Hello everyone. I am finding it quite difficult to get internet access on the trail where I can upload photos. I have decided that I am going to just update on Facebook to save me time. I have upload at least 80 pictures there so far plus I update my status whenver I can. I may even see how I can add notes so I can even do a sort of blog on there. If you would like to see the pictures and updates, please add me as a Friend on Facebook. Just add Julie Swiston or by my email jtibby2000@hotmail.com [View Full Entry]

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Ok ... I will confess ... I am both excited and scared concerning the trip I am about to embark on. I am excited to be travelling to Spain and Portugal, places I have never been. I am excited to be walking the Camino de Santiago through the beautiful countryside of Spain and experiencing the culture and attempting the little Spanish I learned the last few weeks. I am excited to meet new people from around the world and hear their stories and share in their pain and joy. And of course, I am very excited to see my friend Jorg [View Full Entry]

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“This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime” Clint Eastwood in the movie “Bridges of Madison County” Well … I made it to Madison County on May 28th to the setting of one of my favourite movies (Bridges of Madison County). I stayed in Winterset, a small town which was actually the town it was set in. The thing this little town was famous for before the filming of the movie is that it is the birth place of John Wayne. The weekend I was here just happens to coincide with John Wayne’s birthday so there are celebrations happening. [View Full Entry]

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"Only one thing makes a dream impossible, the fear of failure." Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist I am on the road again … this time only for a few weeks. After settling for 5 weeks at my brother’s place in Calgary to take the CELTA course, it is now time to head off again and make my way back to Ontario. The course took a lot out of me physically and mentally. I survived, but my body is rebelling against me. The last week I was in Calgary I had a bad cold and I still haven’t managed to completely get [View Full Entry]

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“Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is [View Full Entry]

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“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.” Ralph Waldo Emerson I left Tofino British Columbia by 8am on Thursday April 9th, caught the Ferry and arrived in Whistler around 5pm. I made several stops along the way. Someone at the Tofino hostel advised me to stop at Shannon Falls and it was great advice … it was very pretty. When I arrived in Whistler it was [View Full Entry]

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“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we will not find it.” Ralph Waldo Emerson The ferry to Vancouver Island was much larger than I imagined. The ferries I had taken in the US on the East coast were much smaller. This one had a coffee and gift shop onboard and 5 decks for cars. The ride was about an hour and half and I just sat and read my guidebooks and brochures for Vancouver Island. I decided that I would not go directly to Victoria but instead drive up the [View Full Entry]

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You gotta hold your head up high and watch all the negative go by. Don’t ever be ashamed to cry, you go ahead, Cause life’s like a jump rope. Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down, Yeah … It will get hard, remember life’s like a jump rope. I want to tell you that everything will be okay. That everything will eventually turn itself to gold. So keep pushing through it all. Don’t follow, lead the way. Don’t lose yourself or your hope. Cause life is like a jump rope. Blue October - Partial Lyrics from the song “Jump Rope” [View Full Entry]

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“Lessons always arrive when you are ready for them, and if you can read the signs, you will learn everything you need to know in order to take the next step.” The Zahir Paulo Coelho The drive from Point Reyes (just outside San Francisco) to Seattle was long. I took highway #1 while in California and I must say that although the scenery was beautiful, by the end I had enough of the winding roads. I was craving a straight simple road. Once I entered Oregon and took highway #5, I got my wish. I stopped twice on route to Seattle. [View Full Entry]

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“True love is when you feel whole when you love yourself. Life is nothing without love.” Written on the sidewalk in San Francisco (see the picture in the blog). I had heard so much about San Francisco prior to arriving so my expectations were quite high. I am glad to say that I was not disappointed. It is a beautiful city. In fact, I think it may even be too beautiful and too perfect if that makes any sense. It almost seems unreal. All the homes are painted in beautiful pastel colours, all the streets have trees and all walking paths [View Full Entry]

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