April Fool?

April Fool, I hope not. I am about to set out on an adventure that I have been anticipating for three years now. Just ask my friends, they are likely very tired of hearing about it and must be muttering "well go already".
One day after DH's birthday, he and I will take a BC Ferry to Richmond where we will stay overnight. The next morning I fly to Gatwick where I will reconnect with my friend C. She and I met in 2014 while hiking with a wonderful English company called Walking Women. I recommend it highly. Five years ago we were walking a route called Offa's Dyke. It is a two week journey, C completed both weeks, my friend S and I had other plans and had only booked for the first week. C shares my birth year and month and is a lovely soul who was going through a major life event at the time. I admired her positive attitude and great sense of humour. Last May she came and paid us a visit in British Columbia. We did some local hiking, trundled off to both Tofino and to Whistler for a few days each and she also did a four day tour of the Rockies. C has other interests as well, she is a very accomplished and knowledgeable gardener and a doting grandmother. She gets out for many hikes with her local hiking group. I look forward to spending the last weekend in March with her, discovering her part of the world in the lovely New Forest area.
My entire journey will take me  from home for 3 months. I hope you will follow along. There are many things which I shall miss during that time. In alpha order (I don't want to offend anyone!) I will miss my city, my dog, my friends, my wee garden, my husband,my Mom, my sons, my refrigerator filled with all my favourite foods, my sewing room and sewing projects, my slippers. You see, all the possessions that I will require for the first 2 months are in a small backpack and it will be important to keep the weight down. This will be a test for me since I am a notoriously bad packer. I have always admired my Mom's packing skills, she goes on vacation with merely a small suitcase and she always looks so well put together. Unfortunately she definitely did not share those particular genes or skills with me.

my city, Victoria, BC

DH and Chip

Anyways, yes there are always many things one misses while away from home, on the flip side there are many new wonderful experiences to be had while travelling. I shall miss those once I am back home. 

The last few weeks prior to departure are  disappearing very quickly, filled with training and finishing off quilt projects as well as the everyday tasks. I wear my backpack as often as possible to habituate my feet and my body to the added weight.