Bridge the Travel Gap

Blog

Last Week in England!

‘Inspiration comes to us slowly and quietly… prime it with a little solitude.’ – Brenda Ueland

I’m sitting at the new terminal 5 at Heathrow waiting to drop our bags off.  Soon I will be on the big plane to start the longer haul flights.

First it’s Vancouver, Canada – my home town. I’ll let you know next week, on the blog, how my first week back went, but, for now, my last week in the UK.  I met up with John, again, in Hove at a friends place.  It was odd to be in the old neighbourhood, but not our home.  It was recognisable, but a little out of place.

My trusty stead

My old bike which has moved onto it’s new owner.

Still, this time was a God-send to tie a few loose ends with final bills and other such stuff.  We were even able to have some fresh vegetables from the garden – lovely!  The weather has been good and I managed to meet up with many friends and say good-bye.

This included a stellar breakfast with my walking ladies, seeing a movie – ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (highly recommended), BBQ,

BBQ

BBQ with Friends

Pub Quiz (where we won when John got the exact date of the last public hanging in the UK) and ending with High Tea at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne with some lady friends.

High Tea

High Tea at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne

Also, this week, saw us move to another friends place, in Pevensey Bay, to sit back and relax before our big adventure.  If you ever get there, do the Pub Quiz at the Castle Inn – good fun, good food, good quiz and all for £1.

Pub Quiz Winners

Pub Quiz Winners

I feel raring and ready to start this first leg and content that all the loose ends are tied and all’s well that end’s well.

Do you have any Shakespearean quotes that you love?

Debx

Facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram
Debbie Bridge Europe, Travel, United Kingdom No Comments

How much does our 342 day RTW cost?

Airfare and Travel Insurance Costs

One of the common topics on travel blogs is how much does it cost. Therefore I am going to keep a cost of our RTW trip. The airfare is the big one-off cost. Our trip begins in London with the first flight next week to Vancouver. We then overland through Canada and the USA to LA with a cruise thrown in where we sail for a week in the Caribbean. From LA we fly to Sydney for a few days. From Sydney to Auckland and then overland to Wellington. Then we fly to Melbourne and on to Hobart. We overland to Launceston and return to Melbourne. After a week in Melbourne we fly to Singapore and overland to Delhi. Then the final leg to Dubai and home to the UK.

We choose a Qantas ticket which code shares with BA and Emirates. The ticket allows us up to 46 kilo of luggage each which we will need for the first leg after that we will cut our luggage down to below 20 kilo each. We booked the ticket through Trailfinders and it cost £4028 or

US$6,800
NZ$8,000
C$7,429

We also booked our travel insurance through Trailfinders for £1110 or

US$1,870
NZ$2,200
C$2,028

We could probably have got cheaper travel insurance although I found the devil was in the detail. Travel Nomads was cheaper but after reading the small print and finding out that worldwide did not cover India we went with Trailfinders. Who knew India was not part of the world! I did ring Travel Nomads and they assured me India was included but the written policy said it was not. The policy we have allows for a plethora of activities including horse riding, tubing to something called Via Ferrata which is a protected climbing route.

Daily Budget

I thought it would be good to put down a daily figure for the 342 days. This is a guesstimate which is probably underestimating the costs. The daily budget bearing in mind South East Asia and India will be at a lower cost is £90 at 342 days = £30,780 or

US$150 at 342 days = $51,300
NZ$180 at 342 days = $61,560
C$165 at 342 days = $56,430

On the first overland leg we are travelling in Debbie’s parents RV and I have only a rough idea of what the cost of gas, accommodation, day trips, adventures and food will cost but time will tell. In Australia and New Zealand we will be staying hopefully with friends and relatives to keep down costs. For other accommodation we will use AIRBNB, Agoda, hotel.com and hostel.com as well as a few other booking sites. In regard to meals and food we plan to eat in a lot on the first legs and in Asia to eat out. Transport overland will be on trains, flights, buses and whatever is available.

What will be the final total of our RTW adventure?

If and that is a big if we keep to the budget the total cost for trip including airfare and travel insurance will be £35,918 or for 342 days at £105 per day. This breaks down to:

US$ 60,488 or for 342 days = $177 per day.
NZ$ 71,557 or for 342 days = $209 per day.
C$ 66,203 or for 342 days = $194 per day.

