Saying hello to Spring

After the adventure in Jordan, it took a few days to get used to the freezing temperatures back in the UK as I returned to Norfolk to collect Poppy and the van. Beautiful to catch up with so many friends and family whilst I had ‘life admin’ to attend to! Dog walks in the woods, the beach, cosy fires, pub lunches and a friend’s birthday were all enjoyed along with lots of coffee and cake sampling.

Despite the warnings of snow that had fallen, I decided to set off for Wales and I’m so glad I did as we arrived to blue skies and sunshine with the roads clear of snow.  A brief stop just outside Shrewsbury for Poppy to have a run and then onto a village just outside of Overton to visit a friend and walk a local footpath or two. My plan is to explore the north coast and Snowdonia over the next week with walks a plenty, probably wearing waterproofs as the weather looks set to be wet. Hello to British Springtime!

Deserts and Dreams

One chilly, windy night in the van about a month ago I decided to search out some winter sunshine and booked some flights to Amman, Jordan and joined a group trekking and camping in Wadi Rum and visiting Petra. It’s fair to say although I’ve only been away nine days, it feels like longer. Surrounded by the huge sandstone rocks with their ever-changing colours, walking through gorges and across sand dunes in a landscape so other-worldly means time does a strange thing I think.

The days were as I had hoped - sunshine filled, with great walking in perfect temperatures with interesting, lovely people. For three nights we wild camped, eating delicious meals round the campfire and watching as the stars made their appearance. We called it desert TV! I am definitely adding stargazing to my daily routine whenever I am somewhere with dark skies. 

At the end of the week it was time for Indiana Jones dreams to come true by visiting Petra. I love the films - they remind me of Christmas, as that’s when I remember them being on television when I was younger. It is one of those sites that photos can’t really do justice to. Walking through the Siq, a narrow gorge with towering cliffs above you that winds and turns until eventually you sneak a view at the Treasury building. Even more impressive for me was the 900 steps walking up to the Monastery. It truly is one of those special sites you can’t quite believe is real with biblical views of the surrounding landscape.

As well as the walking and visit to Petra, I had a quick jaunt around Amman to visit some sites including the Citadel, Roman amphitheatre, Blue Mosque and Rainbow Street. It was all beautiful and reminded me of why I love travel. Being in new places is a feast for the senses. Being with new people is inspiring. I believe memories are more important in this life than material things, so I may be back in a rather chilly UK, but I intend to continue to journey to new places, always trying to stay in the present and not dwell on the past, or worry about the future.

May the adventure continue…

Way out West

Back to Norfolk, but not quite home. A holiday cottage in the west of the county was our base for the week and we were joined by family to help us explore. 

Our adventures included places I remember visiting as a child with grandparents and coastal walks I have completed before with dad or with friends. 

A trip to Walsingham to see the carpet of snowdrops was a highlight, as well as visits to the RSPB site at Titchwell and Sculthorpe Moor. Hundreds of geese flew over us with their unmistakeable noise, which was quite a sight! Lunchtime picnics under blue skies and no body dashing off to work or school made for a perfect half-term. 

Poppy is staying in Norfolk a bit longer whilst I rekindle my love for public transport and take trains, tubes and planes to Jordan. I have always wanted to visit Petra after seeing it in the Indiana Jones film, so off I go with my sleeping bag and hiking boots ready for Wādī Rum, camping in the desert and no poo bags or dog lead! Pictures to follow…

Close to Home

Suffolk; on my doorstep and yet somewhere I haven’t spent much time. On lots of occasions when chatting with fellow campers or travellers, people often tell me they haven’t explored their home area. So, we headed to just outside Sudbury for a few days to enjoy walks across the fields, under big skies. We hardly (unbelievably) saw a soul. We had the countryside to ourselves!

A visit to Lavenham and a walk along the disused railway line to Long Melford was a great day. For Harry Potter fans, Lavenham was used as the inspiration for Godric’s Hollow and is full of timber framed houses. We also called into Ickworth, again with footpaths and cycle trails off in all directions - take your pick!

Now seven months since we left the comforts of home, Roo (our van) continues to serve us well and Poppy (I think) continues to live her best life - walk, eat, sleep, repeat. Not a bad way for a human to spend her days either!