Wear your seatbelt

For anyone interested in cycling around Greece - don't do it.

I discovered yesterday that on one lane highways Greeks straddle the bike lanes to allow speed demons to fly through, despite oncoming traffic.

So, 'when in Rome' we straddled away, in our litte VW rental car, all the way to Ancient Olympia.

We were able to find parking because it was the off season and we walked to the site. What a grounding experience. Seeing these ancient sites I'm reminded just how temporary our time on Earth really is.

We came to the Olympic ring. That was my favorite. It's still more-or-less in the same condition it has been for the last thousand years. It's simply a rectangular, sandy space with lime stone markers at either end where runners would have lined up to race.

I took my sandals off and stood ontop of one of the markers, my sister snapped a few photos. I felt connected to one of the oldest human traditions. So much history.

We're staying outside of Patra right now. Touring around the peninsula. We were happy to get out of Athens, but we missed Madonna by a day - shucks.

Today we're off to a rack and pin railway that will take us up a vertical 22 kms up a mountain to a remote village near Korinthos.

In a few days from now we'll fly to Crete. I'm looking forward to this because so far the big city attitude of people here is not really what I had anticipated on. I'm looking forward to the island pace.

I only have photos uploaded from our time at the Acropolis and our day trip to a quaint pedestrian town called Hydra Town.

Enjoy.

Pub lunches and old people

Sadly I'm happiest 40-thousand-feet up when I'm half in the bag. So, I arrived at Heathrow over tired and hung over from drinking too much on the red-eye.

Ceileigh and I found our mom waiting in the pub of the small, family owned hotel in Horley (outside of Gatwick). Mom had just about finished her first shandy and was ready to start on to the next one when we burst on to the scene.

We embraced her in the dimly lit, red cushioned establishment. We'd only been apart for 2 days, but it was a whole other experience 'rendezvousing' in England.

Getting over jet lag was easy this time, minus my nausea all day. We've pub lunched it and pub dinner'd it since we arrived: lamb shank, mash and mushy peas and the ever important scotch on the rocks. Hmm come to think of it, this could be the source to my stomachs discomfort.

We've spent the last day and a half strolling the streets of this London suburb. Waiting for mid-day Wednesday to roll around. Tomorrow we leave from Gatwick to travel to Athens.

Loose ends.

Passport - check.
Hike sack packed with clothes for 3 seasons - check.
Malaria medication - check.
Journal - check.

The list runs on and on. But I'm pretty sure I have everything I'll need for the next four months.

I'm in Vancouver now staying with my dad who will take my sister and I to the airport later this afternoon.

This has been a day I've counted down to for over 2 years now. I knew I wanted to travel after university. I just wasn't sure what it would all look like (ie. who I'd go with, where we'd go, how we would get there.) But it's all come to fruition and I couldn't be more grateful.

Today we'll meet up with my cousin who is moving to Australia, but he'll be travelling with us to Greece for the first leg of his trip. So, needless-to-say there will be a family send off that we'll be apart of. Stiff drinks are a must. Not because of the family time, but because of the looming flight take off. I'm not a very good flyer.

Mom is taking a flight before us. We're meeting in London. She's given us precise directions as to where to find her... a bar stool, in a pub, over a few pints. hmmm thanks mom that makes it easy.

So I'll let you know just how that turns out.

Waves goodbye

The chapter in Prince Rupert came to a close today. Our goodbye came before sunrise with a foggy mist lifting on the harbour.

It was a goodbye to a town that has taught me so much about myself. But this was also the moment I had to say goodbye to my boyfriend. We stood in the middle of lane 2 at the ferry terminal. We stood clutching each other just before I had to drive on board the ferry. I tried to take in every second. We’ll be apart for a month. Not long, but it feels long right now. Our reunion will be just as public, Heathrow Airport. At that time we’ll begin our adventure together.

My sister flew up to our hometown to meet me and make the long trip down south with me. She was there at the ferry terminal with me as I said my early morning goodbyes to Brandon.

Our day began at 4:30 a.m.

It’s much later now and I’m tired.

I’m sitting at the bow of the ship and being gently rocked back and forth as our ferry enters the open waters of Queen Charlotte Sound.

There are a lot of elderly German tourists onboard; they’re a constant source of entertainment - so expressive.

The voyage began over 17 hours ago. Needless to say I’m about ready to get off.

We should be docking in an hour and then we’ll drive to Port McNeill where we’ll stay the night. Tomorrow we’ll continue down the island. It’s a big island.

The rest of my week is trip prep time. Because the count down has begun, yes that’s right 5 days till take off.

On Sunday my sister, cousin and I will be flying from Vancouver to London where we’ll meet up with my mom. From there we’ll get over the jet leg near Gatwick and then two days later fly to Athens.

It all feels a bit unreal at this stage in the game. With me still at home base, well just about back at home base.

This 4-month-long time away will be good for me. I can’t wait.

But right now I’m going a bit stir crazy on board this epic trip along the Inside Passage, aboard a ferry when at this time at night everyone is talking in whispers.