Rambling (Free Inquiry)

The West Coast Trail (WCT) was built in 1907 to help the survivors of shipwrecks along this treacherous piece of coastline. This area is part of the so-called Graveyard of the Pacific, where unpredictable weather and dangerous coastal features have caused thousands of shipwrecks over the centuries. First Nations The WCT cuts through the traditional…

Before heading to Stockholm for my teaching practicum in April, I’ll be spending some time in the UK visiting friends and family, including nearly a week in the central Devon town of Tavistock. This little town lies on the edge of the Dartmoor, with its ancient stone circles and wild ponies. My focus while I’m…

One of the joys of backpacking is seeing the night sky away from light pollution. There are so many more stars visible and they seem so bright. We often lie on our backs watching for shooting stars, especially if we are backpacking in mid-August during the Perseids meteor shower. Apart from Orion’s Belt and the…

I love, love, love city walking, and miss living in London, where you never quite know what architectural wonder or street busker is going to meet you around the next corner, and cafes and bars spill out everywhere, inviting you in to relax for a while. I can’t wait to be back in Europe, where…

I will be in Stockholm for my 6-week practicum in the Spring and aim to get plenty of hiking in and around the city. This post will focus on day hikes from the city that can be reached by public transport. I’ll take a look at walking in Stockholm itself in a separate post. Swedes…

After a clear first day, last year’s WCT hike dissolved into drizzle overnight. At first it felt like no big deal. Our tents had held up well, apart from a build-up of condensation on the inside, and the rain stopped just long enough for us to make breakfast and pack up. We had decent rain…

Last year we hiked the West Coast Trail from Pachena Bay to Gordon River, known as southbound or SOBO. This year we are northbound or NOBO, so planning the route is a little different. The south section is significantly more technical than the north end of the trail, so we need to take our heavier…

I have been reading some enthusiastic reviews about using ChatGPT as a personal assistant to take over menu planning, grocery shopping lists, workout plans, etc. This idea appeals to me and so, given that I joined UVic’s CARSA gym this week, I decided to see if ChatGPT could help me put together a fitness plan…

A walk in nature walks the soul back home. Mary Davis Well, we lucked out and got spots on the West Coast Trail for my limited window this summer. I am pumped! We did it for the first time last year with our 11-year-old son. I loved it so much, I’d have turned around at…

I spent far too long on my Reflection blog post this first week, so am making a soft start to my Free Inquiry project! My inquiry will be based around backpacking to keep my rambling spirit nurtured during the Winter months, but I will develop the idea in next week’s post. Perhaps by then I’ll…