Let's mix it up and fill in some experience gaps: RTW 2015

[JohnM]

Well, the time has come to go on the annual xONEx RTW again . Globe out, darts out: fire away! (err - that was about 11 months ago).

Here's the plan, starting tomorrow late afternoon flight to SYD and overnight at Rydges (well, I'll be! - what a surprise - that's the first day of my new FF year! ), ending 20 October (7 weeks):

[PER]-SYD-xDFW-MSP-xDFW-PHX-xDFW-SFO-MIA-BOG-[MDE-(EOH-AXM-EOH)-CTG-xBOG]-SCL-xMAD-HEL-[RIX-HEL]-xLHR-xJNB-WDH-xJNB-xSYD-[PER]

25 flights. Mileage Monkey says 49424 miles; should yield 1705 SC and around 95K points.

PER-SYD-PER is a positioning itinerary using my Amex Ultimate card QF flight redemption (UPG'd). The DONE5 starts and ends in SYD.

I have a sequence of internal Y flights in Colombia (very much looking forward to meeting Juddles and his family in Medellin! . Also hoping for an audience with Rebecca! ). HEL-RIX-HEL is also a separate Y itinerary.

Woke this morning to my very favourite QF SMS: 'Your points UPG to First on QF7 SYD-DFW has been confirmed.' Woo-hoo! I've been watching EF periodically and the load was showing light in every class apart from sold-out PE, so I was pretty optimistic.

MDE is the international, and EOH the domestic, at Medellin. AXM is Armenia in the Zona Cafetera (coffee region); slipping down there for a few days. Again, many thanks to Juddles for organising my flights there when the small local airline would not take my foreign CC on their website. AFF at its best!

Here is the route map:



A bit more detail on the Colombia section:



Renting a car in MSP, PHX, RIX and WDH to get out into the countryside.

I'll endeavour to post from my phone as I go along.

 

[RooFlyer]

Impressive! Hope the posting from the phone works out.

 

[OATEK]

Coming along for the ride.

 

[LadyC]

Looks great! Looking forward to reading more.

 

[mimishat]

wow what a trip! Look forward to following along the way. Hope you have a great time!

 

[aaronjames000]

Wow! Impressive itinerary! Sounds like great fun!

 

[JohnM]

PER-SYD this afternoon QF566. CSM Ryan. Excellent service.

PER J Lounge a little less crowded than opening night last week.



Booked into the F spa for a massage tomorrow morning after breakfast. Should help work up a thirst for a pre-flight Champagne or two...

 

[wooley]

Looks like an exceptional trip

 

[craven morehead]

Outstanding !! Enjoy :mrgreen:

 

[JohnM]

Mmmm... massage.

Mmmm... 1A

Mmmm... salt & pepper squid

Mmmm... Champagne

Mmmm... and here comes Big Bird...

 

[JohnM]

Mmmm... Pol Roger 2004

 

[JohnM]

Had the tasting menu for dinner but substituted the chicken with the excellent seared scallops with shiitake mushrooms, broad beans, fennel which was the unlisted special.

Good wine selection (ahem, 3 of the 6 from WA ). Riesling with the soup, chardonnay with the scallops, Diana Madeline with the lamb - and the cheese. Tried a taste of the pinot but felt it was one that didn't work very well at altitude.

More of the Sir Winston with dessert and the sticky with some chocolates.

 

[Bindibuys]

Oh dear John...... Please don't expect the same excitement next September.... Safe travels.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Safe travels how much $$$$

 

[Pushka]

Travelling along with you. Good luck with the picture posting.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

Looking forward to the rest of your TR.

 

[TomVexille]

Definitely following along for this.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Good stuff John! Beware, you will encounter non WA wines on your travels! Enjoy.

 

[JohnM]

Arrived in MSP last night. Had a quick look around the historic old mill area on the edge of town and on the Mississippi this morning, also Minehaha Falls (of Hiawatha fame) them headed up country to Lake Itasca, the source of the river.

The only waterfall on the whole river is the St Anthony Falls in the historic district. There's some excellent urban renewal in the old mill area.

 

[JohnM]

Minnesota is dubbed 'The land of 10000 lakes.' For every 15 sq km of land, there is 1 sq km of water. Essentially a huge watershed draining in many directions.

Very warm and still evening so I had dinner outside. Surprised how quiet it is given this weekend is the Labor Day holiday, traditionally the end of summer in LOTFAP.

Typical of concessions in US national parks, the food is quite plain. Had pan-fried walleye (caught in local lakes) and it was good. I still have Kid Rock's 'All summer long' going around in my head .

There were humming bird feeders on the deck and, miraculously, I managed to capture one with my phone camera.