First, I must thank James R-D for the motivation to post again. I was browsing recent entries when I saw the post by our traveling companion from Newcastle (that’s right, isn’t it?) about missing the rally and the lifestyle that it entailed. You’re not alone, my friend, for the trip has left me with the view that all these responsbilities are quite hackneyed in comparison to the adventure of a lifetime. And it was. And we keep telling you about it. There’s one thing (or hundreds, really) that would make that story much more palpable - a fat stack of photographs (the ones on the website are proof that it helps).

‘So where are they?’ you probably haven’t asked yourself. I don’t blame you. If you weren’t a rallier, it’s hard to put much emphasis on the trip at all, in some cases even to care to ask. Places you’ve never seen and people you’ve never met can only be known through stories to a point - though I admit the ability of the storyteller determines whether the sense of the trip comes through or not. Still, even the best storyteller would do well to have a visual aid of his journey, for while those listening may have an idea of the comraderie forged on the trip, shown in many adverse situations, it’s not until they see a photo of ten young men (nine, actually) grouped together in something larger than themselves that they come closer to understanding what it was we went through.

The answer to your question, R-D, is soon. I’ve finally mailed off all 1,591 exposures of colored film and still have to develop the 888 black and white. Once finished, I’ll scan the best ones and create some sort of compilation, hopefully mailing a DVD to each member of the convoy (if your addresses have changed since you wrote them down, please let me know!). The best of my best will make it up on the web somehow. Like any good marketer is thinking this time of year, I’ll try to have them out by Christmas, or near about. You’re also welcome to hassle my via email; I can be a horrible procrastinator.

On a quick personal note, I’m making plans for a 1-month trip to Australia early next year. While traveling through SE Asia after the rally, I had the most fortunate chance to make some very good friends in Koh Tao, Thailand, good enough to warrant another trip to the opposite side of the world. I hear the flight to Sydney is long and expensive, but what’s the tradeoff? I could continue to attend my job, since attending is about all I’m doing these days. I could sit around and think of my next trip - by the way, have you heard of the Rickshaw Run? Plans for the second half of 2007 include a three-week trip to Europe with my brother, Brent, after he passes his CFP exam - we both are looking forward to that one (the trip, not the exam).

Lastly, I’d like to doubly warn our readers to the quick use of a cuss in the posted Harbinger video. That’s how I talk, especially after 28 days on the road…if you can call what we traversed road. Anyway, if you’ve never heard that word, you should get out more.

Cavalierly, Vaughn