Shanghai - Sydney - Brisbane 🇦🇺

 As I land ‘home’ to Brisbane (with a plane load of Olympians), 53 hrs after boarding my bus in Paris 11.30pm Sunday night, I'm wondering how long it will take to feel like home again? It's difficult to grasp that it's been 14 months since I departed Brisbane, fresh out of a moonboot after breaking my leg and heading off to adventures that I really hoped I could make happen and so many that materialised over the course of time. A dream that I had had for nearly 5 years and sacrificed, made choices and changes to put into action. I've become accustomed to a nomadic lifestyle and the incredible feeling of freedom, self sufficiency with everything i needed strapped to my bike, my new travelling home. My comfort came from being in the saddle and knowing exactly what was in each bag, cycling through new countries or regions, all senses on alert as I drank in the new smells, sounds, accents and language, try to decipher the signage, work out the local supermarket chains, locate water refills, currency and what's a fair price, locate campgrounds, remember to say bon jour instead of guten Tag, the sense of achievement when hills conquered, countries cycled across, navigation through busy city areas, or on and off public transport, camp set up in less than 20 mins, a healthy dinner cooked, negotiating to charge Powerbank at nearby caravans, walking dogs in new suburbs, and invariably answering the perplexed question - “are you by yourself?” And responding to the huge range of responses following that. 

 

The rewarding complexity of cycle route planning, locating campsites, or working out the logistics of relocating myself to various locations for desired events and then finding ways to get there, researching multiple airlines, trains, busses and ferries, houses sits or workaways, intimately managing a budget with daily spend choices, celebrating resourcefulness wins, being planned to some extent but incredibly flexible to take local advice or pivot when circumstances called for it.

Part of me is yearning a little for predictability, for the warmth and accessibility of my family and cat, to finish creating my new home environment in my townhouse I haven't had a chance to finish setting up due to breaking my leg before I left, to have a work family again and receive an income but then the scales are heavily weighted with a desire for adventure, to experience the new, meeting people from all cultures, the mental stimulation of daily logistics versus predictability, volunteering, the excitement of being the interesting foreign person with an Aussie flag and jersey in a foreign land, with the different accent that inspired curiosity and so many spontaneous concersations.. and now to blend in and be the norm, how will that be?

I'm beyond grateful for my good health (had 1/2 day of a stomach bug and the occasional sniffle in 14 months), for my 55yr old body coping with hours of riding, hiking, lugging bags, walking dogs, climbing thousands of stairs, temperature changes, different foods and water (always drank local water). I have felt God's blessing in providing people at just the right time when I have needed practical support or encouragement, whether a reach out electronically from home or a random stranger to help when I've needed it. 

I've had the pleasure of meeting up with friends (new and old) and acquaintances to spend a few hours or a day or a couple of weeks of travel. I've made new friends across a wide range of countries, experienced wonderful hospitality from staying on strangers couches, to staying with people I met on planes, the WW1 battlefield, warm showers hosts, Trusted housesit home owners, and at volunteering opportunities where I made new connections. I look forward to returning these favours and have the opportunity to host in return over the coming years

The line from a song “wherever I lay my hat, that's my home” comes to mind. I've slept on so many types of beds, sleep mats, couches, the floor, square, long skinny, feather, foam or blow up pillows or pillow substitutes sich as folded towels, rolled up clothes as well as beautiful guest bedrooms in housesit homes. I've shivered in my tent wearing as many clothes as I could, inside my sleeping bag and sleep sheet with my silver emergency blanked under my sleep mat and then sweltered in stuffy Hostel rooms on a 38 degree day. One of the benefits of cycling or hiking daily is that you are ready for bed when the head hits the pillow and so I'm usually asleep within minutes and have found a pair of ear plugs a handy accessory for noisy campgrounds, hostels in a party zone or inner city locations with sirens at night. Solo travel means the onus is on you to create the environment you want to be in. Be friendly and usually someone responds, be silent and quiet and you usually get a night to yourself. 

