It’s 5.05 pm Pacific time and I’m sitting in a pretty empty airport departure lounge in America. In two and half hours time the big bird in the sky will fly me back to London. Today has been a day of goodbyes: and while I have ridden with some nice guys, I’m not so sure I’m going to miss them greatly. I’ve now got quite good at parceling up these trips – and the people in them – so that when I go home it is a memory of the past. An enjoyable memory but not one that confuses or upsets my real everyday life. You’ve got to do such a trip to really understand what I’m getting at. Any-case, I’m very much looking forward to getting back to the UK and doing some ‘normal’ stuff at home – including planning my next trip. I’ll now watch a film on the laptop to pass a bit of time ……..