Well, today brings an end to my UK trip. Thanks for joining me on this epic journey through my posts, pics, and videos. I’ve had time as I flew over the Atlantic, and then during my detour from Calgary to Edmonton via Vancouver (thanks to a late arrival in Calgary and an early closed gate, I got an extra flight added to my itinerary at no additional cost…. yay for me) to reflect on the past 15 days. It’s been a trip with lots of ups and a few downs.
When the pandemic started and we were all staying indoors to keep everyone safe, I signed up for a virtual challenge app. The premise: track any distance you move your body and it plots you along a route virtually. I could see progress made, where I was at any time along the route, and read up on points of interest along the way when I hit certain milestones. So, the perfect outlet for a person who only feels centered and whole after a daily walk (preferably outside but a treadmill works too) but also a person with a serious case of Wanderlust. While I was home during the pandemic, I had the ability to explore the world. I climbed Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro. I walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain and the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland. I strolled through Athens, London, New York City, Paris, Rome, Venice, and Vienna. And I walked Coast to Coast England along Hadrian’s Wall. It was this walk that captivated me. At first I thought, cool, I’ll walk across England. And then the milestones were mentioning Hadrian’s Wall. So I looked into it and realized this was a real walk, a real National Trail. And I was hooked! I wanted to do this for real once the pandemic ended, you know, in a few months. But it took a lot longer for the pandemic to end, and for me to feel I could safely travel while having the full experience I dreamed of.
So I started planning. I read every blog post I could about walking Hadrian’s Wall, I bought guide books, I watched YouTube videos. And I started making my plan. Now, I love to travel but I also love to plan trips. I love doing research, to find those gems that could elevate a trip. And I love being prepared so I can fully embrace my time away, knowing that I’ve already got a plan so I’m not spending time trying to figure things out when I could already be doing all the things.
Along the way my friend Tania invited herself on the walk. I love when friends do this, because it means they want to share an experience with me and that’s awesome! Then her partner Josh invited himself too. So we were now a trio set on walking across England. In November 2022, we put the plan in motion and booked our accommodations. As you can imagine, some of the small villages and towns along the trail don’t have massive hotels or multiple accommodation options so we wanted to ensure we got rooms where and when we needed them. At this point, we had a concrete plan with dates. Then, we just had to prepare the rest. Book flights. Get gear for a multi-day hike. Research, plan, and get ready to execute.
Then the time came to depart for the UK and put the plan into motion. How quickly it started to unravel. As soon as I landed in London, I found out Tania and Josh couldn’t join me for the walk. As devastated as I was, on a train to Manchester, I had to come up with Plan B. I was now doing Hadrian’s Wall by myself. I have solo traveled many times in my life, so this didn’t scare me. I just had to wake up those unique travel muscles. Traveling alone is an empowering and life altering experience, and one that I think everyone should try at some point in their life, even if it’s just for a weekend. But it has it’s own challenges that you can’t prepare for: loneliness and a bit of added stress because everything falls to you and you alone. But worth it. I’ve learned to combat these things by talking to anyone I bump into and staying connected with home. And these solo experiences have given me strength and confidence.
So for 10 days, I explored England on my own, in a very unique way. I started by going to the Peak District, a true gem in the middle of England. I was captivated and so in love with the scenery. It wasn’t crawling with tourists but instead felt like a secret that I was granted access to. The Stanage Edge walk was one of my all-time favourites and I’ll forever be grateful I had the opportunity to experience the beauty and wonder it affords those brave enough to venture outside of the main cities.
Hadrian’s Wall. How do I sum up such a monumental experience? It was everything that I hoped it would be while also being everything I hadn’t planned for. How do you plan for this walk? Honestly, I don’t think you fully can. To me, it felt like it will be a unique experience for each person that ventures onto the trail. My experience had amazing highs and crushing lows. And was brought to a premature end by the smallest of problems.
Blisters. I’d never had a blister before but I did everything I could to prevent them. Well, they can still get you, and very quickly get bad enough you can’t continue. I think I made the right call when I did, to prevent full on infection (it was pretty close there). Thankfully, I’m coming home with all my toes.
Sycamore Gap. If you watched the videos of that final day on the trail, or read my post, you saw the complete devastation on my face and in my heart. Even now, it crushes me to think about that beautiful, iconic tree being murdered while I slept. The landscape and the people of the Northeast as well as any traveler to this region will be forever changed by this moment in time. A moment I witnessed as it unfolded.
But the 4 days that preceded this loss were extraordinary and some of the most challenging I’ve experienced. I got to see true English countryside at it’s best. The stunning West Coast and its beautiful beaches and picturesque towns. The rolling and fertile hills covered with cows and sheep (and the ability to get really close), with such stunning vistas that it brings you to tears. Into the craggy and barren hills of Northumberland, that take your breathe away both from the hours of climbing but also the powerful views you get at the top of a rocky cliff, looking out for miles, completely alone, just a speck in the universe. Physically, I was challenged each day but I felt strong and resilient and so damn proud of myself for covering some of the most difficult terrain in England. Alone. This body, though it may be robustly built, got me through it all. Mentally, it was challenging to keep going through constant aches and pain, often with little sleep. This caused me to experience my full range of emotions, every single day. But I feel it’s healthy to have a good cry each day, so I was for sure the healthiest hiker on the trail. But overall, it was a challenge I wasn’t prepared for but that I’m so happy I did. I walked Hadrian’s Wall, specifically the most physically challenging sections but also the most scenic and iconic.
With the blisters and the loss of Sycamore Gap, my decision to end my walk after 68 kilometers or 43 miles was the right one. But it forced me to come up with Plan C. What was I going to do with those 5 days that deviated from my original plan? Well, I think the plan I came up with gave me more amazing moments that were unexpected but absolutely delightful.
If I had stuck to Plan B, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to explore York, and stumble onto one of the cutest and most picturesque towns in Northeast England. Or I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to visit Alnwick Castle and learn to fly a broomstick. And I wouldn’t have had the time to explore Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, the parts away from the trail. All of these experiences made my trip special, so I’m grateful for how things turned out.
I’m also grateful that I did have some opportunities with Tania and Josh. At least some of Plan A was still completed, and we got to experience the fruits of all that planning! Scotland was excellent and so full of fun and joy (honestly, hairy coos can make any trip extraordinary).
But most of all, I’m grateful for my Mom and Dad. The absolute best cheerleaders and supporters a girl could ask for. They have always allowed me the freedom to explore and have these amazing opportunities while also being supportive and encouraging when I need that boost. They got my daily calls when I had just finished my walk and was at absolutely 0% and needed that boost to recharge and do it all again the next day. They also got the calls when I was experiencing something spectacular and I wanted them to be a part of it. They are the best people I know and I love them every moment of every day, when I’m at home and when I’m somewhere else in the world.
So now I fly home, tired, sore and with a pair of abused but very much loved feet, with so many amazing memories, ready to plan that next adventure. The only question is, where to next?
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The good thing about this detour to Vancouver..... it's forcing me to stay awake! It's almost midnight in the UK and I desperately want to sleep.... but not until I get home!
Also, I was just thinking this, the theme of the UK trip was Coast to Coast. So maybe Westjet just really wanted me to travel Coast to Coast Canada before heading home. How thoughtful, right!
