Creating new memories with new friends and old

One of the oddities of group travel is how time is a rather fickle beast. A few days whizzing around to places packed with the history and richness of experiences of those past, seem like weeks as we are grapple with the pace and intensity of touring. Such travel can be the best and most amazing periods of one's life IF you have the luck to share it with others of like mind and commitment. Equally on some group tours a single day can seem like a lifetime if the group dynamic is a disaster! The 2019 Connecting Spirits Community tour group has a beautiful feel to it as we connect and move closer together  as individuals new to each other. On the first occasion the group first met over a year ago, it was obvious then that this was a special group of people. We range from  16- 75 years of age including school/uni students, teachers, retirees all from diverse backgrounds. It took about ten minutes last year for the noise level to rise as we came together over a shared meal and the vibe and enthusiasm was palpable. Move forward twelve months and each day this band of noisy travelers fill our mini bus with chatter and vibrant laughter  interspersing quieter reflective moments in the cemeteries and memorials. The loud banter quickly ceases and the serious focus returns. Each commemoration is done with dignity and a sense of importance that reflects the strong sense of why we  are here. Each person brings something to these moments and I continue to be amazed by the power of all that is Connecting Spirits. I am indeed very privileged to share this journey with Mal, Jo, Paul, Frank, Sandra, Sophia, Francesca, Ashleigh, Anyupa, Felicia and our trusty driver Paul (aka 'Bozo' ).

Day one : 209 Connecting Spirits Community tour begin their commemorative pilgrimage

Checklists complete and the group all present and ready, it was time to take off from Adelaide to Europe for this year's Connecting Spirits tour. Many thanks to all who are following our journey across a variety of social media platforms and also for your many messages along the way. If we don't reply to them immediately, please understand the demands of group travel: every day is packed and add to that the inevitable recovery from jet lag in the first few days, please know that we are grateful for all of your support and interest.
The flights went well with no major dramas and at 2.00 pm Paris time , we eventually landed in France. With a delay in Dubai plus a bit of convoluted walk to our mini bus and driver Paul Dennington, we were off and running! The driver to Amiens took a couple of hours and with a slick check-in , showers and pre- dinner drink, it was time for dinner at our favourite restaurant Oz'Orange. So with yummy duck dishes, creme brulees and a couple of house wines under our belts by 9.30 tiredness was really setting in. Today the focus of our tour starts in earnest with six soldiers being commemorated: Walter Kirlew, David Coulter, Arthur Walker, Miles Beevor, William East and William Simpson will have their stories shared and recorded.