‘I bet you are missing the travelling’… a comment reflected to me in numerous conversations during our Lockdown of life…

It amused me to think I have become synonymous with travelling.

Turning 50 during a pandemic brings with it a rather altered reflection on ones life and a refresh button to redirect and refocus…

I have always had the ‘flame to travel’ within my soul, ignited most definitely by my travels and abodes around the world… as a teenager I accessed every trip, every funded scholarship, and opportunity to travel near and far… Then at 18 I gave my parents 3 weeks notice before heading to America… travel came before College, came before settling down, and defined our family fabric, and still does..

I know travel fulfils my jug, it builds my resilence, and it is part of my DNA.

During Lockdown my travels were local and recently 1000 mile drives around the UK under the guise of being ‘rowing mum’. It is great to be back on the ‘roads’ of my travelling life again.

WHY?

Freedom to explore, connection with others, conversations, the beauty of nature, the delight of discovery….

George and I have just had a fabulous road trip around England doing all of the above… It’s the start of our ‘next chapter’ as ‘mum and son cup’ will soon be home alone in Sept..

I guess that’s what travel has always been for me, the next chapter…

and also during my darkest, scariest moments of self doubt, fear, and sorrow…when I thought ‘how can I do this?’… travel memories and my travel mantra DNA reminded me.. ‘I can’… cope with change, I can travel solo (I backpacked solo worldwide before google!), travel gave me courage, choice and character…

I’m loving the post lockdown loiterings locally and further afield, and the future plans for long haul…

So what I would say is find your comfort in your travels of life, you never know what nuggets of nourishment it will provide…

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