Where in the world is Su the Discoverer?

One more sleep....

When my daughter was a young girl, she enjoyed a TV show called "Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?"  Carmen was a young lady who traveled the world, and shared what she learned about the geography, culture and climate of each country she visited.

These days, it seems "Dora the Explorer" is a popular TV character, albeit for a younger crowd.

It seems that there is a great deal of interest in learning more about our world, at least amongst young people.

Me?  I'm just a wanderer, adventurer, discoverer.  "Just".  To some that's a big deal, because not many (I guess) are interested in stepping outside their small, comfortable world and into the world of unknown.  Why I wonder?  Is it fear?  Lack of confidence?  Or lack of curiosity?  So often I hear people say "I will live vicariously through you!"  to which I am sometimes (rarely, actually, depends on the person) tempted to say "You chicken shit!".  Because I know for some people it's fear.  They're afraid of what they don't know, and their fear overcomes their willingness to act.

A few years ago, I took a little online quiz from Career Management called "Kingdomality", and confirmed what I already knew - that my personality type is "Discoverer".  I thought it would be fun to take it again, and what do you know?  The same result.  So I guess it's true.  I'm a Discoverer.  Mostly for myself though I think, I don't anticipate finding any new stars or planets any time soon.

This next trip to New Zealand will most definitely be another journey of Discovery.  Of Exploration.  I will be visiting places that I didn't before, and with a new and more experienced perspective.  A whole different perspective.  The whole reason that I'm going is to discover and explore, and with a few more years of travel experience under my belt.

But mostly what I'm hoping to explore is a new perspective.  I'm going with a friend who has never been before, and interestingly, we weren't really close friends before we started planning for this trip.  But we've discovered (there's that word again) how similar we are, and I am so looking forward to spending time with her, and seeing the country through her eyes.  Even more than that, I've learned which way is up on a decent camera, and a little bit about how to take a half decent picture.  So I'm really hoping that I'll be able to come back with more than a couple of really good photos.  Mind you, New Zealand is probably one of the more photogenic areas of the world, and you'd have to probably really have no clue how to use a camera to not get good pictures.  But I'm looking for the stunning ones.   The ones that people say "Wow!" when they look at them.

I'm hoping to discover the inner artist in me.  I know, I know, I shouldn't have to travel to the other side of the world to find this.  But it will definitely help.  If there's no one around that I know (for the most part, except for my travel companion), then I can really feel free, no inhibitions, no expectations.

So, where in the world is Su the Discoverer?  Inside her head.  Outside her norm.  On the other side of the planet.  Behind her camera.  Looking around, up, down, behind, beside, from someone else's eyes, from below, from above.  Discovering.  Playing, Learning.  Stretching and growing.  And hopefully everyone who lives vicariously through me enjoys the ride.

Four more sleeps, and feeling so grateful

This may be a bit of a sappy post, but since it's my blog, and I don't really care if anyone ever reads it except for me a few years down the road, I'm going to indulge and blurt.

With Christmas only a couple of days away, and the only plan in the works for that blessed day to pack for my upcoming adventure, I have to think about how many people are stressed about the holidays.  In fact, I almost allowed myself to be stressed about spending Christmas Day alone, yet again.  So many times over the years I have spent the bulk of the holiday season at home alone.  It's a difficult time for so many people, and in past years, I have allowed it to be difficult for me, too.  But this year, I have opted to approach it a bit differently.

Many times over the years I have envied those blessed with monetary wealth and their ability to celebrate the Christmas season in the style that I would so have loved to celebrate.  With lots of decorations in a big fancy house with lots of people around all the time, food and wine overflowing, lots of parties, plenty of gifts for everyone and maybe even a few for me.  The past few years Christmas has been spent largely on my own, with only a couple of gifts for my closest family, and simple meals with modest decorations.  Mostly what I saw was what others had that I didn't, instead of seeing what I had that others didn't.

Perhaps it is the reason that in the past few years I have chosen to travel at Christmas time, to avoid feeling "left out" by choosing to leave others out.  Perhaps it has been my own way of celebrating the season and giving myself the ultimate gift of freedom.  Perhaps by cherishing the ability to travel, the willingness to explore the world on my own, and sharing my experiences in my photos and my writing, I am giving others something that they don't have.

So this year, as I prepare to embark on another journey, I am reminded of how many people look at me quite differently than I see myself.  How many people might actually envy me for being able to go somewhere new and different, for not having to spend days shopping and wrapping and decorating and baking and entertaining and the stress of trying to visit all the relatives and the exhaustion that follows.

