Always on the lookout for opportunities to try new travel experiences, particularly if they are low cost and offer a little flexibility, I decided to investigate the option of campervan relocations from Sydney to Brisbane. I had been house sitting in Sydney for a few weeks and, instead of just taking a flight home to Brisbane when the house sit was completed, I checked out a couple of web sites, Drive Now and Standby Relocations ,to see what was on offer.
How does vehicle relocation work?
If you have not used one of the standby sites for car hire or campervans, here is a brief overview of the operation based on information from the sites I viewed.
Usual range of costs and inclusions:
-Hire charge range is $1 - $5 per day
-A set number of days is allowed for you to drive from pick up to drop off point
-Specific office hours are given for pick up and drop off
-A kilometre allowance is included
-A refund amount for fuel cost is stated
-Campervans are fully outfitted with bedding, utensils, stove etc.
-A non-refundable booking fee is taken
-A cancellation fee is taken but this is refunded when you pick up the vehicle
-A $1000 bond is taken at the start of the journey and released at the delivery when there have been no problems
-Optional extra insurance available to reduce the excess charged in case of damage to the vehicle.
Other usual rental vehicle requirements apply e.g. return the vehicle full of fuel and ensure the gas bottle is full. (And if your vehicle has an onboard toilet, make sure the waste has been pumped out otherwise there is a HUGE penalty!)
Armed with this information, I identified an available vehicle which would suit my timeframe and arranged for the relocation over the phone with Standby Relocations. Easy!
 Relocation of 2 berth campervan The van I collected was a two-berth - a fact noted by my sister who took the opportunity to come down to Sydney and enjoy the three day drive back to Queensland with me.
We were both reminded of a trip we did in Scotland back in 1975 in her old German Post Office van named Sam. It was so cold the night we camped at Loch Ness we were in our sleeping bags under the carpet and hoping that the fierce winds would not blow the van over the edge of the campground and into freezing Loch Ness.
Happily this relocation van proved to be very comfortable and quite warm given the very cold overnight temperatures in Muswellbrook and Tenterfield.
I am very happy to report that we thoroughly enjoyed the drive. The three days and 1500km allowance gave us plenty of time and scope too include a little wander around the Hunter Valley along the way and we completed the trip on the New England Highway. All trouble free!
My first experience with relocations has given me a taste for camping travel again (I have missed it in the last year or so) and I will be looking for further opportunities to use campervan relocations. I am not quite ready to hit the road full time in true Aussie Grey Nomad style, but I am looking forward to that time when it comes.
This is a question asked by many people, not only me. A friend has just arrived home from a trip to Alaska and that is how she is feeling right now - "How can I continue with this lifestyle?" She hiked a lot and camped out - and had a wonderful time. "Others seem to be managing to throw in their jobs and travel, so how can I arrange this lifestyle for myself?" she asked.
Like many of us who have taken up the challenge to do these things since turning 50, she has realized that her body is getting that little bit slower. "It's not like when I hiked in Nepal 20 years ago", she said. " The rest of my hiking group in Alaska were mostly under 25 and no matter how fit you think you are at 50, you do notice the difference."
 Denali Nat Pk Alaska (courtesy of wildnatureimages.com) One of the important questions to ask yourself is,
"How free am I prepared to be?"
This might sound a little strange, but I have found that the more risk you are prepared to take, the more free you are likely to feel.
I am not talking about health or life endangering risk here, rather the risk of not having that backup of a house, furniture, regular pay packet, etc. To be without this backup can be quite a stressful thought for many people. However, needing to have the comfort of knowing you have all of these things to return to is going to limit your ability to spontaneously respond to the opportunities which may present themselves to you.
So now the question is"What am I prepared to let go of?"
If you can let go of a permanent residence, that opens up the opportunity to house sit in a place you would like to visit or work for accommodation and meals in a volunteer role or WWOOFing. And believe me, there are heaps of opportunities out there. You will not become a homeless person.
