Thursday 12 November 2026 Highlights: Exploring and learning about historic Broken Hill, amazing food, fun at the Adelaide Central Market
We spent the night travelling through the Blue Mountains, which made for a very bumpy night. Sleep was a little difficult with my Fitbit not recognising any sleep due to the cabin movement. Still, I felt refreshed after a shower and ready to explore Broken Hill.
While we are still in New South Wales, we moved to South Australian time, which is 30 minutes earlier. This is because Broken Hill is closer to Adelaide than to Sydney.
The Indian Pacific Train – my home for the next 4 days
Wednesday 11 November 2026
Highlights: Sydney Central Train Station, Exploring the Indian Pacific
After years of planning, my 2026 world trip was finally here, as was the start of bedroom renovations, and how did it start? I overslept because the alarm was set to mute, which defeats the purpose of an alarm! Luckily, I had everything packed and ready to go, so with only a minor delay, I was ready for the lift to the airport with my niece (Darby) for the next 10 days.
Tuesday 10 November 2026. Highlights: Successfully catching my fast moving cats.
The day before a trip normally causes me at least some nervousness, even after completing 16 World trips that started when I was twelve, way back in 1986. Even now, after 871 days exploring 90 countries, I still get a little skittish.
On this trip, however, I feel more apprehensive than usual. I guess visiting the volatile Middle East for 2 weeks, this feeling is to be expected.
Official Name: Kingdom of Morocco Established: Idrisid Dynasty 788 / End of protectorate 2 March 1956 Population: 37,254,695 (2026 estimate) Religion: 99.68 Islam (99.23 Sunni) Language(s): Arabic Capital: Rabat Order of Visit: Ninety-Fourth First Visit: Yet to Visit Last Visit: Yet to Visit Duration: 0 Days Times Visited: 0 (Planned 2026 visit) Next Planned Visit: 24 – 30 December 2026 (7 days) Expected Highlights: Exploring Volubilis, an excavated Amazigh-Roman city and UNESCO site; hiking the Rif Mountains; exploring Ouazzane for historic sites and cultural understanding; exploring Hispano‑Moorish architecture of Tétouan; enjoying the culinary scene in Fès and the UNESCO World Heritage city; exploring Casablanca, including the Hassan II Mosque and the Atlantic coastline. Planned Places to Visit: Tangier, Tétouan, Chefchaouen, Ouazzan, Fès, Casablanca
Morocco Journal Entries (to be written) Published: 02 November 2026 | Last Update: 02 November 2026
Today marks one year since I made the difficult but essential decision to do something about my health. I started with solid ideas that I evolved as I progressed. The first goal was weight-focused: to go from a BMI of 45.1 (127.1 kg), classed as obese, to a BMI of 29.9 (95.1 kg), classed as overweight.
Today I stand right on the edge of a BMI of 25 (76.4), classed as ideal. I first achieved this on 13 June 2026, well ahead of schedule, and I’ve managed to drift in and out of the ideal weight range ever since.
Maintaining what I originally thought of as a long-shot BMI target of 25 for 4.5 months feels like an achievement in itself, and suggests I might have a shot at long-term better health and this new “normal” might be sustainable.
Official Name: Portuguese Republic Established: 868 Population: 11,424,031 (2025 estimate) Religion: 80.2% Roman Catholic, 14.1% No religion Language(s): Portuguese Capital: Lisbon Order of Visit:Ninety-Third First Visit: Yet to Visit Last Visit: Yet to Visit Duration: 0 Days Times Visited: 0 (Planned 2026 visit) Next Planned Visit: 17 – 21 December 2026 (5 days) Expected Highlights: Learning the history of Portugal, trying Portuguese meals, exploring historic buildings, visiting wine cellars, exploring Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), undertake a Porto Ribeira Cruise, explore Sao Jorge Castle (Moorish castle), explore Praça da Figueira Market, Lisbon Food Tour, explore Évora Cathedral and Roman Temple, explore Olhão Fish Market. Planned Places to Visit:Porto, Lisbon, Évora, Olhão
Portugal Journal Entries (to be written) Published: 02 October 2026 | Last Update: 02 October 2026
Official Name: Kingdom of Spain Established: January 1479 (First constitution 19 March 1812) Population: 47,431,256 (2020 estimate) Religion: 61% Roman Catholic, 35% No religion Language(s): Spanish Capital: Madrid Order of Visit: Twenty First Visit: 28 June 2006 Last Visit: 26 October 2012 Duration: 12 Days Times Visited: 2 (with future planned 2026 visit) Next Planned Visit: 15 – 16 December 2026 and 22 – 23 December 2026 Visit Highlights: Barcelona – Bustling Las Ramblas, Placa de Catalunya (beautiful fountain), Borri Gothic sector, tapas bars, flamenco dancing (2006). Madrid – The crazy Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, excellent Museo Nacional Del Prado, bullfighting, flamenco dancing (2012).Burgos – the amazing Cathedral. San Sebastian – beautiful beaches and tapas bars. Segovia – Alcazar (castle), Cathedral, and ancient, magnificent Aqueduct. Avila – the walled city. Places Visited: Avila, Barcelona, Burgos, Madrid, San Sebastián, Segovia Planned Places to Visit: Madrid, Seville Spain Journal Entries Published: 26 February 2010 | Last Update: 10 September 2026
Established: 1776 Population: 308 million (2010 census) Religion: Protestant (51.3%) Capital: Washington DC Order of Visit: First First Visit: 27 November 1986 Last Visit: 06 January 2025 Duration: 168 Days Times Visited: 9 (1986, 1998, 1999-2000, 2006, 2009, 2009-2010, 2012-2013, 2019, 2024-25) Must Do: Grand Canyon, Deadwood, New York Comedy Clubs, The Alamo, New Year’s Eve at New York Times Square, Amusement Parks (LA and Orlando), Jazz in New Orleans, Major Sporting events (NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, US Open), Movie related experiences (Walk of Fame, Studio tours), Everglades. States: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York State, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington State (15 of 50 USA states) Cities:Anchorage, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Deadwood, Denali, Flagstaff, Honolulu, Key West, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Redoubt Bay, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Savannah, Sausalito, Seattle, Washington DC, Whittier United States of America (USA) Journal Entries Published: 26 February 2010 | Last Update: 18 August 2026
I’m now nine months into a twelve-month health and fitness program I commenced back in November 2025. A big part of this is an early-morning 2-hour walk as the sun comes up, and this gives me time to reflect on life in general and matters like my progress on this health plan.
Official Name: Swiss Confederation Established: 1291 Population: 8.3 million (2019 estimate) Country Size: 41,291 square kilometers Religion: Protestant (51.3%) Languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh Capital: Bern Order of Visit: Sixteenth First Visit: 31 May 2006 Last Visit: 7 June 2006 Duration: 8 Days Times Visited: 1 (2006 with another visit planned 2026) Next Planned Visit: 08 December to 15 December 2026 (8 days) Highlights: Lake Lucerne, eating delicious Swiss Chocolate, admiring the stunning Lauterbrunnen Waterfalls, enjoying the high-altitude scenic train to Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe), and standing in awe before the snow-capped mountains. Places Visited: Lucerne, Lauterbrunnen, Bern Planned to Visit: Basel, Interlaken, Murren, Zermatt, Zurich Switzerland Journal Entries First Published: 02 January 2010 | Updated: 02 August 2026
