Back From Vacation

Well grab a coffee, get comfortable & be prepared for a very long post full of details & lots of photos.

Thursday 11th June 2009: The day dawned bright & sunny though a little chilly. All packed & ready to go on the vacation of a lifetime. I hugged my kids tightly & kissed them all before the airport shuttle arrived to take me to the Sydney Airport. The airport is insane!! So many people everywhere all the time. I dont think I saw a lull in people at all while I was there. I checked my baggage without incident, though it was only just under weight...lord help me on my return. I then went & found a seat to wait inpatiently before it was time to board the flight. Nerves were rampant as it was my very first overseas flight, and to be going alone with nobody to talk to or share with was keeping my stomach in knots.

Time to board the flight: I boarded the 747 just after 1pm in the afternoon. I took my seat after I stowed my carry on into the overhead compartment. I took my book out as well as Bek's mp3 player hoping to be able to keep my mind quiet enough for hte long flight ahead. Fasten seatbelt sign came on & the captain made us aware it was time for the cabin doors to be closed as we were about to taxi the runway prior to take off. I could not wipe the smile off my face as I stared out the window knowing that vacation was just around the corner. The flight was a very long one. I slept for about an hour in total in the flight...flight noise must take some getting used too because I couldnt get used to it at all. I watched the inflight movies, listened to the mp3 and the satelite radio on the flight. I read a little but overall I was too excited to manage to calm myself. Before too long (well long enough) we were preparing to land in LA. WOOOOT! Landing in LA was surreal to say the least. I was talking to a guy & his two kids who were in front of me on the flight (yes they slept!) it was a welcome distraction to the nerves at what was ahead of me. A massive line of people from the flight all waiting to go through Immigration. these people take their job seriously & I am still waiting for them to even hint at a smile. I cleared fairly quickly, and made my way to baggage claim to get my bag. I went through Customs fairly quickly...I was amazed at how fast the process was & went straight through to recheck my bag before walking out intot he LA airport. OMG! What a ZOO!!! People were everywhere, it was humid as all hell and I had no friggen clue as to where I was going. A nice young guy helped me to find where I needed to go, and I was overwhelmed with just how friendly people had been up to this point. I turned my cell phone on and sent a text message to loved ones to let them know I had landed safely in LA. My cell rang no sooner had I sent it, it was Eric & I was never so happy to hear his voice. It was comforting to speak to someone whom I love dearly & who was so close at the time. It was time to go through security again, including removing shoes (OMG) I walked through to find more people in the domestic terminal. I was in awe with all I saw, people, items for sale, stores it was very overwhelming. Very quickly it was time to board the flight to Washington Dulles Airport. A 5 hour flight was ahead & I was excited to say the least. In flight I saw a movie I had watched on the flight over from Australia. I stared out the window, lost in thought the whole way, silly grins spreading over my face every so often. Landed in Dulles where it was disgustingly humid again. Caught a bus to the other side of the airport to get to the right concourse, was now beyond excited that inside of 2 hours I would be at my final destination. Boarded the final flight and bantered with Sean the flight steward all the way. The rain was bad and there was lightning everywhere, there was even talk of diverting to Albany if the storm did not ease over Manchester. I was panicked by that statement...I was now tired & desperately wanting a shower...my body was screaming it was Friday lunchtime but my watch was telling me it was only 11pm Thursday..AARGGH! The weather held nicely & we landed in Manchester. I was first off the plane, straight to the bathroom to wash my face & freshen up a little. I then walked calmly through security, and stopped .... there across the concourse was the person I was looking for. Looking at his cell phone, waiting for me to tell him I had landed. He looked up & the smile that spread across his face matched mine. If not for my laptop & camera, I would have dropped my bag to run straight to him. We walked to each other & wrapped arms around one another both uttering the same statement : OMG You're Real!!!! We clung together for what seemed an eternity before pulling back to look at one another...that smile was still there & those eyes still melted me to my core face to face....I was home...I was with the one man who loves me like no other. Even as I right this now I can still feel his arms wrapped around me, feel everything he makes me feel. Then to break that moment.. my baggage was lost! So we went to baggage claim to find it had gone via Chicago (why I dont know) and we had to wait 30 minutes for it to arrive. We sat with arms around one another talking & kissing one another ..both trying to come to grips that we were finally face to face...able to touch one another. Baggage retrieved we made our way to the truck so that we could head to the hotel so I could shower & we could sit together and talk before I passed out lol. This was the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

