189. The final word

Tuesday, 16 July 2019

Nottinghamshire, UK

Dear reader,

Miss Stockholm rang last week to give me a kick in publishing this, the final blog post.

What was that I hear you say? Boo. Was it?

I know.

No more blog.

For now.

Might update over the next few months with tales of woe from my Around the World in 60 Days trip I did in 2010, and possibly North Korea 2017.

Sincerely hope that you have enjoyed joining me on this trip. It’s been quite an adventure hasn’t it.

Writing diary and publishing blog and sorting photos for each day has been a pain at times but then I’ve received some really nice comments from people I never knew were reading it and it’s made it all worthwhile persevering with it.

The past six months have been, quite simply, awesome. The best thing I’ve ever done. When I first planned this, I anticipated a three to four month trip. Such was the enjoyment, it didn’t take much mental gymnastics to work out how to extend it.

I have been, and am, incredibly lucky. Everything has gone according to plan, with the exception of the Alaska ferry cancellation. But every cloud has a silver lining and I discovered cruising.

Have travelled 33,000 miles from Antarctica to Alaska, through 18 countries in 188 days.

You have read, dear reader, 135,000 words of blog, and the website has, unbelievably, had over 16,000 page views for 188 blog posts (excluding this one), so thank you for reading.

Having posted only a fraction of the 17,500 photos and videos taken over the past six months, I sincerely hope it gave you an insight into the people, places and things I saw enroute.

For me, the best experience, without question, was Antarctica, and should you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend it for its remoteness, silence and natural beauty. Along the way I also enjoyed very much: Argentina, Bolivian Salt Flats, Columbia, El Salvador, Hornby Island and Alaska. Sailing in Antarctica and driving through remote landscapes such as southern Patagonia and northern Alaska makes you realise how small we are on this planet.

Having enjoyed the total silence of Antarctica, the thing I have noticed is how noisy this planet is. Everywhere you go is noise in some form. Traffic, people, sodding background music everywhere, telephones and the like.

Enjoy silence whenever you can.

The one thing that has struck me is how unfailingly friendly everyone has been that I’ve met enroute. The world is generally a kind place. The kindness of strangers I’ve experienced is enough to restore your faith in humanity. I recall the small towns I stayed at in El Salvador. Walking back late at night from dinner through the streets and everyone acknowledging you and saying ‘Good evening’ (in Spanish obviously). I don’t recall any occasion on my travels when I’ve felt threatened. Although at 6’5” in height, with substantial mass, it’s rare.

In my final week of the trip, whilst in Seattle, a client emailed with the fateful words…’Can you start next week and then fly to Qatar for two weeks?’ So. Back to work 3 days after being back in the UK. Fortunately, the Qatar trip has been postponed so currently enjoying some time at home. I thought it would be a real struggle to step back into reality but, rather surprisingly, it’s been a breeze. Sadly, now, it doesn’t feel like I’ve been away for six months and it’s as though I saw friends only last week. The true sign of friendship, I guess.

I sincerely hope that this blog has inspired at least someone to travel. I was inspired by the older girl across the road. As a teen, I was mesmerised by photos of her travels. Very sadly, she died a few years ago in her mid-50s.

So, dear reader, get out there, see the world and enjoy life.

Whilst you can.

What’s next, I hear you ask.

Well.

Planning overland to Australia and New Zealand through Europe, the Stans, Himalayas and Asia before returning via Pacific Islands, USA and Canada. Probably in a couple of years, depending on this thing called ‘work’. Which obviously pays for all these jollies.

And finally…I’ll leave you with a few quotes that I thought rather summed up travelling:

‘The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page’ – Saint Augustine

‘What you do not see, do not hear, do not experience, you will never really know.’ – Anders Apassingok – Lore of St Lawrence Island: Echoes of our Eskimo Elders

So that’s that, dear reader. Though please do remember these three words.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.

THE END.