spain, and have yet to arrive. I can't wait to distribute them.
Once I get home I have some stuff waiting for me as well, in addition to something great I just got the news about... click here and check in the 150's.

I have missed everyone and everything in the US. I will be going mad with the ability to enjoy things I never really cared about before, I think I will have to work very hard not to gain a lot of weight.

Anyway, life is good. Many of you will be getting calls from me once I'm back in cellphone range to catch up at length. I'm VERY excited to return home.

As long as this doesn't happen to us, I'll see everyone soon.