It will be interesting for me to go back and see whether I overestimated or underestimated our costs. I would also be interested in other travellers views on our budget and whether it is realistic or pie in the sky!

Facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram
Debbie Bridge Travel, Travel Tips No Comments

Vancouver here we come

It has been a while since my last blog. We have been busy sorting out renting our house, visiting relatives and organising all the boring things you have to do before travelling for a year. I returned a week ago from a three-week trip visiting relatives in Limburg, Holland. Debbie also did her last show at Henley. I managed to visit a few tourist sites on my trip to Holland and Germany including Maastricht and Cologne. In Cologne I managed to crawl up the windy narrow stairway to the top of the cathedral dome rewarded with a great view of the city and surrounding countryside. It cost a mere 3 euros to have an aerobic workout and a great view. I do know it is exactly 514 steps to the bottom from the top.

In six days we fly to Vancouver on British Airways. To be honest I am not a great fan of BA and have always found it a bit hit and miss in turns of service. Heathrow is also what I call the lottery airport it will either go quite smoothly or be a complete disaster. I prefer Gatwick.

Amazing to think we will be travelling for a year. I am really looking forward to it and our first stop is one of my favourite cities, Vancouver. We plan to visit some familiar places. Stanley park for a mandatory cycle ride and Granville Island to visit the boutique brewery and market. There are plans to visit unfamiliar places for me such as Grouse Mountain. We have been lucky in being able to find accommodation with friends. Below are a few photographs from previous trips to Vancouver.

If you have any recommendations on places to see or visit while we are in Vancouver then please comment. I am especially looking for good restaurants.

Facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram
Debbie Bridge Canada, North America, Travel No Comments

Henley – Miss Givings

‘Just when the caterpillar thought its life was over, it became the butterfly…’

The 1st month is drawing to an end and what a month!  This week, I left my home of 16 years to go straight into a week run of my one-woman show – Miss Givings.

Miss Givings

Miss Givings

This was the reason we didn’t leave sooner, as this Festival was booked ages ago and I was keen to be able to do a whole week in one place – quite a luxury for a show of this type.

It was a lot of fun and we ended on a packed house, always good to end on a high.  Some of the highlights for me were seeing the other shows and films (for links of the shows/bands/films I can recommend, go down to the bottom of the blog).  I had some awesome nights out, as there was great stuff to watch and listen to.  It reminds me why I love to watch live performances and go to the movies.  Felt like a week of really great play!  Plus, Henley was beautiful, with fantastic places to eat.  I, especially, enjoyed my hot chocolate and raspberry parfait cake at the ‘Chocolate Cafe’.

The Chocolate Cafe

The Chocolate Cafe

Also, this was the setting for the TV series ‘Midsomer Murders’

Midsomer Murders

Midsomer Murders

and the book ‘Wind in the Willows’

Wind in the Willows

Wind in the Willows

which I didn’t know.

I’m, now, back in London at a friend and did an awesome rollerblade through the downtown streets of London – I, only, found out, on my train ride to Henley, this was possible in London.

Roller Blading London

Roller Blading London

I first knew about these groups from a trip to Paris and have wanted to do it since, so ‘tick’ another thing off the bucket list.  I can honestly say, it’s not for the faint-hearted, but I managed to keep up and upright. (for details on where to hire rollerblades click here)

What crazy last minute things have you done?  I’m always looking for new adventures!

Roll on next week!

Love

Debx

Shows/Bands/Films at Henley Fringe:

Women of an Uncertain Age, Sign of the Times

Bands/Music:

Naomi Vallance, Crossfire Hurricanes

Short Films:

Amaqqut Nunaat

 

The Wires, Four Tails, Things I like about sex and dogs & Keep Fighting

Facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram
Debbie Bridge England, Europe, Henley, Travel, United Kingdom No Comments

Leaving Home and heading to Henley Fringe Festival

‘Laugh like no one is listening’

What a week it’s been!  I arrived back from Holland on Monday, hitting the ground running by arriving home and then going straight out to pick up my computer, which was had a ‘tune up’ for my trip around the world, then, it was remove the bed from the spare room with a lovely finish of a BBQ on the beach with my walking ladies (a group I started in September and am now having to leave behind!) – what a great way to start the week!

