New Year, New plans
Happy New Year!
We started this blog to document our adventures in 2018, the year may be over but the adventures aren't quite yet!
One of the best things about travelling at a slower pace and especially by doing the house sit is that we can pause and reflect on what we have done so far and the choices we have made.
Most of what we have covered in the blog have been events or activities we had taken the time to get photos of, however some wonderful moments have gone unrecorded.
A definite stand out moment and a memory which will last a lifetime, even though very brief, took place in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. We were retreating from the high ground due to an incoming storm which we had watched approach across the landscape, kicking up dust and rumbling in the distance. As we reached lower ground we passed a meadow with a large rock in the middle, we watched as coyote climbed to the tip of the rock, leant back its head and began to howl, at the very same moment a huge bolt of lightning tore across the sky accompanied by a deafening roar of thunder. It wasn't just the electricity in the air that gave us goosebumps.
Our kayaking trip out into Doubtful Sound is a real highlight of our time in New Zealand, gliding out onto the dark, glass-like water of the Sound under a heavy sky of low cloud and surrounded by the steep rocky cliffs we could not help but feel we had been transported into another world. The water of the sound is heavily tinted by the rain runoff from the surrounding mountains, tannins are washed down into the seawater, on the day there was very little wind which resulted in a inky dark yet smooth and glossy surface.
As you may well know, back in May when we boarded The Canadian in Toronto the train was running 29 hours behind schedule. This meant that since the get-go the train drivers were trying to make up time, during the daytime they kept a steady pace not wanting to make the ride uncomfortable for passengers. Nighttime was often a different story, once darkness had fallen and most travellers were sleeping the driver really put their foot down. We fondly remember been woken late in the night, being rocked heavily side to side in our bunks as the train raced across Canada desperate to make up those lost hours, lying in the dark and with curtains drawn our only sense of speed was the ferocity of the trains movement and the sound of the bells on the occasional level crossing we raced past.
As for the ones we did get a chance to capture with a photo, here are some of our favourites;
Breakfasts in the USA are truly a spectacular affair, we treated ourselves only a handful of times. Amy's birthday breakfast in Montana and the morning after the 4th of July were particular highlights. The cinnamon roll was a free side, and filled the plate before we attacked it prior to the photo!
Camping in the Umpqua National Forest, Oregon on a chilly night. The location we chose to camp had a substantial fire ring, we spent a few hours scouring the forest floor for suitable fallen wood to build and sustain a fire for a few hours.
Whilst in Utah we were lucky enough to see fossilised dinosaur footprints, something neither of us ever expected to see.
Another thing we had never expected to do was see Manta Rays in the wild, experiencing these majestic creatures in their natural habitat was simply magical, something we'll never forget.
Then there were the more adventurous activities such as driving an UTV around the desert in Utah, paddling a sinking kayak on a freezing mountain lake, gondola rides, luge racing, firing cowboy guns, shearing sheep, glowworm caves, white water rafting, tree top adventures and swimming with sharks.
I mentioned new plans earlier in the post and after several weeks of discussions, spreadsheet making, budgeting and visits to a travel agent it is finally confirmed, we are going home... via Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Japan!
We started this blog to document our adventures in 2018, the year may be over but the adventures aren't quite yet!
One of the best things about travelling at a slower pace and especially by doing the house sit is that we can pause and reflect on what we have done so far and the choices we have made.
Most of what we have covered in the blog have been events or activities we had taken the time to get photos of, however some wonderful moments have gone unrecorded.
A definite stand out moment and a memory which will last a lifetime, even though very brief, took place in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. We were retreating from the high ground due to an incoming storm which we had watched approach across the landscape, kicking up dust and rumbling in the distance. As we reached lower ground we passed a meadow with a large rock in the middle, we watched as coyote climbed to the tip of the rock, leant back its head and began to howl, at the very same moment a huge bolt of lightning tore across the sky accompanied by a deafening roar of thunder. It wasn't just the electricity in the air that gave us goosebumps.
Our kayaking trip out into Doubtful Sound is a real highlight of our time in New Zealand, gliding out onto the dark, glass-like water of the Sound under a heavy sky of low cloud and surrounded by the steep rocky cliffs we could not help but feel we had been transported into another world. The water of the sound is heavily tinted by the rain runoff from the surrounding mountains, tannins are washed down into the seawater, on the day there was very little wind which resulted in a inky dark yet smooth and glossy surface.
As you may well know, back in May when we boarded The Canadian in Toronto the train was running 29 hours behind schedule. This meant that since the get-go the train drivers were trying to make up time, during the daytime they kept a steady pace not wanting to make the ride uncomfortable for passengers. Nighttime was often a different story, once darkness had fallen and most travellers were sleeping the driver really put their foot down. We fondly remember been woken late in the night, being rocked heavily side to side in our bunks as the train raced across Canada desperate to make up those lost hours, lying in the dark and with curtains drawn our only sense of speed was the ferocity of the trains movement and the sound of the bells on the occasional level crossing we raced past.
As for the ones we did get a chance to capture with a photo, here are some of our favourites;
Breakfasts in the USA are truly a spectacular affair, we treated ourselves only a handful of times. Amy's birthday breakfast in Montana and the morning after the 4th of July were particular highlights. The cinnamon roll was a free side, and filled the plate before we attacked it prior to the photo!
Camping in the Umpqua National Forest, Oregon on a chilly night. The location we chose to camp had a substantial fire ring, we spent a few hours scouring the forest floor for suitable fallen wood to build and sustain a fire for a few hours.
Another thing we had never expected to do was see Manta Rays in the wild, experiencing these majestic creatures in their natural habitat was simply magical, something we'll never forget.
We have learnt during this trip that wet wipes are a surprisingly effective substitute for showers, all you need in life can fit into one bag and most importantly, how to be together 24/7 for over 8 months and still like each other.
I mentioned new plans earlier in the post and after several weeks of discussions, spreadsheet making, budgeting and visits to a travel agent it is finally confirmed, we are going home... via Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Japan!
We will spend a total of 7 weeks exploring South East Asia and Japan, doing everything from washing rescued elephants to riding the bullet train. So, watch this space.
Sayounara, mata mite ne.
Farewell, until we meet again.
Sayounara, mata mite ne.
Farewell, until we meet again.
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