The chore of packing continues today.   Pat is trying on clothes to see what fits the mood and the body. I bought another suitcase this morning to ensure that we’d have room for everything we need and still have space to bring back gifts at the end of the trip.

There is something I would like to encourage everyone to use on a trip like this – a travel agent. I know there’s not many people who use them these days but planning an extended trip with transportation (planes, trains, and automobiles), hotels, excursions, cruises…well, it gets complicated.  We found the best travel agent in Southern California.  This is the second time I have used her services and I would not have even attempted to plan a trip like this on my own.  In the event of an emergency during the trip, they are available to assist in problem solving which offers peace of mind while you are away.  Also, the agent is able to obtain discounts that we could never have arranged.  I cannot recommend a travel agent enough when planning a big trip.