The Phoenix Tour

Home.

What an amazing adventure.

Am I changed? I don’t think so.

I know that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.

Did I get lonely? Sometimes. But I did have a lil guardian angel checking in on me each day, which helped keep those feelings under control. And I knew that there were others at the other end of the phone if I needed them.

There are some definite advantages to travelling solo. I could stop wherever and whenever I wanted to. I could linger as long as I needed, without feeling rushed or that someone else was getting bored.

The downsides were fewer. A couple of times, when I saw something really incredible, I found myself longing to have someone there to share my excitement, to compare notes and relive later. There were some routes that I didn’t take as they were a little remote and I was aware that if something went pear shaped, I was on my own.

I didn’t meet as many people as I was hoping to, simply because there weren’t that many people around to meet. Most people I did see were in couples or family groups, so not really looking to talk to some random woman in motorcycle gear, looking a bit bedraggled….

The few people I did meet were great, shared their stories but moved on into the world, just a passing connection.

But that is OK.

I saw some breath-taking places, did some breath-taking things and managed to get pretty lucky with weather.

I intend to go back some day, hopefully in the not too distant future (just need that lotto win).

I will do it a bit differently next time. I think another 2 weeks would be better. Shorter travel days in order to see more things without having to keep moving to get to the next night’s accommodation. More 2 or 3 night stops at places, using them as a base to explore different regions. Especially those areas with multiple walking options.

I would pack a LOT less. I had some weird idea that I would be wanting to get changed into non-bike clothes but that didn’t happen. The only time I did that was for the kayaking and for the cradle Mountain walk. I mostly lived in my bike jeans and the same 2 shirts (which I washed at the laundromat).

But mostly, I think I got it right.

Thank you to everyone who kept me company in cyber space. It was nice to think that people were out there, looking at the photos and reading my rambling thoughts.

I may not have completely risen from the ashes yet, still have some healing to do, but I have hopefully at least started shaking those ashes from my wings.

xxxxxxx