Friday 12th June 2009: The day dawned overcast & sprinkling rain. I stretched in bed to find it was not a dream, Eric was in fact there. We went downstairs to have breakfast, that part was a tad disappointing but neither of us really cared. We grabbed the camera & decided to take a walk in the grounds of the hotel where we found a lovely little gazebo. First photos were taken there of us together.
We laughed so freely together & it was and is a wonderful feeling to be with that one person who makes you feel so alive even with 3 hours sleep in a 48 hour period.

We left the hotel grounds & went for a drive around town to see what was about before we decided what to do for the day. After lunch the sun came out & we unloaded the HD off the trailer. It was a little surreal to actually be standing there beside Eric -- kept having to remind myself it was not a dream..he was there..he was real. We went & had lunch at Wendy's. Let me preface this by saying OH MY GAWD meal sizes are massive in the USA! Add to that fast food is actually really hot when you get it...not lukewarm. A small meal that I ordered was the equivalent of a large one here. I ate it --and was stuffed beyond belief. We got back to the hotel after lunch & decided to take the HD out for a ride. I was all of a sudden feeling a little sick to my stomach if truth be told. I sucked it up & climbed onto that bike...and WOOOOOHOOOOOO! It was an amazing feeling of freedom sitting on the back of the bike wind rushing through my hair....thoughts spinning out of control. Legs wrapped against Eric, sun on my face, wind in my hair. We were only gone an hour when we returned to the hotel.

Saturday 13th June 2009: We rode on the HD up to Laconia for Bike week. It was an hour long ride up there and I will say this, my ass was sore. Saddle Sore! We stopped at Profile Falls on the way back to Manchester -- it was a lovely little place off the road...the falls were beautiful and we got photos in front of them. Then i fell down (typical) and ended up with a black bruise on my right butt cheek --3 inches wide (7.5 centimetres) by 10 inches long (25 centimetres)

Sunday 14th June 2009: We went out for a day out in the rain. We went to IMAX to watch Night At The Museum 2 -- AWESOME!! Loved it all. We then went for a drive in the truck back up to Laconia to the Harley Dealership to grab some actual shirts for Eric to take home with him as each dealership has their own shirts made.

The drive was nice, crazy people on motorbikes today when the weather was crap....62 degreees and raining yuk!

Monday 15th June 2009: We were up at 3am -- OMFG we are insane. We drove over to Hampton on the coast to watch the sunrise -- would have been good if someone had told the clouds to bugger off so we could see it but none the less we were together.

From there we headed south for a day in Boston to do the whole 'Freedom Trail' thingy -- we stopped for breakfast at a Dunkin Donuts -- I am now officially loving bagels. I had never had one prior and it was yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Their hash browns crap all over Macca's ones that is for sure.

We got to Boston & let me jsut say this I detest traffic -- I detest even more driving in traffic with no clue of where I am going -- I now detest downtown Boston. Cars everywhere -- sign posting sux ass,people everywhere. The older buildings for the Freedom Trail were truly stunning -- homeless people covered in cardboard sleeping right outside Old State House -- talk about surreal! We were both rather stressed by this stage over not knowing where stuff was because it was still early & there were people everywhere. That said a nice gentleman stopped & asked if we wanted some directions or help -- that accent is insane!!

We made it over to the USS Constitution to find it closed for renovations -- I was gutted for Eric as he had wanted to see it so badly. We did do the museum though -- amazing how they built that ship. We saw a few navy ships in dock & got photos.

We went to Copps Hill Burying ground & The Old North Church -- couldnt get into the church because someone in their infinite wisdom had closed it while there was ass loads of tourists so that kids could practice for graduation. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT FLIPPIN MIND CLOSES A NATIONAL MONUMENT FOR THAT?!?!? So we walked up the hill to the burying ground & got some amazing photos -- saw Paul Revere's wife's grave stone.

