Journey’s End and What’s Next

 “A man travels the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.”

George Moore

 

Back on Land

 
Our first night back on land was quiet and comfortable, but we both clearly missed the gentle vibration of the ship’s engines and the motion of the sea.  

Ironically, after voyaging to Norway and the Arctic to see the northern lights, there was an unprecedented solar storm last night.  The effects of which meant that the aurora could be seen as far south as Florida and Texas, across most of Canada and almost all of Europe throughout the evening, giving way to spectacular displays.

Such is the nature of our luck - though we do not feel the lesser for having set off on Ambience, for the opportunity to visit Norway or for voyaging to the Arctic Circle. New experiences are always worth the effort.   To that end, it matters little, at least to us, that we have covered the costs of going to Norway to see the northern lights, even if those same lights were there to be seen by most of the northern hemisphere a day later -the experience was incomparable and utterly worth it.

We are fully aware of the blessings during this adventure, ranging from an incredible voyage to having great weather to enjoying a terrific window of solar activity en route.
 

Homeward Bound

 
After a day’s rest subsequent to disembarking Ambience, we endured a long flight back to Toronto, Canada, where we then boarded Via Rail’s transcontinental rail service, the Canadian, which we would travel on for another 4-5 days to return to Vancouver.   Once home, we still have a lot of life decisions to make before next spring. 

 

For the moment, we are focused on getting home, beginning our winter work contracts, and sharing many of the adventures that we have enjoyed over the last two years that we have yet to post. 

 
When back home, I have signed up to take several of the online ORCA training courses to help in promoting whale conservation, citizen science engagement, and ship strike mitigation – with the hopes of extending such a program to Canada!
 

What’s Next?

 
With the days unfolding quicker and quicker in our world and some of the biggest hikes and journeys of our lives now completed, the natural question is – What’s Next?
 
Well, the fact is that part of this trip back to the UK and voyage to Norway have been to see and visit areas that we have an interest in exploring in the coming year.

 
This includes several of the pilgrimage and saints routes in the UK, such as the North Downs Way, the St. James Way in the UK, and other regional pilgrimage routes such as St. Cuthbert’s Way and St. Magnus’ Way. 
 
In addition to these, we have our eyes set on several of the longer trails in northern Europe, such as Norway’s St. Olav’s Way and Sweden’s Kungsleden.
 
But each of these is another story for another time.
 
Until then, whether on rail, by sail or on the trail....see you out there!
 

“One journey hands the compass to the next.”

RCGS Fellow Dr. Sonya Richmond, upon completing the Trans Canada Trail