Family, Friendship, Home Exchange, Travel, Vancouver Island, Via Francigena

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Meandering Toward the Francigena

Retirement Reflections
“All my bags are packed. I’m ready to go. “(Cue John Denver)

 

But first stop, Home Exchange in Victoria, BC…. (Unretouched view from our home exchange balcony.)
I was able to meet up with my best friend from High School, Jo-Anne, and her husband, Bill (who currently live in New Brunswick). It was a great catch-up and a wonderful way to celebrate almost 50 years of friendship!
Then off to Kelowna for a quick visit with family (featured in photo – my parents, and Richard’s sister, Sharon).

 

We also snuck in a climb up Knox Mountain. (Summit: 300 metres above the high water level of Okanagan Lake.)

Next stop, England to visit our youngest son, Creighton. After that – Italy, here we come, ready or not! Please stay tuned.

Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

78 thoughts on “Almost Wordless Wednesday: Meandering Toward the Francigena”

  3. Hi Donna, I recognize some of the sites in your photos:) I am very excited for you and Richard. I know you will have an amazing time. I look forward to hearing about your trip and seeing photos when you return. Have a fun, safe trip! Soon you will be “leavin’ on a jet plane” (I was raised on John Denver:) Erica

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    1. Thanks, Erica – Richard and I had agreed to that home exchange, and to meeting our friends from NB, prior to confirming the dates for England/Rome. Victoria was a whirlwind trip, but the home exchange was lovely and within walking distance to everyplace that we wished to go! You live in a gorgeous city!

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    1. Thanks, Cath – When is school out for you? When will you be in Tuscany? Richard and I would love to meet up with you if it’s possible (our plans are somewhat flexible). Richard can bring his “matching bag”! 🙂

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      1. Arrive on 15th June – there in Vico Pancellorum until 12th July. I certainly hope I can see you on your walk. I’ll drive by and bring you some water! Tell Richard the bag has been replaced !

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    1. Hi, Kathy – I’m so glad to hear that. I’ve been following a couple “live from the VF trail posts” right now. They have inspired me to try to send at least a couple of fragmented updates when I have wifi. The problem is that I asked people to smack me if I ever did this. Hopefully, most will forget….and not read this reply! 🙂

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  10. Now I have John Denver singing in my head! How exciting for you to be heading off on your next great adventure and with the added bonuses of old friends and children thrown in. Go You!! And I’ll be following vicariously along xxx

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  11. Oops, sorry about the John Denver thing!
    Even though Richard and I have done three Caminos before, they have all been in Spain – with a very different infrastructure. For this trip, we feel like we are leaping into the unknown – scary and exciting at the same time. (Hmmm, where have I read that recently?) 🙂

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  13. Chi va piano va lontano. He who goes slow goes far. I think I have the spelling correct. Have a great time and take care of yourselves. I am very keen to read anything you post during the VF but leave the stories in full until you get home. So you don’t stress yourself out posting. In bocca del lupo and enjoy. Louise
    PS I LOVE the comments about the socks.

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  14. Ahh, my socks! The Three Bears have nothing on me! I began with an ankle-length pair of smartwools. They seemed fine but were perhaps TOO THIN. I then ordered online (bad idea for socks), and the pair seemed fine but were maybe TOO THICK and TOO TIGHT. So I ordered online again (ya, I know, some people never learn). That pair was great but perhaps TOO HEAVY. So I went with a small, light pair that were guaranteed to never allow blisters. That was not true and TOO MUCH HYPE. So now I’m back to my original smartwools and a pair of Injini Hiking Socks + liner. I am hoping that they will be JUST RIGHT! 🙂

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  15. The weather in England is good at the momment. You might not need a raincoat. I wish I could say the same about the politics. I am definitely following along.

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    1. Thanks, Anne – According to the weather forecast, Lincoln is supposed to get rain for 4 of the 5 days that we will be there. If that is the end of our rain on this trip, we will be very happy with that! 🙂

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  16. All good wishes Donna and Richard! May the socks help your feet soar- I’m also trying out various socks for my recent purchase of hiking boots. It’s a struggle to find the RIGHT pair. Have fun, go safely!

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    1. Hi, Molly – It is amazing how some dreams/schemes get set into motion, while others change, dissolve or lay waiting. Several times in the past year, both Richard and I believed that this particular dream was dead. Somehow, it got resuscitated. We are so glad that it did!

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  26. So glad you’re off … on your wonderful journeys. Good views in Victoria … and how lovely to see your parents and Richard’s sister … while the hike up and beautiful views over the Okanagan lake … oh and how much fun you’ll have with your youngest up in Lincoln – hope the weather is kind. So looking forward to reading your posts about the Pilgrimage trail in Italy … cheers Hilary

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  28. Thanks, Marty – I loved seeing the “Hipyards” from our balcony…and thought that they would make a great photo. Next time, I will use a tripod (difficult to hold a camera steady over a balcony when fear of heights starts clicking in).

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  32. Have a fantastic adventure and hike, Donna and Richard!! BTW, on my “goodbye” party in 2003, when I left Belgium for what was to become “forever”, my invitations had the “I’m leaving… on a jet plane…” printed on them. Yes, in English, and yes, of the same song. 🙂

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  33. Ya, I thought someone might mention this. As my writing is always better when describing the present moment, my current plan is to send at least a couple of ‘Fragments from the Francigena’ – even if it is just the odd photo here and there. Of course, this is all ‘internet willing’! 🙂

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  34. I am sure you are having a great time. Nothing like catching up with a friend of 50 years! I can imagine what it means!
    – Pradeep | bpradeepnair.blogspot.com

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  38. Love the photos, Donna.
    Thoroughly enjoy your trip…and will anxiously await more photos and accounts of what you do and see…

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  39. Your post got lost among my sea of emails… and now you are across the pond already. Have a wonderful time, be safe, keep your feet happy, and take lots of pictures (and if you post now and then, I promise I won’t smack you 🙂 ).

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    1. Hi, Janis – Thank you for not smacking me. I will try to sneak in some posts as I know I won’t do it when I am back. Fingers crossed that I can make this happen. I am totally useless with my phone!

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