This year, I'm reminded to feel grateful for all the gifts that I've been given, not just this year, and not just for Christmas.  For all the gifts that I haven't ever had to unwrap, that were never put under a tree or in a stocking, they have just been there all along, but I didn't choose any of them so they are gifts all the same.  I am ever so grateful for:

           Wonderful and loving parents that are still fairly healthy and independent, and still married after more than 60 years.
            An amazing, beautiful, very intelligent and caring daughter who has been blessed with a loving husband and two adorable, bright children
            A large family of very good people
            Countless supportive friends that are good and decent people
            Citizenship by birth of a free and respectable country
            The ability to earn a good living
            The health to enjoy the benefits that a decent job affords me, like travel
           
There.  Maybe some year I will also be blessed with a special someone to lovingly share Christmas Day, but for now, I'm feeling like packing for a trip to New Zealand isn't such a bad way to spend it.

The countdown has begun - T minus 12 days

There are so many things I should be doing right now.   It's only 13 12 10 days till I leave for New Zealand.  That's less time than I will actually be there.  Oh boy, which will go faster, the days leading up to it, or the time there?

Make sure all finances are taken care of.  Make all packing decisions - which clothes do I take?  Still haven't finalized travel to Toronto airport.  Finish Christmas shopping.  Clean the house.  Plan the first couple of weeks back at work.

It has often come to mind that there should be an app that helps plan travel.  A really good one that's flexible and not just one person's idea of how to plan for one kind of travel.  Maybe I'll work on that.

At least all (most) accommodation has been booked, and all (most) tourist-y type of events (i.e. cruise in the fjords) has been booked.  Sometimes I really think I should have been a travel agent.  Or maybe a travel planner/escort.

I'm especially looking forward to seeing the things I missed the last time I was there.  Like....

The Maori experience in Christchurch
The Catlins and Nugget Point Lighthouse
Milford Sound (last time I saw Doubtful Sound)
Penguins - I really need to see penguins

...and so much more.  A side benefit is that now I have a little bit more confidence in the photos that I take, how to take them, how to work with them afterwards to ensure that my viewers see the same thing I saw, even if the camera isn't able to capture exactly that.

But the best part will be in seeing old friends that I really don't get to see very often, making new friends, and meeting new friends that I've only met online till now.  This is what traveling is all about, connecting with the rest of the world, understanding what is different and what is the same, experiencing new culture, new food, new vistas, and reveling in the wonderment of what is possible.

This is going to be so friggin' awesome, and LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Vegas Vegas Kiwi

Whaaat?  OK, I'll 'splain.

Never been to Vegas.  I know, right?  She's over 50, single, and has never been to Vegas.  Hard to imagine, but true story.  But here's the thing.  I have a little side gig that I absolutely love, as an independent consultant for Rodan + Fields.  It's a great product, really does what it says it will, and I like to share that good news.  Check out my website.

Plug over, it's ok, you can read on.

Anyway, there's an annual convention for this company and this year it's in Vegas, so I figure, meh, why not?  So early October, I'll be heading down to spend three days exploring, learning, meeting friends that I've known for months but never met in person, and generally having a blast.  Don't worry, the camera will be at the ready all...the....time.  This will be a fabulous experience for street photogs, people watching, and who knows what else.  And yes I know, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, so I won't name names.  Tee hee!

Then in early November, the company that I WORK for (notice the difference, the side gig is not really work at all....) is all going down for some team building, cavorting, and general mayhem.  Or maybe there will be a half hour business meeting in there somewhere.  Anyway, it should be fun.  

And now, officially, I have my vacation approved, and it's just a matter of booking the flights, and then it's New Zealand here I come!  In Kiwi summer even!  This is just so awesome.  So I'm working hard to make sure that every photo I take will be one to keep, and maybe even share, and saving my pennies (well, maybe not pennies since they no longer work in Canada) and trying to figure out what to pack and where I'm going to find the time to buy new clothes and need to lose some weight.....  omg.  So much to do, so little time gotta go see ya..........

New Zealand, here I come - back

When I visited New Zealand the first time, back in 2010, I started this blog.  The hope was that it could be a way for people back home, friends and family wherever, to come along with me and enjoy the adventure.  Little did I know how many people would participate and follow.  Little did I realize how much fun it would be to take the photos, write the stories and share them.

In past years, before the internet, and before digital photography, I always carried a camera, and wrote a journal of each day's activities in the evening while it was fresh in my mind.  As soon as the pictures were developed, I carefully documented what each one was about, so that my daughter and I could enjoy them again years later.  And it has been wonderful to look at those photos and stories again, bringing back memories that time had faded.  But the reach of that was limited.  We are so blessed to be able to now record so much of our memories so quickly and easily with the use of digital photography and blogging!