If you can let go of a regular paypacket, that opens up the opportunity to take a variety of contract jobs, try some new work experiences or study for a while. Some volunteer roles provide a small living allowance for your basic necessities.
If you keep your expenses low, then your income requirement diminishes too.
This may not be a long term arrangement you wish to make. It may be as simple as taking 6 months or a year off from work and perhaps you do not have to resign from your position. If that is the case, I am sure you can organise sufficient funding to carry you through - living simply and taking advantage of work for accommodation deals will keep your costs low and enable you to really connect with people in your travels. Travel does not have to be expensive - if you are prepared to be a traveller not just a tourist.
Travel Light and Work on Short Assignments
If you want to embrace the lifestyle for a longer period, my advice is to get rid of everything you do not need. You could be surprised at how much extra travel money you can raise by selling "the stuff" you no longer need. If you can identify a way of working remotely via the internet, maybe for contract or short term projects so you can retain the holiday feel, then restrictive overseas work permit and visa requirements need not apply to you. Your income will be reporting to your home country so there is no issue.
You also have the pleasure of being able to respond with a resounding "YES!" to opportunities like, "Could you come to Sydney for 4-5 weeks and look after my house and pets while I am overseas?". Some housesitters ask for a small fee to do this however I think that rent-free holiday accommodation is sufficient.
I do not have all the answers on this subject, but I do know that doing these things has been working out for me since I returned to Australia a year ago. I have done quite a bit of travel and housesitting, volunteer work is opening new doors for me and I have also upgraded my computer skills.
I have not lost the holiday feeling,
"Living the travel Dream" is more than just a title for this page. Many of my long held travel ambitions have become reality and hiking the Inca Trail is an example of this.
I remember buying a Readers Digest book "Lost World of the Inca's" back in the '70s which started my fascination with the Inca civilization and the spectacular sites discovered, particularly those of Machu Picchu. There is something so awe-inspiring about the massive boulder constructions, fitted together so precisely that no mortar was necessary, The construction is so tight a knife blade cannot be slipped in between the huge boulders and to this day the precise building techniques used in the constructions have not been able to be successfully replicated.  Sacsayhuaman - the Inca fortress in the hills above Cusco, Peru It is not only the amazing building projects undertaken by the Incas that tend to overpower with their sheer size. The network of trails, many of which were reserved for use by the elite of Inca society and by the messengers who provided the communication connection for this widespread empire, were extraordinary feats of engineering. This is not a flat area of country! The high altitude, steep mountains and massive ravines which contain fast flowing rivers make this extremely inhospitable terrain. The stories of Hiram Bingham's explorations in an around the Cusco area and his "discovery" of Machu Picchu in 1911, tell of white knuckle climbs up almost 90 degree mountainsides to gain his first glimpse of the city ruins.
 My first glimpse of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate on New Years morning 2010 While my experiences on the Camino Inca Trail may not have been quite as white-knuckle as those of Hiram Bingham, the high altitude hike and climb (there are around 4500 steps on that section of trail) certainly was a challenge. The number of hikers allowed on the trail at any time is restricted and hikers must be with a group - independent hiking of the trail is not available. Hiking groups are well organized and the food was fantastic!
The porters are amazing as they carry all the equipment with them - nothing is left on site. To watch those porters jogging up the trail with their 30-50kg packs of equipment, wearing leather sandals and rarely stopping for a rest, just put me to shame. I thought I had prepared well for the hike but still found it difficult and I was very grateful for the services of a porter who carried my pack (along with all the other gear he had).
The advice of my guide to "Just go slowly and enjoy the beautiful scenery" was gladly taken. I also met up with lots of the slower members of other hiking groups - it is good to take the time to enjoy and share the experience. On journeys like the Camino Inca Trail you do get time to make friends and the shared experience is one that you will long remember.
