Wow! This is it. The long, long, looooong-awaited travelling is finally going to happen. The culmination of a plan hatched a year and a half ago back in October 2006. Realisation: 6 April 2008. The ball is well and truly rolling and there's no turning back. Hoorah!
Today is the end of my last full-time week at work. Over the next 4 weeks, I'll be working 2 or 3 days a week and the rest of the time I'll be working steadily towards selling / rehoming all my possessions, notifying service providers of my intention to leave the UK, making travel preparations, getting vaccinated, applying for visas, arranging shipping - of what?! To where?! Doesnt' sound like much but it's a helluva daunting prospect right now so I'm taking it one step at a time.
So, where am I going? From London. To Sydney. Overland. 7 Months. 32 Weeks. 21 Countries. 22 People...and breeeathe. Feelings right now are a mixture of excitement, anxiety, trepidation and sadness about leaving wonderful friends and a country that has become dear to me in the 14 years that I've lived here...I've just realised - almost to the day! I arrived on 4 April 1994 and I'm leaving on 6 April 2008!
The company I'm going with are called Exploratory Overland Expeditions (EOE) and they were the first, back in 2006, to run a London to Sydney overland trip. I've met Karen and Will, a lovely couple, who run the company and briefly met 14 of my travelling companions. I've also seen The Truck. A huge orange 6x6 converted overlander - I'll see if I can find a pic to post here. Accommodation for the trip will be mostly (about 60%) camping and some hostels or local hotels where camping is not possible. Driving days will be anywhere from 1 to 3 days solid and stationary days will be anywhere from brief overnight stays to 2 weeks. Real grassroots stuff. I'm taking a 60L backpack, a tent, sleeping bag, Thermarest, a couple of books and my yoga mat. That's it. Will let you know how the packing up goes!
Today is the end of my last full-time week at work. Over the next 4 weeks, I'll be working 2 or 3 days a week and the rest of the time I'll be working steadily towards selling / rehoming all my possessions, notifying service providers of my intention to leave the UK, making travel preparations, getting vaccinated, applying for visas, arranging shipping - of what?! To where?! Doesnt' sound like much but it's a helluva daunting prospect right now so I'm taking it one step at a time.
So, where am I going? From London. To Sydney. Overland. 7 Months. 32 Weeks. 21 Countries. 22 People...and breeeathe. Feelings right now are a mixture of excitement, anxiety, trepidation and sadness about leaving wonderful friends and a country that has become dear to me in the 14 years that I've lived here...I've just realised - almost to the day! I arrived on 4 April 1994 and I'm leaving on 6 April 2008!
The company I'm going with are called Exploratory Overland Expeditions (EOE) and they were the first, back in 2006, to run a London to Sydney overland trip. I've met Karen and Will, a lovely couple, who run the company and briefly met 14 of my travelling companions. I've also seen The Truck. A huge orange 6x6 converted overlander - I'll see if I can find a pic to post here. Accommodation for the trip will be mostly (about 60%) camping and some hostels or local hotels where camping is not possible. Driving days will be anywhere from 1 to 3 days solid and stationary days will be anywhere from brief overnight stays to 2 weeks. Real grassroots stuff. I'm taking a 60L backpack, a tent, sleeping bag, Thermarest, a couple of books and my yoga mat. That's it. Will let you know how the packing up goes!
3 comments:
Hi Lynda
I shall be watching your progress with great interest.All I ask is take care. Love Graham x
Thanks, Graham. That's very kind of you! I'll miss you all. Lx
Oh Lynda it sounds so exciting...am very jealous!! Would be nice if we could meet up somewhere exotic - but think I'll be too far ahead of you - China and HK in April and May?? You will be missed...but keep us up to date...
Here's hoping for a fab leaving party...
XXX
Peggy
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