I was thinking this morning – I miss writing in my blog! and then I thought, is it that I miss writing in my blog?, or I am longing for the next adventure? and maybe both!
I started this blog in 2018 or 19 as part of my Social Media course that I was taking. I decided to do it on our cycle trip to the Netherlands as I knew I had to research and plan it, and what better way than to incorporate it into my school work! So about school work – I kind of miss it too! lol and that is shocking as when I finished (just before our cycle trip) I was so done!!! But Yay! I received my Diploma in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. It took me 7 years part-time to achieve this so darn right I am proud of it! The last 3 or 4 courses were difficult as they were all virtual during covid shut-down. I would have way sooner been in-person, as it is a much better learning style for me. I also was sad that they are not having an in-person graduation 🙁 They are having a virtual one next month in November, so it will be interesting to see what that is all about. I did provide them communication (of course I did!) that I was disappointed not be walking across that stage! They explained that during covid, and McMaster changing to on-line studies, they have a mass increase of long-distance/international learners, and so having a virtual graduation makes more sense to be inclusive to everyone. Yep – makes sense, as this isn’t just about me! lol. I proudly have my Diploma displayed on my wall in my home office, along side my Communications and Multimedia/Web Design and Devpt Diploma…..and now am browsing through the course offerings!
So what’s next? Well maybe both more cycle travel adventures, and maybe more school too!! Well more school yes, as I am working on my degree and I am not too far off now! I think maybe another 5 courses in Humanities at McMaster and I will have achieved my Degree! I wonder if I will earn it before I am 70! lol.
Wo what’s next for travel? There are so many trips I want to do – river cruise in Europe, Newfoundland, road trip in Western Canada, Italy, cycle more of Netherlands, road trip to the East Coast (see more of PEI), the Dutch islands, Portugal, Ireland……….is just the start of my list!
Cycle more of the Netherlands? Yes, when I came home my husband Bart said “on an e-bike” he would be interested in touring more of Netherlands with me on cycle! So I quickly registered that in my brain and will hold him to it!! haha. Our cousin who lives near Rotterdam, NL sent me a few ideas for that area. I have never been to Rotterdam yet but would like to. It is on the coast and South of Amsterdam. It was the worst bombed in WW2 so I think there is a lot of newer development there. That is probably why it wasn’t really appealing to me as I want to see old and history, but now I know that history is there as well. There are also many small towns near by that I want to see – like Delft and the Hague. So……not sure when we will do this cycle trip but we will! and also not sure if this is the location yet – we will have to research more. But if you are reading this and have anything to share on a great cycle location/trip opportunity for us let me know!!
So what is next for my blog? Hmm…..I think I will just keep up my blog as a place for me to write when I feel like writing. But I think I will keep it travel and holiday focused. I love to explore and travel, I love to take pictures, and I love to write about my adventures as it helps with building and maintaining the memories of these trips. We just got back from a 1 1/2 week camping trip to Algonquin. My first trip to Algonquin was when I was 18 and I fell in love with it! I have now been going back for 37 years! (lol you can now do the math!) I call Algonquin my second home. When I camp, I keep a journal and write in it every morning. I have about 6 or 7 full from all the years camping. They don’t go back to the very start, I think from 1996 onward. Too bad as I would love to have read my thoughts from the start in 1985. We often go back in my journals to read – what did we do, who was there, what hikes did we do that year, etc, and what other things were going on in the world and our life at that time.
Should you keep a travel journal? or a blog? Absolutely! I can’t tell you what to do 🙂 ……but I can encourage you to write your thoughts and experiences down somewhere. You and others will love looking back at them later.
Should you take lots of pictures? Absolutely! I can’t tell you what to do 🙂 …..but I can encourage you to take lots of photos as these are memories that will then last forever!
Every day since coming back from my sisters cycle trip (4 months ago now) I have a memory of something. Yesterday when I was in our garden looking at flowers, I thought of us cycling through the patch of so many yellow flowers and poppies! If I didn’t write things down or didn’t take pictures, would I still have these memories popping up? I think I would still have memories but not as many and not as vivid!
I encourage everyone to “write and snap!” and cycle!! Cheers!
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