Moving on...

If you saw my last wee post you'll know I now have Scotland on my mind! I need to take another look at my arrangements to make sure I haven't forgotten to book a train here, or a bnb there. This is my most ambitious trip to date and I don't want to add "sleeping rough" to the itinerary.

Then there's always, every single year, the debate over which suitcase to take. I managed with just a carry-on for my week in B.C. BUT even though I was only gone for 8 days I ran out of tops (hiking = pee-yew if you now what I mean!!) and I ended up at a thrift store in Qualicum Beach and found two tops that were perfect and inexpensive! So Tammy, I did get a bit of the west  coast thrifting experience ;) I also ran out of clean socks so washed a couple pairs and hung them on a radiator to dry.

Just so ya know - I hauled both of these tops out of my dirty laundry basket so they are wrinkled (like me!) and don't look their best at the moment.

The first top is a Danskin semi-fitted grey number - if you saw my complete selection of clothes that I took west with me you would know that anything grey would fit right in! Comfortable and stretchy - perfect for hiking.

The second top looked brand new though of course it's a wrinkled mess at the moment. Both tops are getting a lot of use. It's an original Seabreeze, fitted and flattering and with its grey cap sleeves it fit into my colour scheme for the week.

Where oh where was I going with this train of thought?.....oh, yes, suitcase size. Well, I do believe I'll end up taking my usual suitcase which is pictured above in the header photo - the one that is wide open to receive everything from my broken down old suitcase. Last year after hiking in Ireland with Annie I didn't want to wear my hiking boots when we were sight seeing in Galway and Cork. So I had to fit them into my suitcase. That will be the case again this year, I'm sure.

Once the hiking portion of the trip is over I'll want to switch to my comfy GoWalk shoes for carousing around Edinburgh. I also need a variety of clothing - travelling in September means I could encounter cold, cool, mild, warm and possibly hot (not bloody likely!) weather. When hiking I get hot and off come the layers. However, when in the highlands (warm air does NOT rise in the highlands!)  the layers get added on in addition to my monsoon ready coat. So I need tank tops, T-shirts, long sleeved tops and some really cozy hoodies. The bottom half of me isn't quite as needy as I wore my rain pants with side zippers every day of the hike with yoga shorts underneath. Too hot? Open the zippers. Too cold? Close the zippers. Easy-peasy!

If I'm really lucky I may not face too many midges as their season will be winding down. I got stung a few times in Ireland but I didn't find the bites very itchy. I found as long as I kept moving they didn't bother me too much but I like to be prepared. If I'm prepared then I usually have good luck with both weather AND midges.

And then I need clothes for the sight-seeing portions of the trip and as long as I don't slop food on myself I can usually wear things more than once. A lot of places will allow use of washer/dryer - I'll always remember the lovely lady (I think her name was Cathy) who washed Annie's and my clothes after a wet day of hiking. Such an angel she was.

Oh yeah, playing slow-pitch introduced me to another way of wearing a T-shirt and a long-sleeved shirt...this doubles my options!! Once the long-sleeved shirt gets slopped on it can go UNDER a T-shirt! Cool beans!

So a carry-on won't work for such variable weather conditions in addition to various activities - hiking, shopping etc. I also like the "swivel in any direction" wheels and the hard outer shell. It has stood me in good stead the past three years and the 1950's magazine images makes it a standout on the luggage carousel!

There's usually 800 black suitcases and then mine :) yes, always last!!

The Adventure Begins

First of all never EVER EVER go anywhere requiring 3 different flights on 3 different airplanes!! I never will again! NOT that I planned it that way. No, the original plan was to fly from Halifax to Heathrow which required 1 stopover in Iceland. A LONG stopover mind you.

But since I came home to London I couldn't fly out of Halifax and had to add a Toronto to Halifax flight. Oh my. So much waiting time what with also taking Robert Q from London to Toronto. But I survived and have learned many lessons about what to do and what NOT to do on my next adventure.

 I decided early on just to "embrace" whatever came along and try to maintain a sense of humour. The fact that I am sitting here typing this is testament to the fact that I succeeded...sort of. Happily I enjoy many solitary pursuits - crossword puzzles, reading, sudoku, listening to music, journalling so was able to keep myself busy during all the down time. In fact, it's really the only time I've enjoyed those pursuits since I retired. (I am 101 days into retirement now, I just noticed my counter today!!)

