adventure

Adventure Awaits Us All

View_through_the_window_of_a_plane_during_sunset

View_through_the_window_of_a_plane_during_sunset

The first flight I remember was when I was seven years old. We were heading back to Bermuda, my first home. I will never forget seeing the world below me get smaller and smaller until we were above the clouds, and all you could see for forever were mountains of white, gray & purple. I used to dream about what it would feel like to be out among them, bouncing around, floating, having my own kingdom in the clouds. Turns out my imagination is the only place where I can actually do that....

The next trip I would take (I was eleven) would be again, to Bermuda. This time I was alone, meeting my Dad over there. It was the only trip we would take (alone) together, and I hold those memories near and dear.   Whenever I smell gas (petrol) I think of my Dad, either on the back of a moped leaning in, or snugged up tight on the back of the ski-doo out in the wild snowy fields of Prince Edward County. 

Travel and Adventure started at an early age, perhaps already in my soul from the start, but thankfully, my parents gave me many an opportunity to do so,  I still Love exploring various parts of the world. The people you meet, the places you see, the scents, the sounds... It really is an incredible feeling; sometimes stupendous, sometimes humbling but always life changing.

As_seen_from_the_top_of_Stockhorn

As_seen_from_the_top_of_Stockhorn

As a touring musician, I have been given the opportunity to play in and feel the vibe of some pretty marvelous spots. Being able to get to far off places with guitar in hand, is awesome and (I must say) pretty addictive. There's something about the connected-ness of it all, meeting folks with similar mindsets, soul wishes and more. That "Hunt for life, for life" I have spoken of before just keeps on playing....

There are people who would rather stay home. I too am one of them at times, there is a time for everything, but for the folks out there who wish upon a star to go somewhere different, to see something, to feel something new, I encourage it TEN FOLD. There are many ways to do it if money is the largest worry. I am lucky because I have music to pave the way, so I know with that skill, it makes things a little easier, but the world is so much bigger (AND SMALLER) than I ever thought. People will always help you along the way, from a bite to eat to a hostel/camp-ground recommendation, to a smile, you will never be alone and such connected-ness helps to dwindle fear.

Funky_door_in_Sweden

Funky_door_in_Sweden

You just never know what kind of magic awaits or what kind of food or what kind of splendid architecture! Visions of wonder and beauty imprinted on your minds eye forever...

A_weaved_basket_gnome_house_on_Lasqueti_Island

A_weaved_basket_gnome_house_on_Lasqueti_Island

The friends you can make! I asked my Grandfather, nearing the end of his 95years, what he thought the most important thing was, his gift of advice to me... He said you can never have too many friends. He and his wife (of nearly 65years) traveled across the world from Quebec to New Zealand when they were in their eighties. Amazing. And so far he has been right. There are many guest rooms, couches and back yards that we are privvy to, just because we went out there in search of travel adventure. Every person I have ever met started out as a stranger, so there's that....

Strangers_on__ferry_becoming_friends

Strangers_on__ferry_becoming_friends

One day, I too would like to get down to New Zealand and Australia. I suppose one has to reach far and wide to get where they need to go. In the meantime, home is also a valuable place to be and a much needed sanctuary. However that search to find out about other people's lives, taste food from the soils of far away, dream up and off into clouds above new scenery, laugh together under a different set of stars, sitting round a campfire smelling of peat, or the view from a mountain village or the scenery of an old seaside town... Ahhhh so very fulfilling and wondrous indeed! The things I don't know that I yearn to know, through travel....

An_Inukshuk_over_looking_a_vast_ocean

An_Inukshuk_over_looking_a_vast_ocean

Home is where the heart is.

Travel In Time

Travel has always been something that I have longed to do. When I was seven years old, we (my family; Mum, Dad, brother and I) flew back to Bermuda. My brother and I were both born there, but I returned to Canada when I was around four years old, which leaves a lot to be imagined and much less to be remembered. That flight back to my first home felt like my first time in an airplane; the feel of the smooth seat covers, the glide of the window shades; up, down, up, down, the neatly bundled airline branded silver cutlery, the tidy meal tray, the metal/canvas/bizarre liquid smell of the plane, the discovery of how to balance ear pressure with a simple yawn, and the view! The view out the window, seeing the world from above; the tiny cars, the plots of land, the lakes, the bizarrely beautiful cloud formations....

Fraser_River_and_British_Columbia_from_above

Fraser_River_and_British_Columbia_from_above

I have always wondered, what is it that makes people want to stay in one place? MONEY problems aside (because there is always a way to get what you want i.e Cigarettes and alcohol come to mind.. where there is a will, there is a way!) I am guessing the main reason people tend to 'stay put' is fear. Fear of the new, fear of change and fear of the unknown. You would be surprised at how YOU you still are in other countries. You do learn new things (language, geography) meet new people (keep in mind there are all kinds everywhere; energy stealers, bartenders, constructions workers, writers, dancers, dunces, artists, arses, buskers, bakers, jokers, joggers, liars, looters, snobs and stars: just like at home!! You will be introduced to some local culinary deliciousness', you will be in awe of new (and very old) architecture and you'll feel SOMEwhat different in a new country but that is likely due to the THRILL of being somewhere new and far away from home. To be sure, however, you will always be YOU, wherever you may be.

