Moving to the Start.1

Its Kelvin and I am in Hong Kong having just arrived at KaiTak - a most beautiful sight from the air as we approached Hong Kong from over the South China Sea. Julie should be in Singapore by now. The most asked question to date is why are we travelling in separate aircraft? Its not because we think that if a plane goes down then one of us will survive. There is no substance to the rumour that Julie is an unpleasant travelling companion. I have a free fair on Qantas, and Julies seat on Singapore Air was the next best price! For all those who are interested, we finally got to bed at 1am last night, after doing all that has to be done to wind up our Salvation Army responsibilities, packed all the bikes in boxes and all the panniers (we have 6) and loaded the backpacks with as much weight as was bearable for the 'carry-on'. We were up again at 5am, and in the car just after 6am.

I was hi-jacked at the office at morning tea yesterday. I went down at the usual time, curious that there seemed to be more than normal for morning tea, and all very promptly on time. When I got relaxed with a cup of tea in my hand, the very sinister Trevor Nicol emerged with a set of electric hair clippers attached to a long extension cord, and then Cheryl Drayton, the resident amateur hair cutter (she cuts her husbands hair and only does one style - all off!). I was co-erced into having a virtual head shave. I chose to submit rather than have to fight my way from the tea room. I knew when I was a beaten man. The cameras emerged, the faces leared with sadistic grins as Cheryl proceeded to shave my head to a close No.2 with the skill of a seasoned shearer. If you know how conservative I am, you would understand how I felt attending my final scheduled noon meeting for the day! I didn't pack a comb. Actually I quite like it now, but it is still a shock whenever I pass a mirror. Cheryl could make a fortune in many a sheaers hut with the clippers, but she insists on being a loyal secretary at our office!

Each of us was about 10kg over the 20kg baggage limit, and we prayed for a lovely check-in person. Anyway, it all went smoothly, and Julie was also able to check through the tent as well (they didn't seem to bother about our 'excess'). We were in, breathing a whole lot easier. We had a nice breakfast together before the final goodbye and "Hope to see you in Paris" as we went our respective ways. Julie comes into Terminal 3, and I discovered I come into a completely different Terminal a bus ride away. It was only as we parted that I realised Julie had the bike tools on her plane, so I would have to carry the bike somehow to meet her on her arrival. I'll work on it when I get there!

So I now have 3 hours to kill before my Cathay Pacific 12 hrs to Paris. The weather is now 'sunny' in Paris for tomorrow, so all looks good.

For those who haven't come in to Hong Kong, it is one of the engineering marvels of the world.

Until next internet cafe (oh, by the way - its free here at KaiTak!) its 'bye' for now. Thanks for the prayers from back home. K