Setting off about midnight from Auckland on Thursday. That‘s to say Weds for the rest of the world. Twelve hours later we arrive in Shanghai, having been served breakfast. Transit 3 hours, then Air France for another 12 hours trans Siberia. It will be light, so we'll see China, Mongolia and Russia... and a lot of films!

Thought I might get a book to help with the French natural world. 

I looked up Birds of France - one offering - the Chicken and Egg Cookbook.

Only a fortnight to go and I am lucky enough to have the grandchildren here to help, for a whole wet week. (Yip! Yip!) The creek beside the house is roaring. 
I bought a padlock and chain today. Not about to have the baggage stolen from the pack animal (Air NZ).  
Shocked at the technology needed in the saddle-bags. Cell-phone, tablet, camera, MP3, plus chargers for everything - all different makes of course. Plus a Tomtom (Richard Coeur de Lion didn't have maps either). Adaptors for car and French (circular!) plug-points. So much for the eremitic pilgrim.

Decided I'm off to France to research Book Two of the Lionheart Chronicles. Where is the castle at Brionne? What does the Castle at Beaumont le Roger look like? Was there a ferry at Bouille in the twelfth Century? The search for authentic history goes intercontinental.