Postscript: The drive from London to Bamako in mid-November with Wren got shelved. I got stuck in London for three months, almost leaving for Bamako (with a different companion), then almost leaving for Burma (with yet another companion), but only effectively succeeding in completing multiple years of back-taxes (not to be under-valued, mind you).
Then I bit the bullet and committed to four months of far-flung travel in Southeast Asia and Oceania, setting out in mid-February and returning in mid-June. See Blog: Footloose Mandalay to Auckland
Then a month and a half in Mediterranean lands (sort-of): two weeks each in Jordan, Jerusalem, and Tuscany/Umbria - including visiting Lisa and traveling with Natasha, a VIS gang reunion July 7th-11th, and explorations with Lello and Susan. See Blog: Footloose in the Levant
