And Finally ... Thanks to Henry

Nine months to the day since I began this blog, at this seafront desk in Brighton -- let me end it with thanks to Henry, whose exquisite photographs have brought it to life.  A useful reminder as I return to work as a television reporter -- that words always work much, much better with pictures.

Namibian sunset, thanks to Henry

The Roof of South Africa, thanks to Henry

Uganda at prayer, thanks to Henry 

A Picnic in Kenya,  thanks to Henry

Tanzanian Telecoms, thanks to Henry

Bizarre Qatar, thanks to Henry

Dancing at Dawn, Cambodian Style -- thanks to Henry

So much learnt in Laos, thanks to Henry

Life on the line in Vietnam -- thanks to Henry

Argentina, Argentina -- thanks to Henry

A Boy in Brazil, thanks to Henry

A Piece of Paraguay, thanks to Henry

Chile the Quirky, thanks to Henry

A Cousin in New Zealand, thanks to Henry

Fiji Afternoon, thanks to Henry

A new friend in the USA, thanks to Henry ...

... and family in Canada ... thanks to Henry. 

Thank you, Henry, for being the eye at the shutter of this wonderful adventure -- so I didn't have to be. 

With my love, as always ... and until the next time ...

John 

In pictures... North America

Our road trip began in earnest as we quickly left Los Angeles
and set off up the Californian coast...

The Big Sur was a treat to drive...

... and the springtime views were pretty special too.

But we had a date to keep in San Francisco with our good friend Donna. A volunteer teacher
with us in Laos, she'd travelled from Michigan to join us for a road trip. 

Before we left the city, we took time to enjoy rides on the wonderful trams...

... took time taking in the vibrant colours of Chinatown...

... while Donna took a really strong liking to one of the local posters.

We headed north over the Golden Gate Bridge...

... and our drive took us from the beautiful coastline...  

...  into coastal huge Redwood forests, where John
fulfilled a lifelong ambition of driving through a tree.

There was even time for some wonderful beach walks...

... but soon we were back in the forests, where the redwoods got
even larger. Yes, that is John at the bottom of the photo...

... moments before he made a new friend...

... as did Donna.

Heading north, we left Washington State behind...

... and at Portland's Evergreen Aviation Museum, I got to play at Top Gun.

The museum's centrepiece is the 'Spruce Goose', a seaplane flown only once (by Howard Hughes)
and it's still the largest plane ever built. Its wingspan is an astonishing 320 feet.

It was made entirely from wood, held together by glue...

... and the wings are so wide, they used beach balls inside the wings as flotation aids.

We then travelled by train to Seattle...

... where Donna got to visit a 'mother-ship'
of her own, the original branch of Starbucks.

After a couple of days in town we had to say au revoir to Donna,
as we headed north by train across the border...

... into Canada and the welcoming and comfortable shores of West Vancouver.

We were able to squeeze in a chance to see Orca whales...

... but our long journey was finally over, and before we headed home we relished the chance
to see and spend time with family, even if the accommodation was a little cramped. 

Henry

In pictures... New Zealand (& Fiji)

We arrived in Auckland just in time to see the sun rise...

... but it wasn't long before we realised how much there was to see and do in New Zealand,
from the lurid volcanic pools of Rotarua....

... to donning wetsuits with strangers on a caving quest for glow-worms.

We walked to the top of mountains...

... well, almost to the top...

... and the views were always inspiring.

The autumnal scenery became even more beautiful on South Island...

... and in the warm sunshine we relished the chance to do some real work,
helping 'close up' a cousin's vineyard for the winter.

Our adventure continued by campervan...

... where the cooking proved to be of varying quality.

In the land of lakes and mountains, every turn gave
us a new and wonderful view...

... although John's patience wore understandably thin at the number of photo-stops.

Like many other unsuspecting campers, our van came under attack from the local Kea birds...

... who were keen to take a gentle bite out of whatever they could.

The tense stand-off was resolved mainly through patience, diplomacy...
and a timely step on the accelerator pedal.

The wildlife was even friendlier at Kaikoura...

... but it was time for the sun to set on our stay in New Zealand.

Fiji was our next destination, were the waters are warm...

... the welcome is even warmer...

... and in the evening, things can really hot up.

Eyebrows were raised, if not singed, by my own attempt at fire-eating... 

... and when we weren't out snorkelling or learning to scubadive... 

... there was always a chance to get some exercise on the volleyball court.
Just don't ask about the scoreline...

Henry