A New Toy and Bookings

This is the my first post using my new MSI netbook.
This is the little toy that I'm going to be taking on my travels.
It's really nifty. Small, lightweight and easy to type on.
And it has a camera in it for Skype.
One more thing to figure out! It'll be fun to try it out.
The netbook is just a wee little computer but has so much memory (for pictures and stuff) that I'll be able to install all sorts of fun stuff on it too.
The keyboard is a little smaller than a usual one but actually seems easier to use!

My manager at work has put through the official documentation for my leave.
(Thank you K!!)
It's really going to happen!
I'm really going to do this!
Wow! Now it seems really real!
Oh boy.

Tomorrow I will be booking my week at the dude ranch in Cranbrook.
I save $200 if I book by November 30th. That's tomorrow!!
It seems like some of the plans are so easy to think about and wonder what should I do but now it's coming up to actually booking things.
Makes it very permanent. Very nifty.

I'll be emailing Connie to book my flight to Prague tomorrow too. No time like the present. Get it all done and organized and I can start to tell folks what I'm up to in real terms with dates included.

The next thing is send a list of the things I want to do in Prague to my cousins. There are so many but I have narrowed it down, I think...

I got a travel magazine from California last week. Man, is there a lot of stuff there. I think I could spend a YEAR just in California. I still want to see a Sea Lion and hug a huge red wood. There's so much else though.
I might find that with a lot of states though.

By one month, Christmas is over and it's nearly New Years.
In 5 months I'll be in Prague at this time.
In 6 months I may have my new vehicle.
In 8 months I will be on the road seeing the sights.

Unbelievable!

Pictures...

Plans continue to develop. It's a slow process but I know the days will move along and then my departure to Prague date will be upon me!

My cousin V sent me some pictures recently via email.
I love pictures.
It brings me closer to them, the country and to what I'm going to see.

She sent me a picture of a cottage in the mountains that my father worked in.
I didn't know he did that.
I think there is so much that I don't know about what he did in his life before Canada.
I am so looking forward to learning about that.

Dad told me many stories but I know he left much out, perhaps to protect me, perhaps to protect himself from reliving it.
I know he had struggles, I know he had triumphs.
I know I'll learn as much as I can about all of those things.
I can't wait!

I will take hundreds of pictures.
I want to take it all in.
I want to remember it forever!

There is also a picture of my cousin golfing in the mountains.
This is exciting!
I think I might have to pack my golf shoes!
Imagine!
Golfing in the Czech mountains!
The Mother will be jealous.
I don't care how poorly I play, I'll be in the MOUNTAINS GOLFING! Wow!
I wonder if the courses will be open in April when I am there?
Hmmm,
Another question to ask.

As the days are long with their lack of daylight it's so nice to have something great to dream about!

And so it continues....

Toys on the List, so far...

As I begin to peruse the travel books and brochures that I have so far for the road trip I think about what "things" I'd like to have along with me.

Well, I need to keep the blog up so I need a computer or access to one.
Add a netbook to the list.

I will be taking a bizzillion pictures I assume.
The Man currently has me in training to take the camera EVERYWHERE and take pictures.
I can always delete the fuzzy ones later but I can't do that if I haven't taken the picture.
Good philosophy...
So, netbook will be handy there.
Might need another disk for the camera.
Add that to the list.

What if I take so many pictures that I want to save them on something else.
Add a larger capacity memory stick to the list...
Oooh! Sale on 8 gig thumb drives at The Source.
That's now off the list.

What about auxilary transportation while I'm on my road trip.
Hmmmm.
A bike!
Great!
Not great if it's hanging on the back of the vehicle for a multi-thousand kilometer trek.
Get a little bike.
Huh???

Research folding travel bikes.
Ah! they do exist!
Go to the local bike/sports store.
Get advice. Go to bike store at Bloor and Spadina that specializes in folding bikes.
Ah ha!
Thinking that a small folding bike (some come with a carrying case!) will fit behind the seats in the back seat of the vehicle.
Very nice idea....
Won't be off roading but will be able to "go for a ride". If I want.

Looked at luggage today in Winners. Still don't know what to do there... Back pack or suitcase type thing for the Prague Pilgrimage.

That's on the list too.

