12 000-mile honeymoon journey

The Rhodesia Herald, 

February 27, 1970

WHAT a way to spend a honeymoon! More than 12 000 miles and 16 countries later, Mr and Mrs Ken Stokes of England arrived in Salisbury on Monday to meet Mr T Wotten, Mrs Stoke’s cousin from New Zealand.

Sitting in the Land-Rover, which brought the couple through south-eastern Europe and across Africa, the Stokes look little the worse for wear – even after crossing deserts and travelling through Nigeria and the Congo.

Mr and Mrs Stokes, who were married in England in October before leaving for Africa, arranged to meet Mr Wotten – who was at the wedding – in Cape Town.

However, after what the couple called “a comparatively uneventful trip”, Mr Wotton caught up with them in Salisbury after he had travelled by ship from England to Cape Town and from there to Rhodesia.

Mr Wotton would be staying in Rhodesia, where he hopes to work, and Mr and Mrs Stokes travel on to South Africa at the end of the week before leaving for the Middle East.

Border trouble was negligible and physical discomfort during the trip, not half as serious as they thought it would be, said Mr Stokes.

The, trip which they described as “well worth the trouble”, has cost them about $800.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

Couples, especially newlyweds, need to spend as much time together to encourage bonding.

Honeymoons or holidays can be expensive; they require proper planning and, in some instances, saving over a period of time.

Most couples desire their honeymoons to be memorable or unforgettable. The couple in the story managed to do that by travelling 12 000 miles and passed through 16 countries, and it was as if they were traveling through border less countries.