Day 1733: Best place in the world!

Home!  We're a bit disoriented with body clocks screwed up in a major way.  Yesterday, we were in California, the day before in Australia.  We didn't sleep on any of the flights, but slept all Sunday afternoon at Colin's and then again today at home.

The house was a disaster when we arrived home this morning and it took all day to get it back in order.  Molly and Paddy were very naughty and left a big mess that required us to throw out two throw rugs, scrub all the floors and vacuum for an hour.  Then there were nine loads of laundry, mowing the lawn and cleaning out the refrigerator.  Oh, and I found a tiny spider web in the bathroom sink!  All this mess from 17 days! How can people travel for any longer?  Certainly not with old cats!

All the chores have offered time for reflection, though.  On the return journey, all we could think was, how much longer till we get home?  Vacation means riding an elevator to a breakfast buffet, hopping into a coach to be delivered to a special attraction.  The guide purchases tickets and we slide past the lines.  He knows all the inside tricks and we benefit.  But it's not real life or even our style and we don't like being herded.

This was an extraordinary adventure, our best ever.  So many opportunities that we might not ever have had otherwise.  Unbelievable natural wonders, interactions with endangered species and endearing people.  Think about it: riding a camel in the desert, a penguin parade, cuddling koalas, rocking baby kangaroos, Uluru, the bush, Blue Mountains and an incredible opera house.

And then we drive down Gardner Street to this and rejoice.