People are the same all over the world and 99% are good. There are grumpy ones, unhelpful and then friendly, smiling, do anything for you types. I have been the beneficiary of so much kindness 😊

A journey like this inevitably makes you grow and I have given myself permission to dream big and choose my adventure and solo travel allows you to fully do this. I've had the time to process past loss, let go of negative comments from the past about my personality and embrace my uniqueness that has allowed me to pull off this adventure. To be reassured that my friendly can do attitude, adaptability and resourcefulness have meant that I could curate an experience where those behaviour traits were appreciated and were integral to success. Ive indulged my interests in nature, flowers, forests and mountains, hiking, history, art, architecture, talking with people, being curious.

I've had time to think about priorities, how I spend my time, and who I want to spend it with and will inevitably make some changes. I had ceased volunteering since pandemic restrictions and hadn't gotten back into it after and aim to thoughtfully do so again. I've appreciated those from home who have made the effort to connect with me while away or respond to my connection and it has been valued, often coming at times when I've felt low or exhausted and a little ping on my phone has given me the boost I've needed. Never under estimate the power a reach out can have to another😊

So, to the next chapter in the life of Tiffany. A little more grounded and home based for a while, immersed in family responsibilities, work and joys of upcoming weddings too. I want to thank you for your generosity in allowing me to share daily. I'm going to enjoy the FB memories over the coming years 😊

London 🇬🇧 - Shanghai 🇨🇳. 7.5km 🚶‍♀️

The overnight trip from Paris on the bus included the ferry from Calais to Dover.  We arrived at the Calais customs area around 3.30am and had to get off the bus and collect our luggage from.under the bus and take it with us.  Not a trolley in sight and my bike bag is heavy, plus my bag of panniers and a hand luggage bag.  John, the hilarious tipsy broad mumbly Irishman with a stutter (try deciphering his conversation 😂) came to my aid helping with my pannier bags.  Once my bags were scanned,  a customs guy took me for a quick shortcut with the bike straight back on the bus before returning to go through the passport control queue.  How kind 😊

The ferry ride allowed me to phone home, have a short nap on the carpeted floor and then watch the sunrise as we arrived at the white cliffs of Dover.

Back on the bus and arrived into London Victoria station.  I took my bags to short term storage and met with friend Stephanie ( the apartment I had been housesitting in Paris) who amazingly was going to be there at the same time.  Half an hour chat and a fruit scone and I waved her off.

I had 3 hours to spend either at Gatwick airport early, or walking around London.  Off I went and did a circuit of some favourite iconic sights such as Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Little Ben and Big Ben, Pall Mall, Buckingham Palace. 
Amazingly I came across the horse guards looking regal in their uniform and the band marching from the Palace 😊. The gardens are pretty in flower and it was already 30 degrees and clear blue skies.

Then on the bus to Gatwick.
My bike and bag checked in and off I go.  First flight to Shanghai is 11.5hrs and I'm pretty tired as had less than half hours sleep.

A lovely farewell to London a city I've had the pleasure of visiting a few times 😊

Another step closer to family 😊

Paris 🇫🇷 - London 🇬🇧

What a finale to an incredible trip (understatement right there).

Today I headed off early on my bike to watch the Women's marathon from the Louvre. I had pictured my photos with the pyramid in the background, plus an opportunity to run across the park and see them shortly thereafter. Well, it seems that spot got taken by the media 😂

We still had an amazing view of these women who have worked so hard to compete.

As soon as they passed, a Parisian cyclist who was standing beside me and I zoomed off to follow them for a bit. Was hard to keep up with them with footpaths crowded but a fun exercise till they went down into a tunnel. I looped back later to watch them at the 40km feed zone with Eiffel Tower views.

I spent the rest of the day cycling the sights of Paris, enjoying the stunning city that has done an exceptional job at creating a truly memorable atmosphere. So proud to be an Aussie and have loved seeing all nation's fans wearing their country colours with pride.  

I had a last pastry and a beautiful flower gelati with a macaron on top that I had been eyeing off. I sat in my favourite square with 4 beautiful fountains.

Back to pack down my bike and gear, clean the apartment and head off for the very long trip home. My dad is not well and so heading back a bit earlier and getting a seat on transport from Paris not easy. I'm on a 9hr overnight bus trip to London (11.45pm depart) and then to the airport to head home, back Wednesday night. I have lots of time to pen my trip reflection, but finishing with the Olympics has been a fitting celebration to a truly Gold medal trip. 

 Now time to focus on family in person 🙏