B&A ReTour

For those of you with long memories, you might vaguely recall that I had published a number of posts in this blog "Travels Now and Then" last in 2017.  Yes I know, not a very prolific writer am I?

Well, both myself and Andrea will try and make up for some of this lapse by posting occasionally as part of our B&A ReTour, as we have branded our world adventure.  Many of  our distinguished family and friends have likely surmised that this is short form for Boyd and Andrea Retirement Tour.

And yes, it is official, Andrea is in the retired column at present, having worked her last day as a hands-on nurse at The Bluffton Okatie Outpatient Surgery Center.  She ceased to be gainfully employed as of May 4th.  As I write this she is working her upper body with tension cords to maintain that youthful appearance and demeanor we've all come to expect:)

Some of those who have been around us enough, know that we have a passion for travel and new experiences both within and outside the U.S.  Back when I (Boyd) retired in 2015, I took a three month trip in our pop-up camper around the U.S. and a number of Blog posts were reflections on those travels.  Since that time we have dreamed of a day when both of us were retired, AKA living off our accumulated sweat and tears plus a little help from a good investment (TESLA), and that day is now upon us.  While our minds our clear, our love for each other stronger than ever, and our bodies willing we are off on our long-awaited world adventure AKA the B&A ReTour. 

After several months planning we secured the necessary equipment comprised of Osprey 46 liter backpacks with rolling capacity and married those with custom Daylight backpacks that piggy back onto the main bag for ease of transport.  Those and travel related clothing items came in around $1,250, less than one handcrafted Gucci handbag! Let the packing circus ensue!  For weeks prior to our leaving selected clothing items were laid out in our guest bedroom, with our confidence growing daily that we had selected the rare items that would make it into the 46 liter pack (think medium size suitcase you could have as a take-on aboard an airplane).  Items ranged from Diamond headlamps, to specialized Prana hiking pants and smart wool socks, underwear for a week that can dry quickly, GPS device, Bose headphones, and layers of microfiber tops that could offset the cold along with minimized/pack-down coats.

The week before our departure, the pace peaked with last minute good-byes with friends, prescriptions to be had, vaccinations to be secured (Hepatitis A in our case for S.E. Asia), services shutdowns etc.  Then there was the - at times- zealous housecleaning to ensure all cockroaches that might enter wouldn't find even a dustmite to eat!  In between cleaning and stowing away all outside planters, chairs, umbrellas etc. we started our self-flagellation exercise (packing away all that we were taking with us for a year into the backpack).  My start was to dutifully organize with the start of the packing marathons.  Yes marathons!  After organizing all my varied items into packing cubes (little nylon zippered bags) so that there would be some means to find selected items within the bowels of the backpack.  I strategically placed the packing cubes with contents into the pack and lo and behold it rose a full 12" above the zippered pack closure like an erupting volcano!  Disheartened, I left it on the dining room table overnight for when I could get my head wrapped around the implications of this packing disaster.  

Morning came and with a cuppa Joe in hand, I studied the construction of the backpack with its aluminum spine running along the bottom (this is the carry handle that extends when rolling the backpack). Sequentially reducing clothing items that were nice to haves, and limiting the number of packing cubes, I went through two more packing iterations when with some effort, I was able to zip up the bag with nothing but my flip-flops in the outside pockets.  Andrea's assortment looked like Christmas had come early as she attempted the initial pack-down.  

Needless to say, there was some mirth involved as I studied the situation and empathized with my beautiful bride as she tried to pack for style, while being the necessary minimalist.  Andrea went through six iterations and gyrations, lovingly leaving behind items that would not be coming round the world with her.  On the night before our departure after much gnashing of teeth, her bulging backpack was zipped up with a few items to be brought along incase there was a miracle down the road that shrank everything miraculously and allowed them to fit within the confines of the pack!

We have now buttoned up the homestead, reducing electrical consumption except to the fridge and A.C., shutting off water to the house, closing all but the front shade curtains and locking down all doors and windows.

We hit the proverbial road in our trusty 2008 Toyota Highlander initially bound for Jackson Hole, Wyoming followed by Park City, Utah and a homecoming with Cassie and Kris along with the highly anticipated arrival of Emmi Andrea, Cassie's firstborn daughter who is due around May 23rd.