Got back int he truck & headed North to come back to the hotel as by now it was 10:30am and we were both stuffed since we had gotten up at 3am. On the way back with both of us with headaches -- Eric saw Cracker Barrel off one of the exits -- so we got off at the next off ramp & made our way back. I fell in love with this place. The store alone was amazing...we sat for lunch & I read the menu -- ordered Chicken & Dumplins -- OMFG!!! YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

And biscuits -- ok so they eat scones with dinner -- was still yum. Eric asked the young waitress to bring me a piece of corn bread to try -- not a fan! LOL The food was mouth watering....the portion size HUGE like all other meal sizes here lol. I went to the bathroom and when I got back Eric said the waitress asked where I was from -- when he told her she said' OMG her accent is gorgeous' Now I have kept fairly quiet over here -- not speaking in places where others can hear me -- paranoid I guess. But when he told me I went 80 shades of red.

Tuesday 16th June 2009: We headed down to Salem MA to do the Witch Tour thing....was pretty damn interesting actually but the buildings amazed me more. I love the scenery here....truly amazing everywhere we go.

We stopped at Cracker Barrel for breakfast -- I had a breakfast skillet...talk about stuffed!! Lunch we went to Texas Roadhouse -- HOLY CRAP! I will either weight bloody tonne or die trying before I leave...the meal sizes are truly huge & you do get your monies worth...the people have all been great & Eric still gets a giggle out of it when I ask about how small the meal will be...cheeky shit!

Wednesday 17th June 2009: Today saw us taking a 200 mile (321 kilometre) ride on the HD as today was the last sunny day forecast. As much as I am saddle sore & trust me I ache in spots I never knew I had on this body. My bandanna stayed in place today & I only got a little sunburnt on my forehead again *doh!* In the mountains it was a little cold in spots... we were close to Vermont at one point before turning back towards the coast. We had lunch at Uno Grill -- soup & fish & chips for me...normal sized meal too lol. Loved the soup -- didnt like the fish....it tasted yuk! We went into Wal Mart while there to grab Eric a sweater shirt as he has a sleeveless shirt on with his leather vest & it was bloody cold in spots. I kept watching him get goosebumps on his arms in certain areas of the ride.

We then headed back to the hotel -- my aching ass all the way and an aching heart that this vacation is almost at an end.

Thursday 18th June 2009:Relatively quiet day today. We had to drive back up to Tilton to pick up something that Eric had left behind at Wendy's (a credit card lmao) We came back to the hotel to just chill out and watch movies together relishing in our last few days together. I honestly do not know how I will walk away....I am dreading it. We went to Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner -- it is an amazing place. Then again every place we have eaten was divine.


The last few days of this vacation were heart wrenching I will miss the feel of being wrapped in his arms, the ease of just being together talking, laughing & living side by side instead of across the globe.

Saturday 20th June 2009: We both finished packing our suitcases both trying to fight the tears. I was not as successful in keeping it together. It was like living in hell is all I can describe it as. We got to the airport we went & had our last breakfast together at Samuel Adams..both fighting back tears all the while in between mouthfuls. It was killing me with every minute that past. All too soon it was time to go through security -- we clung to one another neither wanting to let go of the other....but Eric was stronger then I was and pulled back telling me to go through security. I passed through security & walked over to the glass wall where Eric was standing in tears....I was a sobbing mess...we pressed out hands to the glass both crying our hearts out trying to walk away...once again he was stronger & turned to walk out of the airport....I couldnt pull myself together as I watched him walk away and out the door. Once outside he had his head down & I could still see his shoulders shaking which hurt even more. He looked back in the window & we saw each other before he turned for the final time and walked to the truck. I collapsed on the seat sobbing uncontrollably...a lovely lady from Security came to make sure I was ok having watched it all play out. It was the longest day of my life...I didn't stop crying from Manchester to LA -- sunglasses were kept on my face to hide it from all around me.

That is the end of my vacation -- I am now back in Sydney, house hunting trying to make it through each day without his arms around me, without him beside me.

If you made it this far I applaud you...it was a monumentally long post.