I’m visiting the William Lindesay family in China for two weeks as they take me to points all along the entire Great Wall. You can read the backstory at my website or here on my blog along with all my posts while in China.

This journey has been 18 years in the making. I turned on my computer at the office one January morning in 2008 to find an email from a stranger clear on the other side of the globe — looking for me!

It began, “Greetings from Beijing, China. I am looking for a Robert Laycock…”

The sender, William Lindesay, subsequently came to the United States six months later and a deep, life-long friendship was forged. Indeed last year, by “proclamation,” my brother and I formally inducted William and his family Honorary Members of the Laycock family and by extension Honorary Descendants of our explorer grandfather, William Edgar Geil. Now to close the circle in 2026, my husband David and I arrive in China on behalf of the Laycock family to see and touch this Great Wall that our grandfather explored and documented.

Beijing, China
Monday, September 14, 2026
7:45 PM

To fly from New York to Beijing is like being transported forward through the Time Tunnel. Our flight left JFK at 2:00 AM on Sunday morning. You would expect the 16-hour flight to land at 6:00 PM that evening. But by magic — and time zones — it was 7:00 AM on Monday when we arrived, technically 28 hours later. I know. It’s a brain twister. So’s the jet lag!

It was a tiring and arduous flight to be sure, crammed in like sardines barely able to move. But we lived — and hey! We’re in Beijing!

After winding our way through China Immigration, Baggage Return and Customs, we were greeted by Tommy Lindesay as local media took pictures and shot video for reporting they’ll do this week covering our visit.

Feels a bit odd, I have to say. And we must have looked a bit haggard straight off the flight!

Tommy had arranged for a driver to take us on an hour-long ride through downtown Beijing to our hotel for the first night, located not far from Tiananmen Square.

He got us set up on WeChat so we all can stay in touch throughout the trip, manage expenses and more.

Later David and I ate lunch at a restaurant overlooking the courtyard. David handles chopsticks very well. I managed, but am far more clumsy.

At just 26, Tommy has already traveled to nearly 40 countries so he knows jet lag well. He advised us to stay outside in the bright sun today, then tonight have the room very dark. This helps reset the body clock faster. Official activities don’t start until tomorrow, so we’ve have taken his advice and wandered around near the hotel this afternoon.

And finally this evening, crashing is the order. We’re zonked! Except for low-quality dozing, we’ve been up for 48 hours.

Good night, all!

The title image is from the old TV series The Time Tunnel on ABC (1966-67). I suspect this stretches the boundaries of Fair Use, but respectfully ask that I be indulged this indiscretion.