Walking group BBQ

Walking group BBQ

After that, the week turned into a blur of cleaning house, various meetings to finalise things (bills & such) on the house, packing everything which hadn’t been packed, prepping for this weeks run at the Henley Fringe Festival of my one woman show, Miss Givings, various personal meetings and seeing friends.

Miss Givings

Miss Givings

As part of the excitement of the last few weeks, I had to make a whistle stop up and back to London to pick up my mobile phone, I had left there before I went to Holland.  It’s a vital prop in my show, not to minimise it’s helpful communication, now that I have no home = no WiFi.  Good thing my contract has good data roaming.

Also, a bit of drama, my director’s car has blown up and he was meant to drive me and the props/costumes to Henley.  So, last minute change of plans for me to take the train and sort out the box to come on Tuesday for the opening day of the show – fingers crossed!

Henley is beautiful with some fantastic walks along the Thames, lovely cafes and very friendly shops.

Thames at Henley

Thames at Henley

The shops have been brilliant at taking flyers, plus very chatty and interested in the shows – next week will see the end of my run and back off to London.

What are some of your favourite places in and around London?

Love Debx

Facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram
Debbie Bridge England, Europe, Henley, Travel, United Kingdom No Comments

First stop South Holland

First stop South Holland

We have been in Holland around a week and had a wonderful time. Our first stop was a hotel near Schiphol as we arrived late. Surprisingly, it was a nice hotel that took two short bus rides to get to but at 50 quid a night no complaints.

We then took a train to Weert and a bus to Beringe in Limburg which is a part of Holland that gets few international tourists. My father’s side of the family are from a village called Beringe. There are six other Beringe’s in Europe. I lived in Beringe several times and really like the area where there are lots of cycle ways to explore the surrounding countryside. It is also convenient that every few kilometres you will find a village with a cafe and cake. The best time to visit is in the spring or summer where the weather can be surprisingly hot.

We relaxed with a bit of cycling and visiting relatives. Debbie returned to England a bit earlier than me but before going back we visited my cousin Marita and her husband Wil in the south at a place called Landgraaf near Maastricht. There place is in an ideal location to visit Germany and nearby Maastricht to explore the old city and ramparts.

We spent a few days exploring the surrounding area with Debbie going back after we visited Valkenburg, Monchau in Germany and the highest point in Holland. Valkenburg mountain and I use the word mountain meaning hill is where three countries meet. The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany all in one spot known as Driehoek where you can have your photo taken and be in three countries at one time. There are also walking tracks, a maze and a few places to eat and drink.

The first stop was South Holland and the next one is Vancouver.

Facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram
Debbie Bridge Europe, Netherlands, Travel No Comments

Beringe, Holland (there are 6 Beringes in a very close radius of this one)

‘Live authentically and savour each precious moment of your journey, because when you arrive at your destination another journey begins’. – Joe Keane

Wow, already week 2 of my 52 weeks are done! The time seems to be flying, and I’ve not even made it onto the ‘big’ plane to take me back to Canada.  I’ve had an excellent week with John’s rellies in the south of Holland.

We went for a bike ride

Beringe, Holland

Bike Ride – Beringe

around Napoleon’s Canal

Napoleon's Canal

Napoleon’s Canal

– it’s where Napoleon stopped building his canal in Northern Europe, went to the only American Soldiers memorial site for all those who died on Dutch soil – always a sobering moment, made it to a place in which you can stand in 3 countries at once

3 Countries

Germany, Holland and Belgium

– Holland, Belgium and Germany, went to the highest point in Holland

Balancing Act

Highest point in Holland

– not very high in Canadian terms (I would call it a bump), had a Schnitzel and Apfel Strudel in a beautiful medieval village (Monshau) in Germany, went round a maze and had a little help from German friends to get to the middle without getting wet, watch the world football (soccer) series where Germany won, but Holland had a very respectable finish with third and then had a lovely meal in Valkenburg – in the South of Holland – a tourist town with mineral spas and many old buildings and city walls.

What’s your favourite international food?  I’ve just had one of mine, so would like to possible try yours!

Today it’s back to England to do the final preparations on the house for the renters and get ready to do ‘Miss Givings‘ (my one woman show) at the Henley Fringe Festival.