I have remained in contact with the chief guide from that hike. Miguel is one of the inspiring people I met during my travels. At that time he was working to improve his English (Miguel also speaks Spanish and Quechua (the local language of Cusco) and spoke of his desire to travel and to work for himself. The Quechuan people from the mountain areas around Cusco live in impoverished circumstances and it has been through Miguel's own efforts and his determination to begin his own travel and hiking company that this is now coming to fruition. If you are thinking of travel to Peru, and particularly into the Cusco area, I can recommend Miguel and his new business, Cusco Journeys, to you. His website is still under construction but Miguel can be contacted at cuscojourneys@hotmail.com
 Miguel Cruz - tells us of the history and lifestyle of the Incas at Machu Picchu Miguel Angel Ninancuro Cruz cuscojourneys@hotmail.com www.cuscojourneys.com
51-84-984973074
I am a bit of a latecomer to house-sittng and have looked after homes in Australia only, and only for family, friends or "friends of friends". The experiences have all been very pleasant and I can highly recommend house-sitting as a lifestyle choice. It definitely works best if you are free to just pack lightly and go, and really enjoy the opportunity of getting to know a new community for a short time.
In my experience, people looking for house-sitters usually have animals to be cared for. I have never been a pet owner, apart from the odd fish and bird (odd being the operative word when I think back to poor George the paranoid budgerigar who used to try and tunnel out of his cage) so house-sitting has posed a few questions to me about my love of cats and dogs.
The good news is, I seem to be developing well as a carer of pets. I have looked after very macho characters like Gino who believes all other dogs must submit to his will, and very gentle characters like Bella, very old and almost blind, who is just happy that you remember to feed her and didn't mind too much that you happened to shut her in the vegie patch overnight (just once, and it was quite mild weather - a mistake but no harm done).
There has also been the very clucky "chook" who seemed intent on having chickens, as was the rooster of that particular henhouse intent on her having them. My instructions had been "...no chickens - if the hens are broody, take the eggs". Well I have never seen a clearer case of "pre-natal" depression - this was a chicken who literally slumped on to the ground when I took her off the nest and only moved when her "better half" was attempting a little fertilisation ritual. It was the saddest thing. I was very happy to hear that the owners had relented after their return and there are now a number of chickens and a much happier hen in that hen house.
When I will be spending more than a couple of weeks house-sitting, I try to find some volunteer work in the area - it can become a little boring if there is nothing specific to do other than mind the animals and a little gardening. My volunteer work has been a great way to see some areas of a city where I would not usually go. For example, in Sydney I worked with Conservation Volunteers and had the chance to work on a number of projects, from the Georges River out to Bents Basin and Parramatta. As well a seeing more of the region, I met some lovely people who were either running a project or volunteering for a day or two as I was. Lots of international students seem to do a few days with groups like this. On another occasion, I had the opportunity to be part of a large event in Penola, South Australia. I was house-sitting in Penola during the lead up to the Canonization of Mary McKillop in October 2010. I volunteered with the Mary McKillop Interpretive Centre and, as well as being kept very busy sorting, pricing and selling the huge number of souvenirs which were needed for the occasion, I got to know and appreciate the hard work, vision and enthusiasm of the volunteers at the centre. It was a great environment and I felt welcomed and at home there in a very short time.
Mind you, my love of the Coonawarra wines and the hospitality of friends in Penola is another reason for my enjoyment of the area and my plans for another return trip. Oh, and there is the possiblity of house-sitting in the Barossa.... hope I can manage to work that project in some time, too.
Your success as a house-sitter and the offers of more and return house-sitting engagements, really does depend on your performance in the role. The things that are important to the house owners, must be your number one priority - pets, gardens and the safety and security of their home. After all, that is why you are there.
Respect for their property means a clean home and well maintained yard. With easy access to mobile communications, I usually provide my own telephone and internet connections, but that is something you may negotiate on. I provide my own food and, if I do use anything of theirs, make sure it is replaced (unless otherwise agreed upon). If I have visitors, I make sure that has been approved by the owners before hand. If you have the use of a vehicle, make sure you fill it with fuel for when the owner returns. House-sitting really is all about trust and, if you want to be able to ask for and receive a good reference for your house-sitting, then you must behave in a responsible manner. Personal recommendations will bring in more requests for you as a "preferred" house-sitter - word does spread rapidly!
