Saturday 28^th October – Day 29

We both got up at 06:00 and made our final preparations for departure.  We were on the road just before 07:00 and started heading towards the airport.

The journey itself passed by quickly and easily enough and we arrived at the van drop off point to find it all locked up.  We had arrived fifteen minutes early to drop off the van only to find that their offices didn’t open until 08:00 anyway.

Eventually we handed the van back and paid our fuel tax.  We had done 6109kms since collecting the van earlier in the month.  With all the paperwork completed we jumped on the bus bound for Auckland airport.

With our flight not due until 13:40 we had to wait until the check in desk opened.  To pass the time we got out a political map of the world and started planning our future trips.

With the planning time passed by quickly and before we knew it we had checked in, paid our departure tax ($25 each) and made our way to the departure gate.  Whilst waiting at the departure gate my name was called over the PA system.  I hurried to the information desk and was asked whether I would change to an Air New Zealand flight tonight that would go via Los Angeles and arrive in London tomorrow morning.  It was an interesting prospect but we were booked into a hotel in South Korea tonight.  Sean and I felt it would be best to sleep in a hotel rather than on a plane again so we politely declined their offer.

The twelve hour flight to Incheon passed by through a combination of reading, watching unusual South Korean films and eating the interesting (and rather indescribable) in-flight meals.

Having landed at Incheon we made our way through immigration and where whisked off to the Hyatt Regency hotel.  In our very posh surroundings we decided to have showers and watched Liverpool v Aston Villa live on TV in our room.  It was the first time I’d even had a proper bed to sleep in for over a month!

Sunday 29^th October – Day 30

Sean and I both had a great night’s sleep and felt on top of the world when the alarm went off.  After a quick coffee whilst watching the news we had showers and headed for the breakfast restaurant.

After an hour of gorging ourselves on the best meal we’ve had in a long time we decided to head out and see our surroundings.  Incheon looks like a very nice place and Sean and I are both looking forward to returning to South Korea on our future travels.

All too soon it was time to head to the airport.  After a short bus journey we had arrived and made our way to the departures lounge.  Security here is much tighter and having had to take off my shoes to put them through the scanners I was pulled up for having my beard trimming scissors in my washbag.  After a farcical 20 minutes of checking my scissors in as cargo luggage and going through security again we cleared immigration and waited for our flight.  I wasn’t allowed to throw away my scissors for ‘security’ reasons…interesting…

Again the twelve hour flight passed by through watching films, eating Bibimbap and reading.  On the flight we also got talking to a young Korean girl who was studying for her A levels at a boarding school in Brighton.

Having collected our baggage (and scissors!) we spent two hours fighting our way through the underground and lugging our bags to the hostel.  Having checked in I rang home, had some tea and went to bed absolutely shattered!

Monday 30^th October – Day 31

Due to some inconsiderate travellers in our dorm Sean and I had a patchy night’s sleep.  I was way too big for my bed too which didn’t really help things very much.

We got up at 06:10, well before the alarm, had our showers and headed for the breakfast bar.  Fortunately the rabble of French school children hadn’t woken up yet so we at least had our breakfast in peace!

After breakfast we checked out of the hostel and prepared to do battle with the London Underground on a Monday during rush hour.  Major delays on the network meant that it took two hours to complete our nightmare journey to Euston.  Carrying 30kgs of luggage for that amount of time is not easy!

Having eventually made it to Euston we left our luggage at the station and I took Sean on a walking tour of London.  In two hours we managed to cover Islington, Baker Street, Oxford Street, Regents Park, Carnaby Street and Piccadilly Circus all on foot!  Despite the tour Sean, like me, was not a fan of London and so we were both happy when we were sat on our train bound for Liverpool Lime Street.

Apart from an hour’s delay at Stafford where the train broke down (Virgin Trains again!) we arrived in Liverpool in high spirits.  On our way out of the station, to get the airport shuttle bus, we bumped into Claire who was on her way to catch the train to Halewood.  Considering the distances we had just covered what a coincidence it was to meet like that!  Claire joined us on the bus and before long Sean had departed for his flight to Belfast.

On the way home our bus was attacked by youths throwing eggs at the windows.  It brought home to me that I was back in the UK!

Back at home I spent the evening unpacking my baggage and going over what Sean and I did on the trip.  Needless to say it was a lot!  Over the last month we had covered so much and had truly had the trip of a lifetime.

Plans are, of course, underway for future trips though!

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