Tag Archives: Planning

Becoming Obsessed…..

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Sidmouth South West Coast Path

The above is a picture of Sidmouth it is where my Mom is from. It was my Grandparents favourite place. It is one of the stops along the South West Coast Path.
I mentioned the path before, 630 miles, it starts in Minehead and ends in Poole. Passing through a lot of my families history.

Wanting to do a trip that would cleanse my brain, restart my ambitions this is the trip I want to do. It would take fifty-two days to complete and since I got the idea in my head I can’t stop thinking about it. I keep making lists for the trip, what to pack, lists of B&B’s I could stay at. Working on a budget, trying to figure out how to take two months off.

I could always do the path in segments over time. Or if I can only do a few weeks I could do the Jurassic Coast portion which includes Sidmouth, perhaps not as ambitious but I think would still get me the clear head I’m looking for. Also it would be much more affordable, fifty two nights in B&B’s starts to add up.

Whether I do all of it or just part it’s an adventure I’m going to do. Perhaps for my birthday next year, two weeks of walking alone connecting to my families history.

In the meantime I need to remember I have other things to accomplish now but it’s so easy to get distracted by a goal that feels so right.

New Backpack!

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What’s one of the great things about planning a trip?

Buying new stuff for the trip! Actually I don’t need much, I have collected a good amount of travel gear over the years but I have needed a new backpack for awhile. Also a pair of hiking pants, you know when your Mother used to tell you not to pull a loose thread? Yeah, don’t do that or your favourite hiking pants will fall apart. I almost cried, actually I may have shed a tear or two. We were close.

For months I have been reading about and going and looking at backpacks. My last few trips I have quizzed people on their backpacks. What I have learned is no backpack does EVERYTHING I want it to do, so I did have to prioritize my wish list.

In the end this is the list I came up with it needed lots of pockets for organization, comfortable, reasonable amount of room, not too big but can carry a days worth of stuff easily and a built in rain cover would be nice.

Finally I decided on the Deuter Trans Alpine 26 SL, it fit the bill and so far seems very comfortable. Lot’s of room and the buckles on the front will hold a bike helmut, bonus!

Deuter Back Pack

Oh the places we’ll go together! Can’t wait to beat it up and break it in!

First trip a weekend in Banff, I’ll be able to fit everything I need into it no problem!

South West Coast Path 2014

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South West Coast Path Book

I ordered the guide book after talking about it with my Mom.

The South West Coast Path is 630 miles around the south west coast of England. The standard suggested itinerary would take fifty-two days. The scenery would be spectacular, the experience I can only imagine would be life changing. How I don’t know…. but can you walk 630 miles and not be changed by the experience?

The start is in Minehead and then ou walk from small town to small town, staying in B&Bs or small hotels until you get to Poole. This trip like Iceland it has a pull, not just a “I would like to do that” but a pull that is demanding attention. A feeling that this is something I am suppose to do.

I’m already making up excuses to only do a portion, to cut it short but then a feeling that it’s the whole path that is calling returns. It would be next year that I would like to do it. I would have a year to plan, where, when and how. How do I get two months off work, who looks after my home for two months, how do I afford all my expenses for two months back home and while on the trail.

The more I dabble with the planning, the more I see that it can be done but it will take a leap of faith that everything will work out. I think we all need to take a leap every now and then. Upon my return from Iceland I will start to put my plans down on paper and next year I hope to be heading off for fifty-two days of hiking.

Iceland!

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Iceland Book
I have booked my next trip……Iceland!

I’ve wanted to go ever since a friend who reads a lot of Iceland crime thrillers wanted to do a layover on our way to Ireland three years ago (has it been three years????). That didn’t work out but it stuck with me. The more I read about it, the more pictures I saw, the more I wanted to go.

Many other trips are still on the list but Iceland kept calling, kept bumping itself up to the top of the list, every time I thought a different trip would win out Iceland would bully itself up to the front of the line again. I would see something on the tv or read see a magazine cover and again I would be reminded of Iceland. With such persistence it seems that Iceland is the one. I wanted to go last year but left it too late, this year it’s booked, I’m going. The others will have to wait.

With my life being settled but not exactly as I would like, a trip to a far away place to see some amazing scenery should clear my head. Perhaps in Iceland I will start to form a plan of my next steps, figure out which way to go and how long the journey will be. Transition takes time and patience but once you find the path at least you know you’re on your way.

It’s what I love about travel, it always seems to open up possibilities beyond the trip.

Also I get to go to the Blue Lagoon and several other hot springs as well along the tour. I love a hot spring and I can’t wait to go and soak in the Blue Lagoon and forget about everything back home, if only for a little while.

Beach!

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Beach Hawaii

Looking through my pictures I found the one above.

What it told me was it’s time to figure out my next vacation. Something to look forward to and plan for.

There are a few ideas floating around I just need to pick one and book it!