With my house-sitting arrangements, no money changes hands unless it is related to the upkeep of the property or care of the animals. There are agencies which specialise in house-sitting arrangements, though I have not registered with or used one to date. It seems there are fees involved, either to list your house or register as a house sitter, or a fee to match up sitters and houses.So, if you have not tried house sitting and have the lifestyle which allows you to just pack lightly and go, I highly recommend house-sitting. Your expenses are low, accommodation is usually great ,and often fantastic!! Good luck with it all... My next house-sitting assignment is at Queenslands Sunshine Coast for 4 months from late June. Aaaah, what a life.!!
 'Raven Dancers' by Leonard Paul (Copyright) Wandering the world (and there is still so much I have yet to see), I have met some wonderful and inspiring people. I feel drawn to artists and other creative people as they do seem to have a depth and passion for their work, and for the world around them, that is often not evident in the daily lives of many. It may be that they simply view the world from a different perspective from most of us, and they have the confidence and persistence to reflect their ideas and feelings in their work.
In 2006 I had the pleasure of meeting Leonard Paul, a well-known and well respected First Nation's Mi'kmaq artist from Canada. He is passionate about his work and he is also passionate about the well being of the First Nation's people, particularly their youth. While working to increase their physical well-being as the Wellness Sport Programs Coordinator and Art Instructor, he also promotes the strength of their cultural heritage through Legend stories and drawings.
Legend stories and "Long Powwow Nights" In 2009 Leonard Paul, as illustrator, collaborated on a book, "Long Powwow Nights", with David Bouchard and Pam Aleekuk. The book tells the story of the deep meaning of Powwow dancing for one woman, as recalled by her, now grown, daughter. An accompanying CD contains the story spoken in English and Mi'kmaq and with songs by Buffy Sainte-Marie.
Leonard is passionate in his belief that the First Nation's legends and stories will bring strength and comfort to the First Nation's youth. With this in mind, he is currently writing and illustrating his own Mi’kmaq Legends, about a young boy who listened to the wonderful stories told by his mother at bedtimes. The young boy’s powerful imagination comes to life where super heroes and dark forces clash between reality and the spiritual world, to the point the boy must challenge his own inner fears. Mr. Paul is interested in reviving the art of ‘story-telling’ for the children.
I am delighted to have been able to work with Leonard to publish his website. You can view Leonard's art and learn more of his achievements and ambitions at "Leonard Paul"
One of my long held dreams (I think it was from when I saw the movie "Easyrider" for the first time back in the 70s), was to ride through the Rocky Mountains on a Harley. (Also to ride in Southern California, but that's another story). And it is another of those dreams which became a reality for me.
In 2001, after not riding a motorcycle for many years, I did get a Harley Davidson 883cc Sportster. I know that most Harley owners barely consider the Sportster a Harley at all (witness the derision shown in the movie "Wild Hogs" when one of the guys rocks up on a Sportster). I loved my Harley. So after riding in Australia for about 5 years (no accidents and only occasionally dropping the bike - one thing that can be said for the Sportster, you can pick it up if you drop it!!)
 Along the Icefields Parkway, Rocky Mtns, Alberta Renting a Harley Davidson in Canada or the USA is an expensive business - mostly the insurance cost - but I did happen to find a "special" deal at Calgary Harley Davidson near the airport - $500 for a 3 day weekend (up to 1000kms) - a great deal!! I had been staying in Banff so drove the hire car in to Calgary to pick up the bike (I had arranged to leave the car at the dealership while I had the bike). It was a beautiful August day but, sadly, I had not thought to put on any sunscreen so ended up with sunburn. I rented a Harley Davidson Low Rider (OK so it was about 400cc bigger than anything else I had ever ridden, but I was up for the challenge - and they didn't have any Sportsters for rent). When I set off the next morning to ride from Banff up to Jasper and return same day, it was very cold until the sun really got on to the road, but after about 10am it turned into another beautiful late-summer day. It is so hard to describe the exhilaration of that ride: the perfect day, the beautiful scenery, not too much traffic and the enormous satisfaction of living out one of my dreams.
