Bert and I spent most of yesterday packing and we are very ready to leave. Two very full suitcases (40 lbs. each), 1 carry on and, of course, my camera/electronic suitcase as well. I think we will break down the larger suitcases and take one more small one, because we simply must have room (and weight) for purchases. Only 3 more days at work!! And, best of all, Ike is leaving us alone. :app:

Mitch, get some space bags to squish the dirty clothes you'll be bringing home; that gives you a little more space for goodies. Get the ones you don't have to suck the air out of with a vacuum cleaner; I just sit on mine (and I can really squish that way).

Mark is packed, I'm working at it.

we are on the plane ready for our morning flight to London. We will see everyone in Cape Town in a couple days!

It is just after 11am in Long Beach, two hours until my brother picks us up for the airport. Can not believe how excited Carol and I are about this trip. Do not believe we have ever been this excited about a trip , EVER. Packing went well, I am thinking we packed to much but that is normal. Can leave the extra at the Fed terminal in JNB.

Looking forward to a great time with a great group.

Have fun, everyone! Ralph, I can't wait to hear your stories from this trip in person!

We're off! Hopefully we'll be checking in from Cape Town soon!

My friends are off today and arrive very early Saturday morning. Gil and I leave on Saturday and arrive late Sunday. I am so excited!

Tonya and I are having a fun time in London. Tomorrow we visit Buckingham Palace in the morning then off to Heathrow for an evening flight to Cape Town. Can't wait to see everyone.

I think we're last out the door - we don't leave until next Wednesday, then we have a 10 hour layover at Heathrow, although we are looking forward to seeing Terminal 5 and the British Air spa and new lounges.

We're also looking forward to hearing about Hermanus/Birkenehad House, the sharks, Cape Town and seeing everyone on the 20th at Federal Air in JNB.

We leave on Sunday...so excited too. Can't wait to see you all.

One more out the door. I'm headed to Baltimore for my looooong flight(s) tomorrow all the way to Cape Town. Been a long time coming!

Safe travels, everyone. Leslie, I think you're right. We're out the door late on Monday night as we are going to Hermanus before the game camps.

Cheers, Anne

We just closed the suitcases. The car picks us up tomorrow at noon and we'll be in Cape Town on Saturday evening.

Safe travels everyone!

Andrea & Leonard

Ready, Set and time to ROAR! You'll all have the #1 time of your life. Give my regards to S. Africa, it's the one place that never leaves your heart

we'll be one day behind you.

Thursday night and we are in the lounge at LAX. Our flight to London is running 1 hour late. Should be OK as we had 4.5 hours to connect at Heathrow. We are just hoping to get on the list for a treatment at the T5 spa...

We'll see everyone in Cape Town!

Anne and Gary - Liz Taylor! ;)

Thursday night, in hotel at BWI. Missed room service for late dinner by minutes, dress again, down to bar for carry-out lite fare. Back to room and into shower. No hairbrush in luggage I brought into hotel. Dress again, go down for free fine tooth comb. It has to get better tomorrow! Problem with getting on to AOL to email family and friends, all is good, NOW.

Don & I are enroute via Atlanta to Cape Town today. Left LAX yesterday. Almost stopped in our tracks due to my sister living in Houston - IKE is a MONSTER!! She assured me that those wonderful church volunteers are nearby & can help. Karen, Betty, & Nancy and all please take care!!!! Otherwise, we're returning from Senegal, of all places..... Hopefully, see you Roarers soon.

We've evolved to lounge lizard status at JFK waiting for Singapore 25 to whisk us over to Frankfurt. There was a little kerfuffle over what constituted carry-on luggage and whether the bags would lie around the frankfurt airport luggage room for 10 hours (NOT). All is well.

We watched 'Sleepless in Seattle' yesterday. Loved the bit about 'Come with me. Let me show you the map.' Had a great deal of fun with pointing out all the locations and just how FAR they are from here.

Free internet, hot (!) food, pinot grigio and a book room. Mmmm. That's some kind of lounge for us lizards. Starting to get ready to ROAR!

See y'all sometime on the 17th, Til then, Liz Taylor

Cheers, Anne

Oh Anne I missed this post and we missed your call from JFK?? Sounds like ideal lounge for seasoned lizards - hope you arrived safe and snug and ready to go!!!! XXOO

Carry on Rose :) Don't forget your buddies at home panting for ROAR reports

Snoring to South Africa

Charlie and I arrived in Frankfurt in good order. Singapore's angled lie-flat sleep seat was easier for sleeping, so we got plenty of shut eye. We'd booked a day room at the Sheraton. It was an excellent idea. Snoozed for a few hours, used the health club and managed to squeeze in 22 minutes (gratis!) of internet time. The whole system went down. Rose summoned her best German to explain the problem: KAPUT!

That said, if you have a long layover and/or the lounges are not up to snuff, hanging out at the Sheraton's lobby coffee areas is a really good alternative. No dayroom cost and a far more pleasant environment than the airport lounges.

The African Queen was departing at 8:30 pm from gate B42 bound for Joburg. We ambled over to check our new ship out. Holy moley, that's one big honking bird. Once we lifted off, it was quickly apparent we were in the snoring section. Honestly - haven't had that many professional snorers, EVER, on a flight. The guy next to us settled his duvet so he looked like a corpse strapped to a guerney. Yowser! I pulled out the Grant Heathman trusty earplugs. After all, if they worked for a Formula One race, surely the snoring would be a trifling matter. NO such luck. So .. I watched 'Sex in the City (again)', 'LA Confidential', a segment of a Nelson Mandela documentary and finished up with 'Goodbye to Bafana', a South African film. We landed about 20 minutes early. Our pilot helpfully reminded us that we shouldn't despair if one of our other South African flights is late, because after all we'd just had an early landing complete with an open gate so we could get off. Oh yea .. we are back in South Africa.

We debarked, still wearing the same clothes since Monday afternoon, and made our way to the domestic terminal. We were successful in swapping onto an earlier flight, tanks to our porter. We got to Cape Town on time, and our driver had gotten word to pick us up early.

The Radisson is a little further down from the waterfront than the Cape Grace's central location. Lovely entry lobby and a great restaurant to eat outdoors. Weather is very clear but clouds will build this afternoon and evening. It's cool here.

Room is supposed to be ready about now, so I will gratefully peel out of this outfit, catch a few hours of sleep and be ready to ROAR at the Baia dinner this evening. Charlie's shopping.

Cheers, Rose

Good news you both arrived safely if not 'fresh as a daisy' ;) I'm thinking Charlie is shopping for spare parts? How does the Radisson compare to Cape Grace and isn't it wonderful to be back in Africa?

Glad to hear you made it Anne - we are finally heading out the door in a few hours to drop Luke at the "ranch" and then begin the flight marathon to Chicago, London and finally Johannesburg.

We'll see everyone at the Federal Air terminal on Saturday.

Suzie - we will miss you and Marilyn in the range rovers!