On To China
The flight to Beijing was almost routine except for Anthony, my seat mate. We were seated in the first row of coach, a wonderful place with no seats in front and good stretching room. JoAnn and I were early, as usual, and seated aisle and middle. Getting close to final boarding the window seat was empty, every long distance travellers dream. But then comes the flight attendant leading….mother and infant. Every travelers dread. The thought of the screaming infant for 15 hours sent tremors. Further, the bassinette was hung on the wall at eye level and Anthony could sit up and stare at me with wonderment.
Boston to Beijing - Flying
The trip to the deepest part of China, the northern Silk Road, begins with a flight from Boston to Beijing. Non-stop it is fifteen hour fifteen minutes flying 6,728 miles, 10,820 kilometers if you prefer the metric system and like the bigger number. The Silk Road, even stretching it a bit from Rome to Beijing is only 5,045 miles, 8,120 Kms for those starting out from the Euro side. We can be sure the original Silk Road travellers took a year to travers a shorter distance than we cover in a bit more than a half a day.
Silk Road - Starting Out
Seven days until we leave for China’s part of the Silk Road. Quite an itinerary. “Thirty Caves in Thirty Days.” Actually 10 cities in 22 days and 9 cave sites with hundreds of caves at each site. Start from the far west, Urumqi, we’ll trek eastward to Luoyang. Plane, train, boat, car and camel plus some hiking and maybe a donkey. The big stuff is set. Hotels, trains, and planes are reserved. On site details will depend on conditions. We’ll be flexible.
Overseventy - HELLO! - Sept. 29, 2016
It would be nice if I could make promises but now I don’t have a bigger vision. I am not yet sure how this web site will evolve. It will be a personal statement of Richard, keeping active and moving forward. I will also bring in the voice and views of JoAnn my irrepressible wife and soul mate. Over seventy I am. My vision of being seventy was of frail people of failing health. And then, one day, I was seventy. I was older, but not frail. This extra time of my life is an opportunity to live and explore life and the world on different terms, without daily family and work responsibility.