 Magnificent reflections in Bow Lake at the Lake Louise end of the Icefields Parkway. The scenery is just awe inspiring. I have visited the Rockies a few times since that ride and it has never failed to inspire me. We just don't have mountains like that in Australia.
For the bikers, the roads are good and there are plenty of curves to make the ride just perfect. Lots of places to pull over and spend time just contemplating the view. If you are lucky enough to strike the "perfect day" as I did, you will need only a light jacket while the sun is on you, but the cold returns quickly when the sun goes off the road.
I think of this trip as my "Harley Riding Heaven" and if something similar is on your "to do" list, just go and do it!
As one of my friends said recently, "Life is about our deeds and the memories of them, along with the people we meet on the way. So, the way I see it, we should go for things that blow our hair back, right? Things that make us happy and full of plans for the future!!! "...thanks Tamara, I agree totally.
 A stop along the Athabasca River on the Icefields Parkway, Alberta Canada
 WWOOFing on Prince Edward Island When I set out on my trip in 2009, I had heard only a vague mention of a mysterious breed of travellers called "WWOOFers" (mysterious...or so I thought until I became one of them!). I wasn't too sure just what WWOOFing was all about, so decided to do a little investigation as I knew I would be looking for some unpaid / free volunteer work abroad.
WWOOF is "Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms" and, though it is a worldwide organization, I found that most countries operate independent websites and, to obtain a list of host farms, you will need to register on the site of the particular country you are considering applying for. The main attraction is that you work for approximately 6 hours per day, 6 days a week in return for food and accommodation. Not a farmer? That is usually not a problem. Providing you are a willing worker and are looking for the opportunity to really become involved in the lives of your hosts and the local community, WWOOFing can be a very rewarding experience: learn new skills, share your own knowledge and make some great friends.
If you have not yet investigated volunteering abroad, you may be surprised to find that there are many places offering volunteer work which will ask you to contribute towards the cost of food and accommodation. Many of these ask for only a small amount, as placing a volunteer into a relatively poor community can be quite a drain on their resources. However, some of the more popular volunteer projects (eg anything to do with whales or being on a ship for a while) can actually cost you quite a bit of money. So, while these paid volunteer projects can offer some fantastic experiences, it is nice to balance things a little with some "free" volunteer work.
At my first "work for stay" location on Vancouver Island (see Blog entry 24th March 2011) I worked with a couple of young German girls who had plans for doing quite a bit of WWOOFing while in Canada and they were able to fill me in on their plans and what I could expect. It did sound like a good option for me and, as I planned to drive across Canada and then back across the USA, I knew I would like a little bit of a break when I reached the Atlantic. Prince Edward Island seemed like a good place for a break... I had never been there before and was a great fan of "Anne of Green Gables" in my youth.
 One of PEI's beautiful lighthouses It was very easy, and inexpensive, to join up online to WWOOF Canada http://www.wwoof.ca/ . I registered, loaded up my profile and searched for locations on PEI where my desire to work for only about 10 days would fit in with the host farm. Happily all 3 farms I applied to accepted me, so I was left to make the decision. It was a great outcome. I worked for only 10 days on a small property but got to help prepare things for the coming winter. As well as preparing ground for a rye crop that would then be ploughed in when spring came, there was vegetable harvesting and drying, helping to install insulation in a new building, getting the greenhouse ready for winter and, of course, wood to chop. Those winters on PEI can be very cold and lots of stockpiled wood is required. I did use some back muscles which hadn't had a good work out in a while but after only a couple of days the work, countryside and good cooking had me sleeping like a baby each night. It was a great 10 days. I did get the chance to visit many parts of the island including "Anne's" haunts and of course tried the only vineyard with cellar door sales on the island, Rossignal - lovely wines! This was my only WWOOFing experience, but a very happy one with great memories and certainly gave Prince Edward Island a very fond place in my heart.
