Aorund the World in 190 Days

On September 20, 1519 Ferdinand Magellan left Spain with five ships and 251 men. Nonie and Brett left Ottawa on January 20, 2009 leaving behind one and one on the way grandchildren. March, 1520 Magellan landed and wintered in Puerto San Julian, Southern Argentina. Nonie and Brett landed in Kelowna on January 20, 2009 and wintered in Penticton. November 21, 1520 Magellan enters the straits that bear his name. On February 04, 2009 Nonie and Brett cross the Straits of Juan de Fuca in a U-Haul Rental truck delivering her Mom's furniture to a new home. On March 26, 1521, Magellan reaches the island now known as Guam. On February 14, 2009, Brett and Nonie reach the island now known as Vancouver. Magellan is killed on April 27, 1521 by the islanders of Mactan. On February 14, 2009 the eye specialist finds a macular tear in Nonie's right eye and her travel days are over for a few months. With only 110 crew left, Magellan's crew abandons one of the ships. On February 28, 2009 Brett abandons Nonie and flies to Harbin, China. Two of Magellan's ships turn back and are imprisoned by the Portuguese in the Spice Islands. Nonie returns to Penticton to recover and get better. The Victoria, Magellan's one remaining ship decides to continue the voyage West. After 8 long weeks apart Nonie arrives in Harbin on April 5, 2009. Eighteen survivors of Magellan's original crew arrived back in Spain on September 6, 1522. Nonie and Brett depart Harbin in July 4, 2009, traveling through Mongolia, Russia, Estonia, Sweden and Iceland arriving in Ottawa on August 1, 2009. It took Magellan's crew almost two years to circumnavigate the world and he didn't live to see the end. Nonie and Brett did it in 6 months and 10 days. Take that Magellan.

Our travel from Ottawa was exciting, boring, wearisome, exhilarating, lonely, breathe taking, aggravating, astonishing, frustrating, scary and while it was a lifetime experience we are glad to be home. We will miss the people though..... I think Magellan would agree with all of the above, except maybe the getting killed part.