Just about to land in Halifax and I noticed this weather front moving in just as the sun was setting.

I had a suitcase issue once I collected my bag in Halifax - one of the wheels was broken in half and left black marks on the floor as I dragged it around! Oh poo! I  couldn't imagine having to drag a suitcase throughout my travels so I was forced to purchase a new one - I didn't need that $150 did I? Do you suppose the airlines and conveniently located luggage stores at the airports are in cahoots???

Here I am repacking into the new suitcase which has four wheels instead of two and travels easily in any direction - a cut above my two-wheeler I must admit. 

Ok, I am all repacked and my suitcase is checked - I have about a two hour wait so I went to a pub and had a lovely bowl of soup and a salad along with a cold refreshing amber ale :) So far I'm happy!

My next flight leaves at 10:10pm. I've been on the road since 8am and I'm only in Halifax! :(

Well, now I'm in Iceland and have lost three more hours. The terminal and concourse at Iceland's airport has won many awards over the years with its unique shops and good food.

I had two meals while I waited at Iceland airport for my next flight to Heathrow - yes, I was there THAT long. And I actually managed to sleep for a couple of hours while lounging on a bench. The above was a veggie omelet with whole grain toast that I had for breakfast - plus freshly squeezed orange juice. It only came to 1.980 krona, not bad eh? Sounded cheap to me! Of course I had to check my mastercard bill for the transversion - $18.82 Cdn!!! Yikes!

Later I had a tuna sandwich and a container of raw veggies (TRIED to eat healthy!) and that came to $19.72 Canadian! Oh vell...one must eat!!

Did you know that the "toilets" are called "Snyrtingar" in the Icelandic language?  I think I might adopt that term - "excuse me, I have to go to the snyrtingar"!! Snort!!

I amused myself by exploring the concourse...many times! There were many people lounging about on benches trying to get a bit of sleep. The above is the shape of the island of Iceland made up of many of the items that are for sale in the many shops. Below are a few closeups of what they have for sale...

Yes, most Icelandic people are blonde...and beautiful...but not identical lol!

There hasn't been a polar bear in Iceland since one swam there in the l980's but let's not quibble.

However there are 45,000 horses at least in Iceland, many roaming freely.

Those colourful domes are made out of sand dollars...and of course there are the inevitable bottles of alcohol :)

Seabirds...

I'm guessing cinnamon buns but not sure about the other delicacy??

Iceland is home to MILLIONS of puffins...even LIVE ones!!

And of course what would Iceland be without its elven creatures?? I bought one just like the green fellow there in the middle - I thought he could hang out with us at Christmas!

 One of many artistic installations around the concourse.

 I really wish I could have seen more of the amazing landscape of Iceland besides that which I could see out of the windows!

More of the native artwork. 

Iceland airport is undergoing major construction so we were bused to our airplane. On the way I spotted the WOW airlines, which is a lower cost Icelandic airlines.

Then we were finally off - next stop Heathrow and the loss of another hour totalling a 5 hour time difference in all. I missed an entire night between Halifax and Iceland. Am I having fun yet?? Sorta :)

Dear Diary: its taking me longer than I thought to get re-oriented now that I'm home. I'm sure part of that is the head cold I'm suffering from. My sleep pattern is pretty much back to normal thanks to taking melatonin and calcium at bedtime. But I still feel kinda groggy and am having a hard time keeping myself awake til at least 10pm. A friend has wanted me to go hiking with her but I've had to say no. I need more recovery time. And I need to do some grooming - my hair needs cutting and I've totally given up shaving my legs recently...

Today will be devoted to losing a bunch of hair and then cleaning up after Luna and Lily. They are doing really well except for the fact that Luna won't leave Lily alone when she's in the litter box. I wonder how they will like the sound of the vacuum cleaner? So far today they've had their breakfast, chased each other around the one room they're allowed to be in about 1,000 times and are now having a nap. Tough life!

Kazi starts her new job today at "Garage".  She interviewed for a lower management position and she got it! I really hope it goes well as she needs to settle into a job for awhile so that she and Steve can get their own place.

Now I'm going to read some blogs, then read the Free Press then I'm going to get busy...maybe...YES!!