Oh yeah, and hiking boots, and good hiking socks (many pairs),
better get some crease free travelling pants (sounds like a movie to me),
oh yes, and some Czech money; Crowns I think they are... I better research that more...
I think I'll need a list of at least one laundromat in each province and state (I guess I'll have to do laundry at some point along the way) ,
a map of the Oregon trail,
a Cool-a-tron (to keep things cool on the road trip), we used one on the last Girl Guide trip I was part of out east.
and the list just keeps growing and growing.  

I tell you I just don't know how people travel "at the drop of a hat"...

OOoh, a hat! I'll need a hat....
probably a touque too....

EEEEKKK!

On Retreat

I think everyone should have the opportunity to retreat.
The word says it all.
R-E-T-R-E-A-T

Go away to somewhere that is either different than your regular life or just retreat into yourself for some reflection, renewal or a personal time out.
I decided a few weeks ago to do that and made a reservation at a perfect spot for a retreat.

One of my special places on earth (other than Southampton Ontario) is Ste. Anne's Spa and Inn near Cobourg, ON. You just have to walk in the door and the scent of the whole spa experience hits you and you immediately start to relax. I do anyway.
For the first time ever I decided to stay overnight. Actually, two overnights.
I figured this would be good practice for my travels in the next year that will be done solo.
Can I cope just making idle conversation with those around me? Or just sitting silent and listening to those around me chatter?
No problem there. Passed that test.

Actually I spent a few days just reading, relaxing, enjoying a long hike in the woods and hills around the spa. I read a book! I was empowered. I was pampered. It was great!
For most of the time I didn't speak to anyone, other than placing my order in the dining room for a meal.
I spend my days talking, mostly to strangers, in my job. It was sooo refreshing to just sit back and listen to the world around me.

As I walked through the forest early Sunday morning, the frost was still clinging to the tips of the branches of the cedars, I realized that I need that "nature break" in my life or the concrete world will get to me. Many of the travel books I looked through I was drawn to the "natural wonder" section of the book. This is where my focus will be for my trip I think.

As I sat in one of the andirondak chairs on the south lawn at Ste. Anne's listening to the world getting ready for winter,  I thought what a great scene it was. Dressed for the cool weather I just sat and watched Lake Ontario in the distance and the rest of the outdoors just be.

The retreat concluded, as all breaks do, with a trip back to reality. I made this trip a nice gradual one by avoiding traffic (as best I could) on the way into Toronto. Dropping my things in the apartment and promptly lying down for a snooze in the sun on my futon.

Tomorrow will be another day....

Reading Material....Tons of it

Well, after sorting through websites and advice and thinking "what if", I decided that a travel agent would be the person that will help me the most in the planning and moving towards booking this adventure.

With my CAA membership card in hand The Man and I dropped in to check out if they were busy at the local CAA store on the weekend. They weren't! Yay!

So, after explaining what I was after, C, the agent, entered all my information in to her snazzy computer and she has my plans in her sights.
This is a relief that I have someone professional making all the inquiries and bookings for me.
I guess I just got overwhelmed at the prospect of trying to do this all myself.
Interestingly though, she seemed to overlook the comments that The Man was making regarding going first class.
Was it our appearance? Did I not stress it enough?
Hmmm
I will email her and let her know that I'd like to travel in some level of luxury. Maybe in the train to Prague? Maybe in my flight over to Europe?
Just interesting that she was trying to find the "best deal". Which, I don't mind, but interesting perception.

This weekend, on my personal retreat weekend, I plan to scour through as many travel books as I can, sticky notes in hand and my "Book of Lists" handily at my side as I put together a Must Do/See list for the cross Canada trip.
The books that I have ordered from the different provinces have begun to arrive. Saskatchewan was first and then PEI. I figure Saskatchewan WANTS people to visit so they're just jumping on any request.

My cousin, A-M, has put me in touch of a former room mate of hers that organizes Heli-hiking tours. Very, very cool! Fly up to a very remote part of the Rockie mountains, hike with a guide, get picked up again and back to the lodge! Wow! Very exciting stuff.

The arrival of the travel guides has really started to make this trip a reality for me. Now I have concrete stuff to make PLANS with.

Wheeee!