Seeing the Hawaiian beach it looks tempting, sun, sand, surf. Chill out get some macadamia nut ice cream or some Kona coffee. I could get used to a life like that.

Funny thing is my next vacation will not be sun, sand and beach.

When I have it booked I’ll let you know more (also big plans for next year)!

Goals 2013

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These are my goals for this year, pretty similar to last year with a few alterations:

  1. Yoga workshop – is this cheating when it’s already booked? Okay I’ll make it harder and commit to doing two workshops.
  2. Travel – It might be Iceland or I will choose another exciting destination but doing a trip is definitely a must! Maybe New York, I’ve never been and it’s been on my travel list FOREVER!
  3. Clean up office – REALLY I’ll get to it this year so that I have a proper space to write in! Then maybe I can get the novel organized!
  4. Biography’s – I’m going to read a biography every month. I love them and have many on my list to read but never seem to get around to them. This way I’ll make a list and then get to them!
  5. Write – okay this is a change from 1st draft of a novel. This is a goal to just write. I have a writing competition book and my goal is to submit at least two works into competitions. They could be short stories, poems or shorter pieces and this seems less daunting than a novel.
  6. Yoga – start a home practice. My goal will be to do yoga three times a week at home to develop my own Mysore practice.
  7. Bike – the bike is back! My goal is to ride 1,000km on it through the summer.
  8. Keep in touch – I can be terrible at keeping in touch, with remembering to send emails, remember b-days and just drop a note saying “Hi” my goal is to foster my relationships with those that are important to me. Also to make the effort to get out, meet some new people and really enjoy the people in my life.
  9. Explore Calgary – with travelling it is easy to forget what is in our own backyard, this year my goal is not just to get out to the museum but to get out in my own city (Calgary) and rediscover it!
  10. Blog – 5 days a week again? Nope, to cut down on crap and hopefully up the content I’m going to commit to writing for the blog 3 days a week (will probably have pictures on the other two days).

There if I do all that, it should be a great year!

Busy Week!

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It’s been a really busy week, with it being a short week and even at the office September seems to mean back at it!

I’ve been a little sloppy with the posts this week but I have plans for next week!

Part of the busy has not just been at the office but also at home. I’m getting rid of the clutter in my home. Okay I don’t actually have a lot of clutter but to ensure I don’t turn into a hoarder (aka my Mother) I like to clear out the place every few years.

In the next couple of months I will be going through EVERYTHING and throwing stuff out, donating stuff and also seeing what I can sell. I would like to make some changes around my place and changes are always easier to make in a clean clutter free home.

First on the list is my closet because fall clothes are out! There are so many cute clothes out there but I know I don’t need much. The plan is to clear out the closet see what I have and then with a budget and a list go shopping!

This will also give me time to figure out what I want to keep of my other stuff and give myself rules to follow. I follow rules well. Giving myself a specific number like “I can keep ten stuffed animals” or “I can keep one box of souvenirs”. Now I have been known to bend the rules and change it to “I can keep ten teddy bears AND ten stuffed animals” or I’ll change the size of the box. A good clearing though always makes me feel good.

Also I am starting to get ready for my trip on October 13th and I’ve had a few people ask me how I plan and prepare for a trip so next week I’ll tell you!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Planning A Vacation!

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My favourite way to get myself out of a funk is (drumroll) PLAN A VACATION!

Something to work towards (a reason to go to work), something to look forward to, something to provide a distraction. The first thing is to decide is where to go but I already know where I want to go so that is easy, Iceland!

A few years ago a friend wanted to do a layover in Iceland and I thought Iceland? What’s in Iceland? Then I started looking at pictures and things to do in Iceland and I got REALLY excited. Those plans fell through but I never forgot the pictures of the Blue Lagoon (here is the Blue Lagoon website) and the sweaters, I LOVE sweaters, also PUFFINS! Then there is the landscape which looks amazing. Ever since those plans fell through I’ve wanted to go.

I’ve just started to look at tours, 10 days, 14 days, 8 days so many choices. I need to narrow down what I want to see. It’s a toss up right now between an 8 day tour and a 10 day tour. I also want time to go to the Blue Lagoon more than once and time to pick out a sweater (or two, I want one big comfy cup of tea and a good book sweater and one to wear in public). Now I’m just starting to work out the budget and timing. The one national park I want to go to closes during nesting season and I REALLY want to see puffins and I can’t go in July because ….. well the Tour is on (What Tour? Did you ask What Tour? The TOUR DE FRANCE!, last year I made my Mother change the dates she wanted to go back to England because I wouldn’t travel during the Tour).

Now I’m getting excited and I think I’m going to go with an 8 day tour and then stay a few extra days in Reykjavik to have more time to wander around. Also wondering if I should get a new camera, mine is okay but a new one would be nice. Now my step is lighter and I’m happier to be at the office (happier, not over joyed). I’m going on vacation!

Yep that’s the way to get out of a funk, book a vacation!