Since then, I have also worked hard, and continue to work hard, to step up my game and learn how to better capture the scenes that I visit.  As an apprentice in The Arcanum - a "Magical Academy of Artistic Mastery" - I am learning so much about light, colour, art, and the craft of photography from the master that I'm working with, +Laurie Rubin and learning almost as much from other masters and the other apprentices.  My goal is to become completely comfortable and confident about shooting my next adventure.

And my next adventure will be......ta da da da.... New Zealand!  Back where it all started.  And this is a little story in itself.

My friend Linda was one of those original tagalongs - virturally - on my first sojourn over to the other side of the globe.  It has been a lifelong dream of hers to visit NZ, and when I returned, she said - 5 years, give me 5 years and then I'll go.  Would you come along?  Of course I would.  So a couple of months ago, she reminded me that the 5 years was up, and we needed to go to NZ.  Yes, that's right.  Need, not Want.  Kiwi country calls loud and clear for those who listen, and when you answer, it's like a rope connecting you, and it just keeps pulling you in.

So, planning has commenced.  This blog will now be part of our way to track those plans, and then the trip, and hopefully pull some more people in and along.  No tickets yet, but dates are tentatively set, and we are sooooo excited!

Right now it looks like 2 weeks (not nearly enough), and hitting:
Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Stewart Island, Te Anau, Fjordlands, Queenstown, Twizel, and Middle Earth.

Can't wait to see the sky set ablaze over The Remarkables

Thank goodness for a little extra income from +Rodan + Fields !!!

The last leg

Well, dear diary, I'm home again.  Didn't post yesterday but I don't want to lose the experience.  Even though it seems a bit mundane, the last few hours of driving from an outlet mall (essentially) to the place I usually call home, was all part of this particular road trip Peter Pan adventure.  So....

First, now that I have a good connection, I need to upload my photos from the Friday drive through North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.  Wow, did I really drive through 4 states in one day?  Sounds like a movie.  Whatever.

  Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, where the guy was sleeping in his jeep.  At least I think he was sleeping.  There was no blood dripping down from the bottom of the door like you would see in Criminal Minds.  But you never know...

The New Gorge River bridge that I drove across that felt like it was a bridge across the sky.  The first picture is taken from the top of the stairs at the adjoining visitor center (I didn't go into the park, now on the bucket list!) looking toward the bridge.  After descending the stairs, which only go down about 200 ft - the bottom of the gorge is 600 ft down - I took the second shot looking left.  600 ft is a looong way down.

  

Young's Monument, WV, where a scenic lookout provided a lovely non-snowy winter vista, with the sunlight highlighting a distant rise.  

Now for the drive home.  When I left on Dec. 24, it was in the high teens Celsius, and the forecast was for the temps at home to be around the freezing mark.  So I had packed what I thought was enough warm clothes.  But it's cold here (in Grove City), the temperature has dropped (for me) about 25 C in the last 24 hours.  Savannah was hot and sticky when I left early Thursday afternoon, and I had been driving with the windows down and sunroof wide open most of the way to Winston-Salem, where it was about 9 C when I arrived.  That's chilly enough, but now... well, a windbreaker and sweater are just not going to cut it, and as it turns out, I've had a blowout in my favourite gloves.

So it's a good thing that there's an outlet mall just down the street and on the way to the highway, and they have a 75% off sale on just about everything.  Old Navy, here I come.  I find a lovely winter wool jacket for $13.99 (yes, you saw that right), and a warm fuzzy pullover for $3.99 (yup) and a couple of other goodies.  Next stop is G.H. Bass & Co., where I find two pairs of leather gloves at $14.99 a pair.  I know, right?

Off I go up the highway, and it looks like I might even be able to pick up the cat a little early.  At 11 a.m., little miss GPS (have to come up with a name for her, like Queen GPS) tells me that I should arrive at home about 3:15.  Cool.  I can take my time, maybe even stop for lunch, although the hotel included a hot buffet breakfast.  

I-79 North is mostly barren of traffic, or any life at all.  Still haven't seen any snow, anywhere, on this trip, although that's been largely due to the planning of my routes to avoid precipitation.  I'm about 15 miles south of Erie, PA when I start seeing a bit of white, just a dusting really, and still nothing in the air.  Hop on the I-90 toward Buffalo, start seeing a bit more, but nothing serious.  Then about 10 miles out from Buffalo, there's a sign that reads "Lake Effect snow ahead, reduce speed", and it starts to snow.  Not just snow, but sleet.  It's been a while since I've HEARD snow hitting the car, but this snow was downright noisy.  Not freezing rain, little white pellets (not hail either).  And traffic slows.  Good thing I have extra time!

