On my way!

Of course I arrived at the airport way early, but it's about 30 minutes till I board. It's going to be a long day!

I asked at the desk about an upgrade. Nope nope nope. No special deals on Qatar: $3,500 to upgrade to business class. I'll be content with my extra legroom. They did weigh my carryon and let me go, even though it was overweight. They've got a 15 pound limit on carryons, and mine was 21 pounds. Camera gear and my bird books, mostly. On the way back, I'll put more stuff in checked luggage, but on my outgoing trips, I want my gear at hand! (Honestly, anyone who does carryon only is taking only cell phone pictures.)

I've had a few people say to me that I'm brave to travel (or maybe it's to travel alone), but I don't feel that way. But, in the couple of days before I go somewhere, I do get nervous. Stomach in a knot, thinking I'm crazy, generally just scared. Then the day arrives and I'm fine. My stomach still turns over a little, but mostly I'm just so excited! It's like I'm scared till I'm actually on the way, then I just want to be there and experience all the new sights. So it's all okay. I will meet new people and make friends, and see things that I've dreamed about seeing my whole life.

I've got a couple of non-tour things booked in Cape Town. I'm most excited about my birding day. I've got a guide from Birding Ecotours for my free day in CT. Birding. All Day. With someone who knows the birds and the area. The options that Gate 1 offered for that day were: 1) shark diving, an all day trip to snorkel in a cage and maybe see a great white. Nope. I've dived with sharks (albeit, not a great white), so I'll pass; and 2) Wine tour- this is another all day trip into the wine country. I'm not a big wine drinker. So, I'll get picked up at the hotel and spend the day birding. Sounds like my idea of heaven.

I've also booked a short boat ride on Saturday via Viator. It's for whale-watching, but they say ocean wildlife in case there are no whales that day. I'm not sure what else I'll do that day. I'll be visiting the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden with Gate 1 (and possibly with the birding guide), but I've heard really good things about it. Or I may just recharge that day. Nah. Too much to see!

So, unless I go back and add something to this from the flight, this is it until either the Doha stop or, more likely, Cape Town.