 Prince Edward Island has some spectacular coastline - this is on the Atlantic Coast
What do Mont St Michel in France, Cuxhaven in Germany and Sandgate in Qld Australia have in common? Gorgeous tidal flats thats what!
Often when I have been travelling and away from home for some time, I can look with new (and appreciative) eyes at the patch of earth I call home and see it through the eyes of a tourist. It is no longer so familiar.  Trying to catch soldier crabs at Sandgate at low tide Returning to Sandgate, Queensland, I was struck again by the beauty of the tidal flats at low tide... enjoyed by many dog walkers as an off-leash area, by many families with children as a place of exploration and discovery (particularly in the cooler months when there are thousands of little blue soldier crabs in residence). This area looks stunning from the cliffs at Shorncliffe and the magnificent sunsets and evening light, reflected in the pools of water as the tide creeps back in, are really spectacular at times.When the winds are blowing, this section of Moreton Bay is home to crowds of kite-surfers - another fantastically colourful site http://www.sandgate.com.au/
 Rides off the coast of Cuxhaven at low tide I am reminded of beaches I visited in Cuxhaven, Germany's largest seaside spa. Meeting up with a friend in Frankfurt-am-Main, I had asked for suggestions of beautiful places to visit in Germany. Cuxhaven was right up there at the top of the list. And it is gorgeous! And so like Sandgate! Though there is yellow sand trucked in for the summer and lido chairs in evidence, It really is quite a site with the cart ride out to nearby island, on of the great attractions. For more info and images
http://www.germany-tourism.de/ENG/destination_germany/master_tlregion-id105.htm
 Mont St Michel, the spectacular island abbey off the coast of Normandy / Brittany, is also the site of beautiful tidal flats. There are treacherous quicksand areas between the shore and the island so the usual approach by causeway is definitely recommended. It's a wonderful site to visit, one of the first sites to gain UNESCO world heritage listing. It has the most extraordinary "mouse wheel" contraption which was used in times of seige (or maybe just very high tides!) to haul supplies up the side of the cliff into the abbey itself. (for more images search on google) http://mont-saint-michel.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/So, though there are many visitors to each of these beautiful places each year, it is nice to know that only a 5 minute walk from my front door, I can enjoy the changing beauty of the Sandgate tidal flats at any time. Take a look around your neighbourhood..... remind you of anywhere special?
Whether its bird hides in Portugal or plastering in Peru, volunteer Holidays are a great way to visit interesting places and to really immerse yourself in the culture and day-to-day lives of the people you are visiting.
Many over 50s’ travellers, singles and couples, are looking for a rewarding travel experience and are prepared to give something of themselves to gain that fulfilment, not just pay out the money. What a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills and new languages (or bits of them - if you happen to be a bit challenged in acquiring other languages as I am) and to meet fellow travellers of all ages who are also seeking opportunities to contribute.
When I was planning my “over 50s’ gap year” of travel in 2009, I only had a vague idea of which countries I wished to visit and of some of the travel experiences I wanted. I also know that, for me, being on the road for more than 7-8 weeks without a break gets quite tiresome (all that packing and unpacking!!)
It really is a bit daunting when you first realise that you have the time and the money available to actually get out there and do it! So I decided to look into volunteer work overseas and volunteer holidays to see just what opportunities were on offer and whether they would fit with my budget and existing plans.
A whole world opened up to me…. There are opportunities to work in all sorts of places as a volunteer. Some ask you to pay a contribution towards the cost of your food and accommodation, but others are free or may ask you to become a member of their organization – as they say, putting a volunteer into a very disadvantaged community can be a great drain on that community’s resources.
