Aloha everybody, Happy Australia Day (for you anyway, it's still yesterday here).
When we last spoke Wally's travelling Wolves and Wolvettes show had just arrived in San Francisco. Unfortunately San Francisco was somewhere that most people didn't really enjoy as the freedom and sense of security that we had enjoyed for the rest of the trip wasn't there. You had to constantly be on your guard. You couldn't walk across the street without being harassed for money for the homeless degenerates that call the streets of San Francisco home. We did manage to get a couple of things in while we were there. We got to see our first NBA game featuring the local team the Golden State Warriors against fellow cellar dweller (and former home of the great Michael Jordan) the Washington Wizards and the general consensus was that the atmosphere was very poor. The crowd involvement was almost non-existent. What they needed was the Perth Wildcats courtside announcer Lochie Reid to fire up the crowd.
We also went on a tour of Alcatraz, the legendary former prison situated on a rock island off the San Francisco coast that was home to names such as Al Capone and Robert "Birdman" Stroud. The tour was an eye opener, especially being able to see the conditions that the prisoners had to live in.
We also got to do some shopping in and around the world famous Fishermans Wharf area and in Union Square where a few of the girls managed to find a clothes shop that was "the best shop of the trip". We also got to ride the trolly cars that go up and down the massive hills that we had only previously seen in movies and the TV show The Streets of San Francisco
There was a bit more of the gastro bug going around in San Fran with Trent, Matt, Karim, Callum H, Yvette and even Wally himself being struck down at various stages. Wally was renamed Volcano Wally after exploding from both ends during his illness (I've broken in to a cold sweat just remembering it) Luckily it was only a 24 hour thing and Wally was able to resume duties quickly and without to much fuss. Thank you Pepto-Bismol.
The San Francisco leg of the trip ended on a sour note when Yvette was deemed to ill to travel by American Airlines and subsequently taken by paramedics to a local hospital where she was treated and discharged several hours later. She and Elina rejoined us in Hawaii the next day.
 
Hawaii......................................................................aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
The weather has been a constant 24 degree celsius everyday. The lifestyle here is fairly laid back and everybody is having a ball. The beach is one block away from our hotel and the view from our balcony is divine. A walk along the beach shows you sights that you don't see everyday and Wally has come to the conclusion that bikinis and speedos are NOT for everybody. After some of the sights Wally saw he has decided not to add to it and has packed the speedos deep in his travel bag where they will be safe.
Temporary tattoos and Hawaiian shirts are the must have accessory in Honolulu and all the Wannerooians have been helping the local economy get back on it's feet.
We did a tour to Pearl Harbour and what a sobering experience that was. To be at the sight where 2,402 people lost their lives on December 7 1941 after Japan attacked the US Naval base was one experience that I will never forget and I hope that all the kids got something from it as well. The viewing platform is built over the battleship USS ARIZONA and is a touching tribute to the lives lost that day. I got to meet 5 survivors from that day who volunteer their time to help out the tours. These men are in their late 80's and 90's but are still active and love to have a chat to anyone that wants to talk to them.  
We managed to get tickets to the college basketball game against Division 1 schools Hawaii and Utah State. the game's atmosphere level was 200% better than the NBA game we saw. Unfortunately Hawaii played terribly and were 20 down by halftime, eventually losing to top placed Utah by 15 points but the athleticism of some of those players was incredible.
 
I had a chat to the children individually yesterday and asked them to rank in order from 1-5 the 5 places we visited (Kentucky, New York, Orlando, SF, Honolulu). It was no surprise that Hawaii was the most popular with 17 out of 32 choosing it as their favourite stop of the trip. 9 favoured New York. Again, no surprise that they were mainly the shopoholics. Kentucky was the choice of 5 people while Rad was the only one that thought Orlando was the best place he visited.. 22 of the touring party chose San Francisco as their least favourite place of the tour. 
 
For the record, Wally's list was
1-NY, Another 3 or 4 days there would have been great. The sights and sounds and lifestyle were incredible.
2-Kentucky, Friendly people, Laid back life,fried chicken and anywhere that wants to make me a colonel wins me over every time.
3-Hawaii, Sun, Surf, Sand, Bikini Girls (and big strong boys). Who wouldn't love it.
4-Orlando, The sun disappeared while we were there and everyone spoke Spanish.
4-San Francisco, Sorry, Alcatraz was interesting but not my type of place.
 
We've encountered freezing cold weather and seen a little bit of snow but we have been lucky in that the weather hasn't stopped us doing anything I think I've only seen one rainy day and that was a bit of drizzle in San Francisco. The snow we saw was only light so didn't affect our schedules at all.
We managed to play some decent basketball and won a few games along the way as well. Kentucky was certainly the place to go to play basketball because everyone their is sport mad.
 
So, there you have it. Tonight is our last night in paradise before we pack up and head back to reality.
I know that all the children have many many memories, mostly good, that will stay with them for a lifetime and I know that we adults have as well For the most part the children have been well behaved and a pleasure to be around.
On behalf of all of the chaperones I would like to thank you all for trusting us with your children for the past 4 or so weeks. It has been an honour for us to look after your children and we have shared lots of good times.
 
Please don't forget to come to the airport on Wednesday(that's the INTERNATIONAL Airport) to take your child off our hands.
Love
Wally