Home sweet home

Well, I won’t forget the day I returned home. Decided to stay in London last night to watch the football and this morning the city is definitely somewhat subdued, a bit like me really, although am also feeling incredibly grateful to have had an amazing journey. 

So, final journey on the train line that feels like home...see you soon Norfolk!

Last stop - Vancouver

Lots of folk I met told me I would be wowed by Vancouver and that it was Canada’s prime real estate city. Well, I’ve seen it in the sunlight, in the rain, by day and by night, alone and with others and my opinion is that it’s down to location, location, location! With the water, the mountains and the forests, it sort of feels like a city that shouldn’t really have been able to exist with all its tall skyscrapers of glass and steel.  With huge cruise ships pulling in for thousands of tourists to disembark to explore the city, it’s certainly never short of a visitor or two.

My Vancouver highlights were walking around Stanley Park with two lovely new friends, coffee and catch up by the water with another new friend and then heading out on a Lynn canyon and city tour with an amazing chap called Eric, who hails originally from Denmark. He made my last day in this fantastic country truly memorable with his enthusiasm, knowledge of the city and endless stories. Even the rain couldn’t dampen his spirits as he came prepared with a bright yellow poncho! 

Friends and Adventures

Friends to me are people who I trust, who make me laugh, who understand me and who I enjoy spending time with. I count myself very lucky to have a fab group of friends at home who I get to see and do all the good stuff in life with: walk, run, cycle, drink tea (or gin) and eat cake! Because of my travels, I also have great friends around the globe who I have connected with and shared some great times with. This trip has been no different.

For me, there are two great ways to meet people and make new friends when travelling solo. The first is by staying in hostels. For some people, climbing up on a rickety bunk bed in a room with five or more people (all of whom will be sharing a bathroom with you,) sometimes with air con and at other times with a hopeless fan in the corner would not sound like a lovely holiday, but I love it (even at the age of 36!) There is a real sense of community - I have been offered advice on what to do and where to go, shared meals or drinks, played games and of course saved a fortune whilst doing it! In hostels where things are communal, you trust folk and in return it’s a friendly place to stay. You also learn that ear plugs can come in handy and to practice a higher degree of patience!

Secondly joining group tours for part of a trip can be fun and a convenient way to get around, as the price of hiring a car alone can be expensive, or a language barrier tricky to overcome. A few of my trips this time involved hiking or camping and for those I went with g adventures, a company I love and who I have always had great experiences with over the last ten years. They also support the Planterra Foundation, who invest in projects of social enterprise: https://planeterra.org/

So, after almost four months, I now have friends in Canada, Germany, South Korea, Norway, Switzerland, the US and across the UK. Who knows when our paths may cross again, but I hope in the future they will...

Hmmm, moose like?

 

Unlike anywhere else

That may seem like a daft title for this post, as everywhere is unique, but there is something about Alaska’s vastness and it’s natural wonders including glaciers, mountains, forests and wildlife that just seem to make it extra special.  I barely scratched the surface this week in this remearkable US state, but found time to enjoy the towns of Talkeetna and Seward, as well as Denali National Park.

I started my stay with an afternoon at Anchorage Museum, which has an amazing collection of historical artefacts from the seven nations of the First Nations people. The workmanship and expertise needed to make the clothes and possessions for hunting and living in such extreme temperatures is so impressive. Returning to Anchorage on my final day, I shopped at the market and have some great picture books to share with the children back at school and I also took a bike out to cycle along the coastal trail. Easy ride, but super hot!

Heading south from Anchorage to Seward you are spoilt with uninterrupted views of the landscape. I don’t think my week was typical Alaskan weather, as apart from on one day the sun shone and the skies were blue. Denali National Park is spectacular in any weather and every layer of clothing was needed - warm, waterproof & at times sunglasses! 

I hoped I would see the peak of Denali and spot some grizzly bears during my short stint in Alaska and I did both! So feeling pretty happy as I leave, although am definitely thinking I will return...

 

 

 

 

 

In awe of Alaska

I will let the pictures do the talking, although I’m not sure they do this amazing and mighty landscape justice at all. I will only add that today I ventured out on my first solo Alaskan hike armed with my bear bell and my best singing of 80’s hits, (including a great Kylie medley in my opinion!!) Well, it kept the bears away anyhow!