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As my plane climbed out over continental America and headed for the open ocean of the Atlantic, a certain phrase bounced around my mind, in the gap between every moment of somnolence. It was simple but poignant: “We’ve seen the world”. 9 hours later I had completed the full circumnavigation of the globe.
Less than four hours after my extremely long day (that started in the Cook Islands) had ended, I was conscious again, vowing to battle on for what would be the remaining 72 hours of this two month trip. The incentive for staying lucid would be a full day cramped into a tour bus alongside 60 wailing Americans – and their kids.
I stand on the fringes of the Pacific Ocean and gaze out upon the interminable distance that I’ve yet to travel. Resonating around my head are the dull, soothing tones of a song I first listened to back in 2006 when I was planning a different trip around the world and visualising what the Cook Islands might be like as a stopover.
It’s time for me to go home. I make my way back to JFK and it dawns on me – I’ve almost come full circle. But not yet. A strange overnight flight on board a half empty Virgin Atlantic 747 takes me over the cold, dark Atlantic. As we circle over London and approach Heathrow, “Dreams” by the Cranberries plays on the sound system.
It was my final full day of my 7 week adventure, and having come right around the world to reach New York, I couldn’t think of a more fitting finale than doing some of the things I’d always dreamt of doing if I ever visited this great city. So, in mid morning, I walk over to HQ of Liberty Helicopters on the banks of the Hudson.
