surfeye
Lorraine Joined: June 29th 2006
Logged in: February 7th 2012
Logged in: February 7th 2012
(I'd made the decision that it was time to move on, make some changes and time for me. Time to do something that I've always wanted to do. Travel and explore for 1 year. I have realised that I can do this, if I really put my mind to it.
With some new found confidence, and a year preparing, including selling my home, encouraging my son 'Mark' in his move-out to independence. Worked my notice and I was on my way, life would never be quite the same.......)
Of course that was then, 'Oh that trip' it went in the blink of an eye, it was absolutely fantastic and I love travel blog because I still have a record of those experiences, and now I still post to travel blog with my adventures, keep looking in, you never know where I may go next.........................
Travel Blog Posts
Kindle Book - available on Amazon
The idea of writing a book seemed impossible; I had never done anything like it before.<span> However I had already discovered that anything could be possible.<span> Writing the book allowed me to re-visit my adventures and savour them.<span> <span>The biggest surprise for me, was the end result.<span> Apart from being my own personal guide to the distance I have ‘travelled’ and the stretches I can make, I hope my story will inspire and encourage others into making that trip, solo or otherwise, they CAN make it happen.<span> There is a world of new friends out there and a mountain of memories to collect. This has been a big project for me, I had a vision of a paperback book. Publishers and agents weren't interested, the market is satuarted with travel journals - unless I had £9000 ... read more
Robyn's Veranda
Saturday January 29th 2011 A leisurely morning spent at Fiona's. I booked my flight ticket on the internet, for the evening of Tues 1st Feb, flying from Newcastle airport to Brisbane, reasonably priced with Virgin Blue and due to the daylight saving time difference, I'd be there in 10mins. My homeward bound flight was Thurs 4th Feb. At some point I'd have to work out how I was getting to the airport in Newcastle, but felt sure something would work out. My biggest concern was the weight of my bags. Knowing how restrictive the smaller budget airlines usually are - I felt sure my case was over 20 Kilos. Time to throw out some stuff..... Oh maybe not, some good advice from Fiona, put heavy stuff in my hand baggage, and she advised I could take ... read more
Beautiful view from Fiona's Deck
January 25th 2011 I was so excited to finally 'be' in Dora Creek, several years previously, Fiona had sent me a fridge magnet with notepad attached, I kept it on my fridge to use for a shopping list, I would look at it longingly, wondering when I'd get to visit - Dora Creek - I so love the name. Daph would laugh and say 'there's no water in the creek', I wouldn't believe that, convinced it was a pretty place. I was right too. According to the blurb, Dora Creek was originally named Newport, and was the first town to be established in Lake Macquarie in 1840. In those days, Dora Creek was navigable all the way to Cooranbong and was a vital transport route for timber felled in the Watagan Mountains. Looking at it today, ... read more
Mecca Village
Sunday, January 23rd I was ready and waiting at the Tree House when Jake arrived with some friends. Daph and I said our goodbyes earlier, as she was going off to the field for BBQ breakfast, is that an Australian honeymoon breakfast I wondered? Jake was planning on a last surf whilst at Byron, I was happy to stay around the Tree House, (already packed up) I could have a leisurely breakfast and read my book. Kerin stayed with me and talked about her forthcoming 6 month working trip, to Cambodia, with husband Dan. It sounded exciting, I couldn’t help feeling that people seem to live life, outside the box, in this part of the world. Limits, what are they? Jake and Dan returned from their surf, and after a light lunch and visit to the ... read more
contrast in colours
BRISBANE The week prior to our trip, Brisbane was on the world news reporting devastation, with the worst floods in the area since 1974, the river had risen and burst its banks causing destruction of properties and loss of livelihood, roads were closed and public transport in chaos. Watching the news in disbelief, as we were due to fly into Brisbane in a matter of days. Thank goodness for skype, Daph was able to contract her family who live in the suburbs of Brisbane. Luckily they were on higher ground and unaffected, even their business in the centre escaped, undamaged - only loss of power and several days loss of income. Even so, we were not sure how this would affect our forthcoming trip. January 13th 2011 Leaving Plymouth on the midnight bus full of anticipation ... read more
Our fabulous hut
The time finally came round, Erica and I set off on our adventure to south Sinai. We met Maggie for the first time, at Gatwick airport. On arrival we would join others for a unique experience, to learn some drumming and dancing of the Bedouin culture we were visiting, entitled Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp. At Sharm El Sheikh Airport, we didn’t suppose that many from the aircraft were en route to encounter an adventure quite like ours. Arriving at sun set, the two hour taxi journey took us to our destination of Rock Sea camp, and so it was completely dark when we got there. Oh where did I pack that torch? Home made pizza for dinner, and finally choosing our hut at Star side, before falling into exhausted sleep. It wasn’t until sun ... read more
Exeter Airport
Every once in a while an opportunity presents itself and you have a choice, accept or decline. Whenever I think about it, I smile, it was complete madness and it was wonderfully spontaneous. I had been writing to a new friend for a little while, we had several things in common and our emails were getting longer. The more questions we asked of each other, just brought more questions than answers. One very wet Thursday evening, he wrote, "I have checked the weather forecast for the weekend and the best place with sun is Paris, I am thinking of going, what are your thoughts". He had been going through a real rough patch and of course I encouraged him to go for it, get away, and enjoy the sun, it'd be just the tonic he needed. ... read more
Red Monkey Divers
Posted in May2010 - Notes Miri, Borneo - February 10th I took the train to London, same as last year's trip to Cairo. Stayed overnight at Heathrow, The Comfort Hotel, which I might add, was very reasonably priced with 15 nights parking included, shame my car was so poorly and in need of major repair. No worries, there was a little hoppa bus from the airport, and back the next morning. I enjoyed a wonderful meal of melon and swordfish and several glasses of wine. Considering the time of year, some reasonably priced flight tickets via Dubai and flying into Brunei. Royal Brunei airlines, the only draw back for some is that there is no alcohol on board. The air hostess outfits were beautiful, already feeling surrounded by a new culture. With all the activity, and ... read more
Erica, Lorraine, Nathalie
Flights booked before Christmas, accommodation booked just after and finally on our way, Nathalie on her 4th visit, Erica and I our first. A break from the British winter, a different cultural experience and some fun were our only real expectations - open minded and easy going. Two weeks previously the country came to a standstill as snow swept through Britain, however thankfully all was back to normal and the train journey from Plymouth to Paddington was smoothly on time. We sat around a table with Shelly from Bodmin, who was on a day out to London, compliments of her employer. She was supposed to be attending a conference, but it was cancelled, and rather than waste the un-refundable tickets, she was offered the opportunity to use them anyway and have a day out. At Paddington, ... read more
Shoes from Geant
Daph and I had a winter weekend in France. We boarded the Bretagne Friday night at 9pm with trepidation due to the high winds. A ferry had been cancelled the previous night. We finally set sail about 11.30pm. We'd already checked out our cabin on floor 2, possibly below water level. After a couple of Chardonnay we decided to call it a night and 'try' to get some sleep. The night wasn't too bad, a bit bumpy at times, but we both agreed that we must have got some sleep. So slightly bleary eyed, and after waiting for some time, we were allowed down to deck 5 to retrieve the car. Driving off the ferry was exciting and the weekend begun, although not quite light it was promising to be a calm day. We drove as ... read more
