Re-united in New Jersey...!! It had been a long six weeks...!!
After a whirlwind two weeks of travel, in which I flew from Brisbane to Seoul in South Korea, then on to the Big Apple, where I met many members of my future family, and a host of Patricia’s friends; attended two weddings, both of which were spectacular in their own way; we then jetted south again to the Turks & Caicos Islands in the sunny Caribbean…
I have now finally been able to log on to the net, to let you all know that I am very much alive and well…!!
Our first wedding took place on a blustery day in Central Park... Patricia served as Maid of Honour for Amanda and Frankie...
My feet have hardly touched the ground in the last two weeks, and I have either found myself in a taxi, a train, a plane or a boat of some kind, racing towards events and meetings, or far flung destinations, that were planned long before my arrival in New York…
Any discussions concerning the effects of jet-lag fell on deaf ears…!!
“Patricia the Dynamo” has ensured that we squeeze every moment out of every day to give me what she terms “the full experience”…!!
And I thought that a ten hour day on the Big Fella was exhausting…!! That pales when compared to the frenetic activities of the last ten days…!!
Normal writing service will resume in due course, as I plan to return to Brisbane to continue the ride in a few days time…!!
My hopes of being able to get my site up to date to describe the wonderful people I met and stayed with in Melbourne and Tasmania, and my ride to Grafton to meet Neil and Penny Burgess, and then up to Brisbane to meet my old school-friends Mark and Taryn Behr, faltered on the back of a schedule I could never have imagined…!!
I had forgotten how much Patricia managed to do in a single day, and had believed I was in for a relaxing few days, punctuated by the occasional wedding and sight-seeing tour…!! Silly me…!!
The Gypsy Biker had to wear a different kind of suit for this gig... The BMW Rally-Pro apparently was just not good enough...!! Go figure...!!
One day later, and "Aunt Patti" poses with her niece, the beautiful Caitlin at the second wedding we attended...
Whooping it up at Caitlins's wedding... GB was surprised to find that he still had a few of his old moves in him...!!
Patricia and I are joined by her sister Donna, her nieces Andrea and Isabella, and Erin...!!
Escape from New York - Caribbean bound....!!
Boat ride to Parrot Cay, a few miles north-east of the island of Provodenciales...
Parrot Cay, one of 40 small islands that form part of the Caicos Banks... Paradise personified....!!
We enjoyed lunch at the Bay Bistro, situated on the expanse of beach that lines Grace Bay...
Far from amused at the prospect of another few days in hospital...!!
Another brush with the Vampire Club... This time it's the Turks and Caicos Islands...!!
Our arrival in the Turks and Caicos Islands has been a sobering one to say the least…
We have spent the last three days ensconced in the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where Patti had to undergo another round of medical treatments to ensure that she remains among the living and loving…!!
Shades of Bali all over again…!!
And yes, it did involve me becoming an official TCI Blood Donor too…!! The blue bowl was hurriedly brought forward when I apparently turned an unusual shade of green, halfway through the procedure…!!
Not at all what I envisaged when I decided to spend a few days in the Caribbean…!!
Having read the above, I trust you will understand the reasons for my prolonged silence, but rest assured, there is much to write about, and all I now need, is the time to do it in…!!
Ricardo Missick, the medical technician who did a wonderful impression of Vincent Price...
The fruit of my veins...!! "Don't drop it Ricardo...!! We are not doing this twice...!!"
Not that I see that happening anytime soon…!! I would dearly like to enjoy the last few days I have to spend with my nearest and dearest, and soak up a few Caribbean rays while I’m about it…
My thanks to all those who have either sent emails or left comments of concern regarding my “disappearance”…!!
Also, to those who either sent messages of support or love to Patricia while she was undergoing her transfusions, our special thanks to you…!!
In a few short days, the GBWT will get back on track with a long ride to Townsville and Cairns in Northern Queensland, before looping back to Brisbane to take my leave of Australia…
So far, it’s all good….!!
And barring any further mishaps, should stay that way…!!
©GBWT 2011
Greetings from Brisbane
The Big Fella is well rested and enjoying the Brisbane sunshine – we have had a few days of 37 degrees and it is getting warmer. He sends his love to Patti and a few low growls your way 🙂
Glad you are having fun and enjoying time with a lovely lady. Let me know what time to collect you from the airport on Fri ?/
Enjoy your time and see you when you are ready.
Your looking rather smart Mr Ronnie 🙂 Glad all is ok and your having fun with your new family to be 🙂 Sending best wishes from the UK, looking forward to your updated blogs 🙂 Namaste
Hi Ronnie
Amper gedink jy is some ware ge highjack,glad you are well and safe.Can’t wait for more updates as 2 weeks of silence is shit.
Yippee…..can’t wait for all the news about your whirlwind America trip. Ha ha, you and needles my brother, I see Patti is making sure you get over your phobia. Send best wishes to your new found family from all of us back home. Be safe and enjoy your 30+ hours of travel back to Australia. Talk about jet-lag….Don’t worry Mark will sort you out.
Rob and I were also beginning to wonder what had happened to you!!! Very happy to hear you alive and well and obviously had an amazing time these last few weeks (apart from the hospital sojourn!)
Our Sal flies out to Melbourne in a weeks time to meet her new ‘in law’ family!!!
Enjoy your last few weeks in Australia.
lots of love
The Gushes
Re-united in New Jersey…!!
Heck, she looks good in her old one..
Happy days, Boet… (or is that daze..?) Good to have an update. Been a daily read for …21 months? Good grief!
Glad to see you back on line my friend. I was wondering how you were doing. And by gosh don’t you look POSH in those new duds. We are so pleased your time in the big Apple was a happy one Now get back and ride we want to see you here next year!! We are all Alaska Bound.
Trev
Yeah Trev, hectic, but happy indeed….!! Will be riding with new purpose from now on… The mindset has changed….!! I’ll get thru OZ and maybe New Zealand, then get down to Chile by year end… From there, I’ll take the Northbound Express to Saltspring Island…!! Love to you both, R.
Ha, Rob….!! Yes, she does, doesn’t she…!! Happy Daze are here again….!! R.
Hiya Margie…!! Mmmm…seems like wedding bells are ringing all over the world…!! Hope all well in P.E. Take care, and you are all in my thoughts…!! R.
Hope those are growls of longing and not frustration…!! He can be very moody, that machine of mine…!! Thanks again for taking care of the Big Fella during my “forced” absence…!! R.
Looks like way too much fun you guys!
Hi Ronnie,
Just catching up with your blog….Love the photos of you and the whack! You are an angel for being there for Patty, not once, but twice…….
Be safe on your journey.
Hi Ronnie,
How are you doing?. This is Ricardo from the TCI Blood Bank, just saying hi and hoping that all is well with you and the wife.
Ricardo
Hi Ricardo…!! I forgot to post a picture of you on the blog…!! Will correct that now…!! Check out “Caribbean Greetings…!!” Patricia is well, thank you, and I am preparing to finish up in Australia and get myself across to South America…!! Hope all well with you in Provo…. Take care, R.
Hey ronnie this is Ricardo Missick long time hope all is well with you and your wife,just got on this cite accidentally i just saw your message. hit me up on facebook. take care