Saying goodbye is never easy but this part of our odyssey has come to an end and we must say farwell at the airport to Toshi & Yumi as we all fly onwards, us to Yokohama and Toshi & Yumi to Osaka.

Day 65 – May 7th.

All good things must come to an end and so it is that after ten days sailing through the inland Sea of Japan on Big Elle, we have to bid farwel to our dear friends Toshi & Yumi.

Having met at breakfast on the second last day aboard the Queen Elizabeth cruising to Japan, we connected in a special way and a freindship was born.

Words cannot express how hounoured we are to have been allowed to join the crew of Big Elle and make them our friends as well but to have been shown such wonderful hospitality kidness and generosity.

This morning we had breakfast onboard Big Elle for the final time this trip, then we finished to pack up and clean the last few things, ensuring all was turned off and all main points oiled well to prevent seizing up and rusting.

Bags packed and ofloaded, the final check

The final thing being the hatch and that’s that, bye bye Big Elle.

We walk to the bus stop and purchase tickets that will get us to Nagasaki airport. Shortly it arrives and were on our way. It takes about 50 minutes until we get there which is fineas our flight is not until 12.30 and Toshi’s even later.

The bus to the airport

We have a meal in the airport at one of the resatants before proceding through security where this time Moni is questioned about a pair of scisors that she had forgot about, funny enough though they allowed her to keep them!!

final lunch at Nagasagi airport

One last good bye as our boarding begins and we walk off to the plane with mixed emotions, sadness at saying goodbye yet joyful at our new adventure continuing.

final farewels at Nagasaki airport

I want to end this post with a Japanese saying that I will never forget is “Ichi oi Ichi e” which means one meeting one chance… Until we meet again good friends.