(If you haven’t visited any volunteer websites yet, you might like to try Global Volunteer Network. They are based in New Zealand but offer opportunities in many countries. I went through GVN for my volunteer projects in South Dakota and Peru – very professional.http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/newsletter/rtn.php?ref=124082&issue=march2011 )
As I planned to go to Canada first, I registered for a few different opportunities in that country. I applied for volunteer work at a Grizzly Bear eco-lodge in the north of Vancouver Island; volunteer work at a polar bear research station on Hudson Bay and work-for-stay at a beautiful property on Vancouver Island. Unfortunately neither of the “bear” jobs was available (probably a good thing - when I saw those bears up close at Calgary Zoo – scary!)
I was accepted at Sun Lotus Guesthouse near Duncan in the beautiful Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, where I spent 3 idyllic weeks in the late summer of ‘09 looking after the gardens and helping with light maintenance work. Sun Lotus hosts wedding receptions and events so keeping those gardens in great condition is a must. My work day routine was from about 8-11am (and then sleep under a tree for a couple of hours in the heat of the day). Work again from around 2-5pm (and as this entailed kayaking to an island in the middle of the pond and tending roses then finishing off the day with a swim… life can be very tough. Anita is a fantastic cook so I certainly enjoyed the beautiful surrounds. The funky accommodation for volunteers is in a renovated old bus (a mezzanine and deck level on a bus?) – great for catching summer breezes and reading in the late twilight. Visit Sun Lotus on http://www.sunlotus.ca/ to get an idea of the real beauty of the Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island.
It was in Duncan that also found out more about WWOOFing!! WWOOF turns out to be an international organization (or sub-culture as I like to think of it) where you can join and register to work on organic farms in return for accommodation and food. But this is a story for another time…..
Whenever I return from a trip overseas and get together with family and friends to tell of my adventures, I find it is not the trips or what I saw or when everything goes smoothly that gets the most laughs and the best reactions. It is usually "when bad things happen" or those incidents which turn into hilarious episodes that make the best stories. And of course, as any comedian will tell you, it is also funniest when the story teller is the butt of the joke. Happily "things" do happen to me so I do have stories!
How many of us have finished up one of those great evenings with someone commenting "You should write a book about that...". It is these comments and my passion for travel that have led me to taking this step.
So, a very big welcome to my "midlife travel adventures".
I had not been out of Australia since 1975 so it was a bit daunting when I decided it was time to hit the road again and take up my adventures where I had left off before the birth of my son. I was still working full time so this first trip was a 7 week holiday. Though I think of myself as outgoing and confident, the idea of travelling in Europe by myself left me a bit unsure... I didn't speak any European languages, and really didn't have any specific places I wanted to visit, just a great urge to get moving and see what is out there. As it turned out my sister (a very seasoned traveller who had lived in the UK and Europe for a number of years) also wanted to do a trip. We had not spent much time together for about 30 years and thought it would be an opportunity to get to know one another again.
Hmmm.. was this really going to work? Seven weeks in Europe with no particular destinations (although we did plan to visit family and friends in France and Switzerland) in a hire car, me with no experience driving on the "wrong side of the road" and not in a manual vehicle for some time, no GPS just a very fat Michelin guide, our very dependable Lonely Planet guide, varied levels of navigation skills, my sister's fluent German but not much else, and haven't spent much time together for 30 years. How could that be a problem????
Though there were some days when we would just look at each other and say "See ya!" we did get on surprisingly well.
First lesson learned: When you are in Amiens and parking seems to be very easy to find, really look hard to find the parking ticket machine as there is bound to be one even if its not easy to locate.
Important travel tip: If you do get a parking ticket in Amiens and can't for the life of you find out where to pay it as you are in an out of half a dozen different countries, but you do not want to leave France without paying the ticket as God knows they may have some way of tracking you and preventing you from ever returning to their wonderful country (do I sound a little paranoid?) here's the thing...you can pay it at just about any TABAC. No language skills required, just present the ticket and pay up.
So with a great sigh of relief, we felt free to leave the country and know that we would be welcomed back!
|
RSS Feed