But not really, although it gets worse and worse the closer I get to the city, and at one point I see a tractor trailer across the median, with the back tires of the trailer on one side of the median and the front tires of the tractor on the other side of the median, and not much underneath, and a lot of skid marks.  A bit further on, in the collectors lanes, there are two vehicles smashed into the guardrail, facing the wrong direction.  Traffic slows a bit more.

As I approach the city proper, the weather doesn't just clear up, it becomes almost dry.  Awesome!  The remainder of the trip is completely uneventful, and I have arrived to pick up Simba about half an hour early, and feeling like I've just had probably the best vacation ever.

Next blog post - interesting things seen on the road (that didn't make the daily post), and tips for making a road trip safe and enjoyable.  Home again - and planning the next one already.  Sigh.  

Driving through the mountains

Wow, it was a "bit brisk" this morning, as one of the other hotel guests said at breakfast.  About 5 C, which is the chilliest I've felt for a long time, considering that it was in the high teens when I left home on Dec. 24.  As I drive north, it's not going to get any warmer, I'm sure.  'Twill take a bit of getting used to.  Especially since I really didn't bring any winter clothing.  Good thing I'll be staying close to an outlet mall tonight!

Sooo.....  one last long drive, since tomorrow should only be about a four or five hour run.  Today looks to be about 7 hours, and since I also hope to get a few pics while driving through the mountain, I head out fairly early, before 9:30.  Not long after I hit the road, I see a car in the ditch off to the right - surrounded by yellow crime scene tape.  Yikes!  No cops around, so no worries.

A bit further, and I see an odd rock formation way ahead in the distance.  Look for a place to stop and take a photo, nothing around... wait... Aha!  Scenic outlook up ahead.  Pull over, and there's only one other vehicle, and that's a jeep parked there.  Weird, doesn't look like anyone is around.  Oh well, grab the camera and walk past jeep to get a shot - omg there's a guy sleeping in the jeep!  Well, at least he wasn't driving if he was that tired.  The whole back of the car is full to the roof with stuff, including his cowboy boots stuffed up against the back window.  I hope he's just sleeping - better not hang around too long in case he wakes up.  Grab the shot... (which I'll have to upload later when I have a decent wifi connection - again).

Next cool experience was in driving through Virginia, and there was a wall of mountain ahead of me.  I couldn't for the life of me figure out where the road went - it didn't appear to go up and over, and there was no discernible way of going around it.  As I went around a curve it became apparent - I was going through the mountain.  They had simply drilled a hole through the mountain, and that's where they put the road.  So, feeling a little Lord of the Rings - ish, I went through the mountain.  The song is wrong, she's not comin' around the mountain, she's comin' straight through!

Next up was West Virginia - wow those mountains are big, and gorgeous, and so dark.  Where the road has been blasted through, you can see that a lot of the rock is black, what's that about?  When I stop at the Welcome center to grab a coffee, there's a little gift shop.  Asking for the one thing I could buy that's truly West Virginia, the clerk suggests the little coal figurines - aha, the black rock is from coal!  Never occurred to me before, although it should have.

Not much farther along, I find myself driving across a huge bridge that appears to be floating in the sky that's how far down it seems the bottom is.  What the heck???  Did they just put a bridge from one mountain top to the next?  That's even weirder than tunneling through a whole mountain.  There's a sign on the other side for a scenic lookout - awesome, I need to see this.  And wow, there's my exercise for the day too, because they've built a staircase partway down the mountainside so that you can get a great view of the whole bridge.  There's a river way down at the bottom, I have no idea how far down it is, but there are tiny cars down there.

Suddenly I hear screeches from below on the other side of the gorge and see people in the river - whaaat???  It's like freezing out here and people are swimming?  Oh ya, it's New Year's Day, a polar bear plunge.  They jump in and race right back out again.

Another stop reveals stepped excavation to build the road.  This must have something to do with the geological formation in this area, I've never seen this before but it's easy to see the layers of different types of rock.  The sky is partly cloudy, and the patches of sun dance across the mountains creating really intriguing patterns.

The rest of the drive is mostly uneventful, although the scenery is quite interesting.  Coming around Pittsburgh at dusk reveals a ton of residential building at the top of each rise, ruining the vista.  Although I'm sure someone made a ton of money.

Arrive in Grove City to a temp of about freezing, so it's a good thing I'll have time to do a bit of shopping tomorrow, didn't bring enough warm clothing!  (Haven't needed it yet...)