Spring in Thornhill

The conclusion to our “Winter 2010 Snow Bird” escape. We arrived home 2 weeks ago and finely recovered from the jet lag. Just to recall those last 3 days in Brighton helps me to relive our trip again. We did look forward to home especially after Lewis & Elsa flew back but truly where we were was not a hardship – just not home! Our focus turned to getting ready for our own flights: packing (tossing items never to be worn again); house ready for its owners; and eating leftovers stockpiled from Chef Lewis. We shopped at Taigum (one last time) to check emails; thrilled to receive an email from L&E with confirmation they were home; tired, weary but safe. We took several walks along the boardwalk celebrating our decision to spend the winter down-under. Helena & I did bike the 3K bridge from Brighton to Woody Point (20K overall); a first for both and a check against the last on my to-do list.
Fiona dropped in to inquiry if we needed a ride to the airport & exchange contact information; a chance for us to say so-long, farewell, “ta-ta” and, of course share an Irish Blessing “May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”
We were up at 6am Friday April 9th to begin our marathon day! Ten AM we were at Brisbane Airport for our 12:25 flight to Auckland, NZ. The entire process worked like a case study. We left 27 degrees C traveled 2296 Km to Auckland in 2 hours & 42 minutes; with time zone changes we arrived at 5pm. It was a pleasure to see NZ again. My seat companion from Alberta was just beginning her 1st visit to NZ, a 3-week tour of both islands. Pure joy to read her itinerary, visualize what she was about to see and to recount what made the places special to us; her excitement grew just from our memories. This was also a job interview trip to explore an internal transfer to the New Plymouth NZ office. Aaaah to be young again with the opportunity to work abroad! Leg 1 completed – A1.
Friday April 09 continues with our flight from Auckland for Los Angeles at 7:27 pm with 17 degrees C; 10,498 KM and flying time 11 hrs 11 minutes. As we approached LAX, with a tail wind of 131 KPH, our ground speed was 1022 KPH – and the ride was as smooth as silk. We arrived in LA Friday noon (not bad considering we left Brisbane Friday April 09 just pass noon). LA noon was 5AM Saturday for us and now one hour shy from marking 24 hours since we slept. It was a blessing to sail through US Customs & Immigration; a welcoming relief to fall into the very comfortable bed at the Airport Marriott. (Thanks Ness for the family/friend discount) Leg 2 completed – A1.
Saturday we were at LAX 6AM for our flight to Toronto. Duty Free 2x1L Baileys $37 USD; a trip bonus to enjoy with my coffee for weeks to come! We sat in the 3rd last row in middle & window seats; watched “The Lovely Bones” and “Blind Side”. I was so enraptured the man sitting next to Tom asked if something was wrong with his wife! Tom’s comment, “too little sleep and too much coffee”!
Our flight from LA took 4 hours with a 3 hour time zone adjustment. We arrived at our condo as my watch struck 6:30AM Sunday April 11 – 48 hours since we got out of bed in Brisbane! Now we are back into a routine: tax returns filed, dust layers removed, 3-months of mail opened & addressed, family reconnected with and we are prepared to host our first home exchange guest. The sun is shining and we are going for a push-bike ride! It’s been a full and complete winter – a blast just not a cold wintery blast! From New Zealand --- Kia Ora (hello) and Ka Kite Ano – Until I see you again (bye). From Australia g'day and Roo Hoo.