I am thrilled to have been a guest on the podcast, Hiking Thru Life. Sarah and her husband, Andy, have a great podcast and website dedicated to hiking and the outdoors. Born and raised in Minnesota, this couple provides a lot of resources and inspiration for their readers and listeners. The website describes their mission as, “Hiking Thru Life aims to inspire people from all walks of life to live a more meaningful life.”
I had the pleasure of co-hosting a podcast with Darwin from Outdoor Evolution as we talked about Adventuring Abroad, from logistics, to stories, to advice. We also talked about things solo women experience.
Lisa and I talked about what it’s like as a solo female traveler, my memoir Weathered, and some advice for anyone new to beginning their own adventures.
Five years after hiking the John Muir Trail solo, I finished my book! I loved reminiscing on such an incredible trail and the wild adventure that it was! Here’s the book description and places to purchase it!
After spending six months exploring and driving around the whole country of Australia, it was time to leave. I reflected on the differences between Australia and the U.S., and I spent my final day exploring Hobart, Tasmania.
Port Arthur was the location of the first juvenile detention center in the British Empire. The announcer on the boat explained that the kids were mixed with adults. At ten years old, they were legally responsible for their own actions. It was sad because most of them were just trying to survive the streets of London and were homeless.
I love staying in unique Airbnbs! I found a converted truck at a homestead and was thrilled to sleep there. I even got to pet the mini-goats! I spent two days driving around Tasmania, being treated to incredible views. I even saw Wineglass bay.
I took a boat tour to Hell’s Gates and Sarah Island, aka, Devil’s Island. The convict history was fascinating and alarming. If the convicts survived, they could leave as skilled tradesman. Others were cannibalized.
Tasmania has some beautiful landscape! I stayed in a cabin at a distillery, then drove to Leven Canyon and Preston Falls. When I arrived at my motel in Strahan, the woman said “I knew you’d be a problem.” Do I look like I’m problematic?
I thought hiking at the end of winter would be fine, but it was cold and foggy at Cradle Mountain! The park was still incredible with amazing views! Some of the trails were steep rocks with chains to hold on to.
I took the ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania (known as Tassie). I booked a fairytale cabin next to an apple orchard! I was provided free gin & brandy tastings from the onsite distillery. The host even provided me with dinner and great conversation!
As a solo traveler, I value the opportunities where I get to meet new people as well as meet up with old friends along my travels. Returning to Melbourne gave me the opportunity to reunite with a new friend that I met months earlier, and an old friend and co-worker from the U.S.
I was approaching Melbourne, which would close the loop. My drive around Australia was complete. After 6 months on the road, it felt surreal. It felt like I was coming home.
Betrayal is one of the hardest things to get past. When someone we love and trust betrays us, it changes our perception of our life, and it changes us.
Sydney’s convict history is fascinating. My favorite story was about the ship, The Juliana, which transported female prostitutes. They would go on to become wives, mothers, and respected women.
The weather in Sydney was awful. I wandered into the Maritime Museum and walked through a fascinating exhibit about William Bligh. Each item and story presented the argument that he was a hero and one that showed he was a villain. We even got to vote at the end. Was he a hero or a villain? I also explored the inside of the Sydney Opera House.
I walked along the Sydney Harbor, enjoying the nice weather and beautiful views. As I sat on a concrete block with headphones on, a young man approached and asked me for directions. I ended up getting to know all about him and have stayed in touch with him. Talking with strangers is easier than talking with people we know because they don’t hold our past mistakes against us.
I drove to the beautiful and famous Bondi Beach near Sydney, but was overwhelmed with the amount of people there. Just as I contemplated living as a hermit in the woods, a few people brightened my day.
Throughout her wild 3-week journey backpacking 220+ miles in the California Sierra Mountains, Christy encountered freezing temperatures, pelting hail storms, and losing her way, but found trail family, incredible views, and experiences that would change her life forever. Hiking up and over ten different mountain passes gave Christy a lot of time to think about why her nine-year marriage was falling apart, gave her the chance to truly embody her individualism, time to make new friends, and the strength she would need on and off the trail. Her life could never again be the same.
This is one woman’s account of the three weeks she spent on the iconic trail.
From Readers Favorite: “... a compelling non-fiction adventure story of finding strength in the face of adversity and learning how to believe in yourself.”
If you enjoy reading my blog, you may also like my book.
From Readers Favorite: “... a compelling non-fiction adventure story of finding strength in the face of adversity and learning how to believe in yourself.”
