In less than a week I’m embarking on my own five-week version of the Grand Tour. Here’s the itinerary: San Francisco-Tokyo-Shikoku-Okinawa-Osaka-San
Francisco-London-Dublin-Wales-Dublin-San Francisco-Singapore-Bali.

Craziest connection: On Oct. 1, I fly from Japan to SFO, arriving at 10:45 am, and at 4:55 pm that same afternoon, I fly from SFO to London!

Second craziest connection: In the late afternoon of Oct. 7, I return to SFO from the UK; I have one night at home and then fly from SFO to Bali early on the afternoon of Oct. 8.

I know some of you do this all the time, but for me, this is pretty epic. I’m mostly terrifically excited and a tad terrified.

I’ll keep you posted with dispatches from the road – and sky – here!

Tonight another AMAZING Weekday Wanderlust took place at the Hotel Rex in San Francisco! The truth is that before the evening, I was feeling under the weather -- but after a few glasses of champagne, three WONDERFUL readings, and the general buoyant
camaraderie of so many great travel and travel lit lovers, I'm now feeling
FANTASTIC! Thanks to our readers: Doug, Dianne and Serena! Thanks, Kimberley and
Lavinia (missed and celebrated in absentia), and thanks to all who came and
filled the room with passion and appreciation!

This monthly  event has grown organically and astonishingly. And it makes me think that, as with writing itself, remaining true to your core passion is a key to success. We're not trying to sell anything, and we don't have any ulterior agenda of any kind -- we just want to bring together travel-lovers and travel lit-lovers for a monthly sharing of our collective passion. And it's working!!! I think there's a larger lesson here...