As I look back over photos from the past 12 months, my year looks a little inside-out. I spent the winter in nice warm New Zealand walking the 1200-km long Te Araroa. It was a great year for long-distance hiking. In the spring I returned to Canada to hike the Great Divide Trail – which looked a lot more like winter even though it was summer! I spent the second half of the year travelling around the world – my first ever circumnavigation of the earth. Cycling in the Netherlands, exploring the ever mysterious North Korea, celebrating China’s 70th anniversary in Beijing, learning yoga in Sri Lanka, scuba diving with sharks in the Maldives, and eating everything possible in Singapore.
January – Hiking length of New Zealand’s South Island on the Te Araroa trailFebruary – New Zealand’s always changing landscapes continue to amazeMarch – After two and a half months of walking across New Zealand, we reach the sea and the end of the trail!April – It’s always good to come back home and see loved ones againMay – I begin walking the Great Divide Trail and it’s much too early in the seasonJune – It feels like winter on the GDT. I spend most of the month snowshoeing rather than hiking.July – Even with the arrival of summer, it still feels like winter in the Canadian Rockies.August – I make it to the end of the GDT! As a treat, I catch a helicopter ride out with my new friend, Colin.September – I discover that the Netherlands is a fantastic place for a cycling trip.October – Back to North Korea for my second visit. It’s still full of mystery.November – Three weeks in Sri Lanka learning yoga helps me stretch out those tight hiking muscles.December – Up early to catch sunrise during a week of fantastic scuba diving in the Maldives.
I certainly haven’t tired of travel and adventure yet. I’m looking forward to making more great memories in 2020.
Singapore is an exciting city where you’ll never tire of fun things to do. It even has three cat cafes! I visited one on my first trip to Singapore a few years ago, so I’m excited to check out another.
This is the second time I’ve visited China in the past year. Last autumn I enjoyed snuggling the affectionate kitties at Chengdu’s Peekaboo Cat Cafe, so I decided to see what Beijing has to offer too.
When I travel one of the things I miss is cats. Cute, cuddly, fluffy, affectionate cats. They’re one of my favourite creatures. That’s why I love visiting cat cafes. Luckily, I found just the thing in Chengdu. Continue reading “Chengdu’s Peekaboo Cat Cafe”→
I’m stopping over in Chengdu China on my way back from visiting the “Stans” of Central Asia. Chengdu is famous as the home of the endangered Giant Panda. The weather here is perfect for them – warm and wet – just what you want for growing lots of bamboo. I’m very lucky that it’s actually clear and sunny! A rare occurrence, especially in winter, and a great opportunity to capture some photos of people enjoying themselves outside. Continue reading “Chengdu China – Home of the Giant Panda”→
I’ve just completed my 100th scuba dive! I got into scuba four years ago on a trip to Cuba and I’ve been lucky enough to explore the underwater world in some fantastic places since. Learning to dive was a big challenge for me. I’ve always felt a little uneasy around water, having grown up in a landlocked city where the only lakes and rivers are freezing cold. I remember how nervous I was the first time I strapped on all that complicated scuba gear and sunk below the surface of the water. Something inside of you yells out “but I can’t breathe under water!”. It’s a real leap of faith to suppress that sense of panic. Once I started to overcome it, I began to love diving. There’s a real sense of freedom that comes with floating weightlessly. The marine world is so vibrant and distinct from what we see in our everyday lives. Continue reading “100 Scuba Dives”→
The Great Ocean Road stretches for 250 km along Australia’s rugged southern coast. Built by soldiers returning from World War I and dedicated to their fallen comrades, it’s the world’s largest war memorial. It also has some of the best scenery in all of Australia. After having such a good time cycling in Tasmania, I was keen to tackle the tight turns and steep climbs of the Great Ocean Road but I hadn’t counted on the intense traffic (thousands of tourists came during Chinese New Year). After my first day, I decided to leave the bike behind and simply enjoy this stunning place as a road trip. Continue reading “Australia’s Great Ocean Road”→
I’ve just finished a month-long, 1,500-km cycle tour around Tasmania. This remote island is a pleasure to travel by bike with long winding roads that pass through incredible scenery with little traffic. Its diversity is striking. There are vast temperate rain forests, tropical white sandy beaches with turquoise water, rugged coastlines with towering sea cliffs, and peaceful sheep pastures and lavender farms. Tasmania’s history is equally rich. From its notorious convict beginnings to hardy miners who struggled to make a life in the remote corners of this island, there’s so much to learn. Whether you stay in campgrounds or treat yourself to character-rich B&Bs and historic hotels, you’re sure to discover some real gems along the way. Continue reading “Tasmania Cycle Tour”→
We stayed with Simon & Stuart last night and got along so well that they asked us to come back for another night to look after their pets while they’re away. I’d planned on continuing my cycle tour but these opportunities don’t come up everyday. I’m a huge animal lover. That’s one of the wonderful things about spontaneous travel – unique experiences that just seem to pop up. Continue reading “Pet Sitting in Paradise”→
