As always seems to be the case, I never manage to blog on trips and am often in a daze for a week or so afterwards, which seems ridiculous, but is nonetheless the case.

The long trip to Reno for Renovation was well worth it, though mostly for the things that went on around the convention than for the convention itself. I got to spend some time in San Francisco with Ellen Klages, had a fantastic BBQ/ party up at Locus HQ, a fun road trip with Gary, Madeleine and Ellen to Reno, some great meals with friends, and all sorts of chats and discussions.

My hazy recollections of Reno are flashing lights, loud machines, people smoking indoors, a long boozy conversation with Ian McDonald in the dealer’s room bar (the one Reno innovation we could do with continuing); good conversations with Gary; recording podcasts with Ian McDonald, Al Reynolds, Stan Robinson, and Jo Walton; hanging out with local Perth-ite Andrew Bailey; lots of talking;  time with Bob and Karen;  a bet with Paul Cornell;  Lou winning the Hugo; hurriedly packing the Locus van to head back to Oakland; and the road trip back to Locus with Liza, Fran (who worked the Locus table incredibly) and Chloe.

I had a very pleasant day at Locus HQ chatting with Liza and the gang, where I actually packed one of the lamps I’d inherited from Charles to carry home (which I did successfully – I was very concerned about breaking it), before dinner with Amelia and then on to the merry-go-round that is modern plane travel to head home again.

It was, all in all, a good trip. I think it was worth it, though I possibly had an epiphany about WorldCon.  As much as I enjoyed the trip, I don’t think I actually enjoy WorldCon itself that much anymore.  The only events I attended across five days were panels I was on and the Hugos. So, although this is far from written in stone, I’m almost definitely going to skip ChiconV  (which is looking problematic from a distance) and LoneStarCon. Instead, I’ll be focussing on attending the Toronto and Brighton World Fantasy Conventions, which I do love.  I’ll likely be in London for WorldCon in 2014, but that’s more to do with the location than anything else.

So,  what now? I have to get the year’s best done by late October when the family and I fly BACK to the US again (whimper) for family events and World Fantasy. It should be a great time, though I’m a bit intimidated at the thought of more air travel.

If yesterday was all about the joys of international travel, today was all about recovery. Nine or so blissful hours of sleep helped to get me back on my feet then, after a quick run through the morning’s email, Ellen and I headed off to Toast for brunch. I had a “Godfather” omelette while she had pancakes and fruit, and we got to discuss books, art, awards and the life of those of us involved in the SF field. We then headed back to her place for more chatter and then Battleship. We found and downloaded an iPad app for it, and spent and hour or so idly chatting and blowing up one another’s craft. I then took the chance to take a leisurely twenty minute stroll over to Borderlands go check out the store. It’s a fantastic book store, and I was sorely tempted to strain my baggage limits. I then went to their cafe, which had yet to open the last time I was here, and had my first ever flat white in eighteen years of visiting the US. It wasn’t on the menu, it wasn’t that good, but it was a flat white!!! It’s mid afternoon as I type this, and next up is a trip up to Locus for a BBQ which should be awesome fun.

And it was. We drove over to Oakland and spent Monday evening chatting and enjoying the company of old friends before Gary, Madeleine, Ellen and I headed back to SF, where conversation continued late into the night. Tuesday we were all up and packed early and headed out for breakfast at a small local place. Then we drove to Reno. The weather got perceptibly hotter as we approached Reno, but the conversation was fun and a good road trip was had by all. we got into town at about 6pm, registered, and then found a quietish bar in the enormous venue where we talked late into the night.

I never used to be phased by international air travel, but that age has truly passed. I see myself doing much less of this in the future.