and in conclusion

What?  You're still here?  oh, you're expecting me to finish up, draw some sort of conclusion about all of this, maybe even say something profound as a wrap up.

Well, then this might disappoint.  (although you should be used to that by now).

It was so long ago that we made the decision to do the year adventure that I've long since forgotten what the original motive was.  Something to do with having a long vacation from work maybe.

But during the six years it took from inception to fruition, the goals morphed and grew (and grew into something rather overly ambitious) so that by the time we left Santa Cruz on that cold, rainy Saturday, anything short of dying in a car wreck would have fulfilled one wish or another.

I was afraid we had set ourselves up for a big let down.  But the happy truth is that the whole experience was so much more fulfilling and joyous than I ever could have hoped for.  I'm tempted to elaborate but my motive in writing this blog has never been to boast about any good fortune we experienced so I won't belabor the point beyond saying that it was fantastic.  We went places, ate everything in sight and made new friends and each of us experienced a level of personal growth that I had not anticipated.
I learned things about myself that I would have thought I'd have known by the age of 40 but didn't.  Found out a little bit more of what I'm made of. (Turns out a lot of what I'm made of likes indoor plumbing and dogs that don't bark throughout the night).

Along the way we picked up many times more readers than I had ever expected to have which was a real delight. And to those of you who have complimented this blog, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I'm so happy to have been able to entertain you all, even if just for a few minutes each week.

For those who have suggested I turn this thing into a book, let me say your confidence is overwhelming.  However, I have a somewhat less exalted view of my own abilities and talents.  Also, I have no ambition.  So a little unmonetized blog this will stay.  (If you want to read a truly great travel book, read The Art of Travel by Alain Ee Botton.)

But the whole point of this blog was to share our one year travel adventures.  And now that adventure has come to an end.  And so must this blog.  Which means I have nothing more to say except this:

Thank you for reading.

I will miss you all.