Look_Ma_it's_me_being_me_on_Georgian_bay

Look_Ma_it's_me_being_me_on_Georgian_bay

People who don't tend to travel, romanticize travel. Folks tell me how they long to see the Louvre, or the dreamy Eiffel Tower (neither of which I have seen, yet) I hear about all these fantastic fantasies of wine-tasting in the South of France, or inhaling the salty beach air of the Bahamas (also things I have yet to do.) There are an incredibly and over-whelming amount of destinations out there to discover. You can not know the feeling of walking the length of the Berlin wall in the rain or the enormous orchestra of sound from tree frogs at night in the tropics, or the taste of freshly caught Digby scallops pan-fried in butter, or the feel of the slippery rocks of the Giant's Causeway underfoot, or the immense magic behind the walls of a an eight hundred year old castle, or that satisfaction of seeing an entire train shooting across the fields of the Canadian prairies. You will, most definitely FEEL a great many things when you leave the comfort of your own home, but least of all fear. And, if you are lucky, those romantic notions you dream up might actually be real, somewhere, out there.

Me_and_a_massively_huge_Douglas_Fir_in_Cathedral_Grove

Me_and_a_massively_huge_Douglas_Fir_in_Cathedral_Grove

On the Verge of 2016

What have you done in the past year? Seemingly many are looking at their year, questioning themselves if they have done enough, done well, done better, etc, etc. Have no regrets though, regrets are just things you haven't done yet! At any time you can shape life in whatever way you would like. Yes, you will be thrown a "curve ball" -something that is unexpected, surprising or disruptive-  from time to time, but you can maneuver around it or take it and run! Life is YOURS, and what a wonder it is. Some days are DIP days, but there is so much out there to give you hope, to give you inspiration, to give you joy. DIP days are inevitable, there is so much pain, so much ignorance, so much emptiness, how could we not suffer from time to time? But look at THIS! I came across some Nature Magic the other day and discovering something beautiful and new always puts a smile on my face.

Wisps_of_ice_wrapped_around_a_branch

Wisps_of_ice_wrapped_around_a_branch

Nature's_wonder_in_ice_art_form

Nature's_wonder_in_ice_art_form

Lovely_frozen_fibers_of_water_wrap_around_a_branch

Lovely_frozen_fibers_of_water_wrap_around_a_branch

Fascinating, aren't they? All of these shots, were taken with an Iphone4. I am amazed at how great they turned out, but this is nature folks, and FREE entertainment, all you have to do is venture outside into the woods. Hoping to find out what these are, and how they are made, I went on over to Wikipedia and found "Hair Ice." Certainly I had never seen anything like it, but there you go, learning something new every day.  Mostly,  I try to learn a new word every day. My husband comes from Switzerland and they speak Swiss-German. If you speak German, you will not understand Schweizer Deutsch. Actually, some Swiss folks can't even understand what their Swiss German speaking neighbours are saying because of the different dialects. It sure gets confusing! Yesterday, I learned a new word, "Abenteuer"... which is actually the same in Hoch Deutsch or High German. Sometimes they do use the same words.

Mount_Pilatus_on_Lake_Luzern_in_sunshine

Mount_Pilatus_on_Lake_Luzern_in_sunshine

  Switzerland is pretty beautiful but so is Canada. I think the best thing I did in 2015 was to tour across Canada in the Summer. We drove from Wakefield, Quebec to Vancouver, Island and back. I could (and SHOULD) dedicate an entire blog about that journey, there are so many photos and memories to share! I will never forget that epic Abenteur!! I toured my newest record "Chameleon" over the course of eight weeks. It was pretty incredible, and every kilometer was driven in a 1997 Toyota Tercel. We call her "White Pearl" or "Perla" for short. If one this is for sure, you can do it too. There are inexpensive ways to make it happen, too. When we weren't "put up* by a venue, we pitched a tent. The costs vary, but are anywhere between 18$-30$ a night. So. Totally. Worth. It!!! Pork chops over an open fire and cards by candle-light... ahhh... the memories.

Lindsay_and_Doug_in_Catherdral_Grove

Lindsay_and_Doug_in_Catherdral_Grove

Lately, I have taken to PODCASTING. I try to post one or two a week. Here is my latest one, should you like a LISTEN??

I wonder what 2016 will bring?? Let's make it awesome!!! 

Happy New Year,

Love, Lindsay xoxo