Love

Debx

Facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram
Debbie Bridge Europe, Netherlands, Travel No Comments

London, UK

‘Silence is the music of wisdom’ – Apoorer Dubay

All go

Ready to go!

This is my 1st letter of my 52 week adventure going round the world.

My 1st week has our house getting rented, but we haven’t moved out yet, something we had hoped would happen by July 1st, but has been moved back to July 19th, which is perfectly acceptable, but this hasn’t stopped me starting my adventure from July 1st. I went up to London,UK to stay with a friend, as planned.  It was a great break, as it gave me much needed space to finish off one big project – my radio show and get other things done without the ciaos of house cleaning and other repair jobs which were getting done in preparation for the big move out.  Seems the more boxes I pack the more I found to pack!

During my time in London, I did something I’d never done which was a ‘tea tasting’ at Twinnings Tea Room on the Strand.

Most popular drink

Twinnings Tea Tasting

It was great fun and I’m an even bigger fan of tea!  I learned a lot more about the history and production of teas and how to really make a ‘proper cuppa’.  It was like learning the history of the world, but in a cup of tea.  Did you know that tea is the 2nd most popular drink in the world, with water being first – take that coffee culture!

From White to Black Tea

From White to Black Tea

Right now, I’m in Holland, as John and I arrived at his Aunt’s house in the south to spend a lovely week with the rellies here before I head back to England to do the final t & i’s  on the house rental.

So what’s your favourite drink and where does it come from?  I might have to try some of your suggestions, if I can – just forget about coffee, don’t touch the stuff!

Facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram
Debbie Bridge England, Europe, London, Travel, United Kingdom No Comments

India reliving the past

I was looking through some diaries and found an old one from 1990 when I went to India. I spent six weeks in India with a lovely girl who took lots of photos and regretfully got very sick and had to be flown back to Australia for treatment. Alas we lost contact and I took no pictures as she had a brilliant camera. However, I did keep a detailed diary so I am going to attempt to retrace the route we took 24 years ago with my wife next year and even try to stay at some of the places I stayed last time if they still exist!

I arrived in May 1990 in Mumbai where we stayed at the Red Shields Salvation Army hostel. My abiding memory was having jelly and ice cream and not getting sick. I want to see how the city has changed and revisit some places such as the Gateway to India. Our next stop will be Ahmedabad as a jump off to Mt Abu where I want to go back and revisit the Dilwara Jain Temples. Then we will go to Udaipur where it took four and a half hours on a bus and to see if the Hotel Lalghat still exists and whether we can get a room overlooking the lake. Hoping also to have dinner at the lake palace in the middle of the lake, last time it cost 250 rupees for a slap up dinner. I expect prices may have gone up a bit.

Our next stop will be Jodhpur by overnight train and hopefully get the connecting train to Jasilmer. Last time it took in total 27 hours by train and I stayed at the Tourist Inn. Had a great time as we did a camel trek for several days. I liked Jasilmeer and the medieval feel it had and remember a dinner at a rooftop terrace watching an amazing lightning storm. From there it is back to Jodhpur and again another connecting train to the Pink City or Jaipur. Then on to Agra where this time I hope to avoid burning the soles of my feet on the marble floor. Finally we will end the trip in Delhi.

Not sure what to expect but I am sure there will be a few surprises and challenges on the journey.

Facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram
Debbie Bridge India No Comments

The Panic Begins

Procrastination sucks. The deadline is fast approaching where we leave the rainy isles or the UK as it is better known. Time does fly. We leave for Holland for a few weeks in a week. Then a few weeks later Canada. The house is nearly all packed up and rented which is great. But there is still so much to do. I almost paid for travel insurance with World Nomads until I read in the small print that worldwide has several exclusions including India!

Still have not bought a suitcase or backpack and thinking of just getting a cheap one in the UK and buying something more permanent in the USA for the rest of our travels. I also have been a bit slack on the blog with everything happening.

This week we are doing a trail pack which will be fun. I keep looking at other blogs to get an idea of what not to take and what to take. Hopefully things will be clearer and pointers on what to take for a year-long trip RTW welcomed!

Facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagram
Debbie Bridge Travel, Travel Tips 2 Comments