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Around the World with Jan

Around the World with Jan

I've spent a lifetime travelling the world and I have no intention of ever stopping. There are so many amazing places to see. Leia mais🇦🇺Sydney
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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanInto the Red Centre
      Clean and ready to walk
      Sadly, the Ghan didn't come byStunning flowers everywhereJust the beginning of the beautiful landscapesLife in the red centreBush tucker before dinner

      Wallaby Gap

      5 de maio de 2021, Austrália ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      Day 1 of the Larapinta trail at last.

      16 of us, all fresh and clean set out for the Telegraph Station to start walking on a beautiful crisp clear day. There were lots of gorgeous flowers and plants because of rain earlier in the year, a photographer’s paradise for me. I loved it.

      It didn’t take long for it to get hot. The first test of our fitness was Euro Ridge – three rock promontories climbing higher and higher with a couple of scary sections (narrow path, steep drop). It was worth it – the views were stunning in every direction and we could see where we had come from.

      Wallaby Gap was our first experience of the wonderful fixed campsites that World Expeditions is known for – wow! We had a pre-dinner talk about bush tucker from a very inspirational aboriginal woman who provided delicious food to try followed the first of many delicious dinners.

      If this is what the rest of the trip will be like, bring it on!      Leia mais

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanInto the Red Centre
      The view from Anzac Hill
      1Local art - pretty ingeniousA very dry Todd River near the HiltonPage 27 - best place in town for breakfastA colourful local resident

      Alice Springs or bust

      3 de maio de 2021, Austrália ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

      As I looked out the window of the plane at our red centre, it looked very red, dry, no signs of life – I’m sure there was but it wasn't obvious up there. Beautiful sunny clear sky, no pollution, just whisps of cloud and the infinite horizon. You tend to forget just how vast Australia is.

      Alice Springs is a small frontier town with not much going for it but it's stunning location in the centre of Australia. I didn't think I'd see this day after 2 failed attempts last year but I couldn't wipe the smile of my face as we disembarked on a glorious warm day.

      The town was quiet, many of the shops were closed, not just because it was Sunday but they are struggling to find staff, some of them just haven't been able to continue.

      The Doubletree Hilton turned out to be a bit out of town and a little tattered around the edges but it's clean, comfortable and set in a lovely spot across from a dry Todd River. I was just so happy to finally make it! Can't wait to start walking.      Leia mais

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanInto the Tarkine
      Back into the enchanted forest
      Philosopher falls tumbles to the groundOne of the forest giantsA new life

      Launceston

      19 de fevereiro de 2021, Austrália ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

      Our first stop of the day on our way back to Launceston was Philosopher Falls. The canopy of trees overhanging the roadway provided a shady tunnel along the road as we approached the forest.

      The temperature dropped as we started the walk to the falls, dwarfed by tall tree ferns. Massive trunks of fallen trees littered the forest floor and we saw more of the amazing fungi that the forests here are known for.

      The walk to the falls was pretty easy, much of it on boardwalks to protect the underlying foliage. The steps to the falls were pretty steep but not a hard walk. We stood in silence for a while on a platform half way down the cascade to listen to the sound of the trees, the birds and the tumbling of water as it disappeared into the trees.

      Lunch was a a lovely reserve on the outskirts of town then back into the buzz of Friday afternoon traffic. Not so happy to be back in civilisation, a few more days would have been good.      Leia mais

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanInto the Tarkine
      The rugged West Coast
      Conical RocksMy little cottageInto the forest

      Corinna, Pieman River

      18 de fevereiro de 2021, Austrália ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

      Today we sailed up the Pieman River to the beach for quite a long walk to the Conical Rocks.

      The coastline was pretty rugged and wild. We passed a small settlement of fisherman's houses. I couldn't imagine a more remote and wild place to live being constantly whipped by the winds the buffet the West Coast of Tasmania.

      Once again the weather was kind and it was sunny. The Conical Rocks are massive multi-coloured rock formations running down to the ocean, making it hard to get to the beach on the headland where they perch.

      It was a lovely place to sit and just enjoy.

      On the way back on the boat to Corinna we were followed by an eagle and the captain pointed out the Huon pines and the strange way that they grow sideways. They also have male and female trees.

      We finished the day with a walk through the forest that surrounds this old mining town.

      We had our final dinner together in the restaurant in the 'resort' and the food was really good - huge portions, we all struggled to finish our meals.      Leia mais

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanInto the Tarkine
      Another forest vista
      Fungus of all shapes and sizesStunning colours in the dark forest floorMy home away from homeAnother splash of colourEvening visitors

      Corinna, Pieman River

      17 de fevereiro de 2021, Austrália ⋅ ☀️ -6 °C

      Our first walk of the day today was along a windswept beach that reminded me of something out of a sci-fi movie. It was pretty wild and woolly out there are as we tried to find some petroglyphs along the edge of the water. They are fairly well hidden. Saw lots of animal tracks on the beach but no critters to speak of.

