Can't think of anything to say - the tour guide's nightmare.
Actually people are usually quite happy with silence for most of the day. I once made a crack about the wands used at places like the Roman Baths and Stonehenge syaing that my company were going to replace all their tour directors with machines once they had the technology right. One Australian answered back - "Well, at least we can turn it off!" Point taken.
I think music is a good alternative to talk and have built up quite a collection of tapes over the years. My last tour coach played tapes and so I played a few which are better than the replacement CDs I have gradually accumulated to replace the tapes. I could and should 'burn' some CDs with selections as I used to for tapes but somehow the technology seems that little too complicated in comparison with just pressing the 'record' switch on the tape/CD unit.
Before, I used to meet the driver on the first morning but now I have to determine whether his coach takes tapes and/or CDs so need to phone him in advance. Most now are CD only but last time I assumed that it turned out I had a five year old (coach not driver) which is ancient and had to get Leena my girlfriend to bring me some tapes - but it jsut wasn't the same as having my own music.
Anyway Richard, who is a nice bloke and excellent driver, saved me the cost of a couple of phone calls by phoning me and informing me that it is CDs only, which is ok - less to carry, at least.
And so to bed, as Pepys always said. He was used to getting up at five or earlier but I still find it an effort...

All work and no play...

One day off in four weeks so bushed by the time I got back tonight. Once you get into the rhythm the tours go fairly well but you have no time for friends, family, hobbies - only the occasional film, a chapter of a book or the World Cup. Don not watch much telly at home - don't even have one in winter residence - but cannot make the mental effort to detach myself from concerns of tour when on the road.
Have always maintained friends outside the business but they understand little of the all consuming nature of the job of tour directing, so I swing from total involvement to comlete detachment. Still, it is gratifying when you hear people clapping at end of tour and offering decent tips.
Reminds me, must do my tax return and pay last year's bill soon...