      The Balfour track was next and we once again headed into the rainforest. The temperature dropped significantly and we were once again surrounded by massive trees and every size, shape and colour of fungus you could possible imagine. Another magical place.

      Corinna is an old mining town that is now an eco-resort for want of a better word. Sitting right the forest at the end of quite a long dirt road, it's the sort of place you could spend weeks, not just a few days. The cottages were clean, comfortable and spacious. As I sat on my porch, a pademelon and her joey paid me a visit. What a beautiful spot.

      I asked the guides to leave me there and pick me up on their next trip.      Leia mais

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanInto the Tarkine
      Giant stones - Dip Falls
      Milkshake HillsLake ChisholmGiant driftwood, Arthur River

      Arthur River

      15 de fevereiro de 2021, Austrália ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      We farewelled Stanley this morning. Our first stop was Dip Falls, a cascade waterfall over basalt pillars reminiscent of the Giant's Causeway in Ireland only black. The water looked like pieces of string cascading down the face, coloured a slight brown by the tannin in the water from the tea trees. Very spectacular.

      As we ventured again into the forest we were astounded by the size of the trees. I haven't seen anything quite like this before. After lunch we hiked up the Milkshake Hills to look down on a more Australian-looking forest with a view all the way back to Stanley, the Nut and the ocean.

      Our last walk of the day was around Lake Chisholm and then on to Arthur River and accommodation much more luxurious than I was expecting. The beach at the mouth of the river was strewn with huge trees, the biggest driftwood I've ever seen - picking my way across it was a bit of a challenge to not trip.

      A lovely meal, a beautiful sunset and we settled in for the night.      Leia mais

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanInto the Tarkine
      Fungus of all shapes and sizes
      Who knows what lurks in here?Home for the night in StanleyThe Nut - well worth the climb

      Stanley

      14 de fevereiro de 2021, Austrália ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

      Our first taste of the nature of the Tarkine. We spent a few hours at the Tarkine Wilderness Lodge and explored an enchanted temperate rainforest, the first of many on this trip. The temperature drops as soon as you walk into the thick canopy of trees soaring into the sky.

      We saw fungus of every colour, shape and size. The trees are more than 200 years old and you half expect to see an ancient creature crash through the undergrowth to greet you.

      Our first stop for the night was the town of Stanley - a collection of beautiful well-restored old homes, many of them holiday cottages. This is where "The Light between Oceans" was filmed.

      It's the home of a rather special rock called The Nut which of course yours truly had to climb. There is a cable car but I chose to walk at 450 metre steep zigzag trail which takes you to the top. The rest is relatively flat until you loop back and walk down again. The day was sunny so the view was spectacular in every direction. There's even a small forest up there providing a bit of shade towards the end of the walk.      Leia mais

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanInto the Tarkine
      Cataract Gorge Launceston
      Newly revamped waterfront on the Tamar RiverA chilled glass of bubbles to watch the sunset

      Launceston

      12 de fevereiro de 2021, Austrália ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

      This day has been a long time coming. I never thought that it would be more than a year without being able to travel even in my own country. It felt good to take off and head to somewhere else leaving behind all the restrictions and rules.

      Launceston has become quite a busy town since I was last here. Still a place of beautiful old buildings but lots more cars. A few more nice places to eat and a revamped waterfront where I could sit and drink a glass of bubbles while the sun set.      Leia mais

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanUK and beyond
      Ok which way now?
      PricelessVery wet feetThe man himself - Santiago1We did it!!!Cracking open the bubbly - we deserved it!

      The Final Curtain

      2 de outubro de 2019, Inglaterra ⋅ 🌙 7 °C

      Well, it’s done. I’m back in London on my way home. We walked 280km in the end not including sightseeing or the occasional detour when we couldn’t understand the instructions – some things were lost in translation, literally!

      Was it worth it? Absolutely! Would I do something like this again? Not a chance! We met some amazing characters from all over the world. We suffered sore feet (thankfully only one blister on the last day) got very very wet on one day and pretty wet on a couple of others.

      We had fog, rain, drizzle and sunshine. We walked through trellises of grapevines and saw the biggest pumpkins I’ve ever seen in my life. There were beautiful forests and ancient monuments and more and more pilgrims as we got closer to Santiago.

      I couldn’t begin to describe how it felt to walk into the cathedral square on the last day of the walk. It was a lovely sunny afternoon and the place was full of people who had walked or cycled from France, Portugal and the centre of Spain. Some travelled a hundred kilometres while others did eight hundred or more and everyone had a smile on their face even if they limped into the square.

      It’s been an amazing trip and I’m glad I did it. Buon Camino!      Leia mais

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanUK and beyond
      Fresh and ready to go
      No way to get lost - yet!A welcome breakWe cross into Spain - A Guarda1Another lovely forest vistaBaiona from above

      A Pilgrim's Progress

      27 de setembro de 2019, Espanha ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      Well, we have 3 days to go and it's been quite an experience. I don't think I had any idea what I was getting myself into.

      We set off in high spirits on a grey foggy day from the outskirts of Porto, barely able to see the Atlantic Ocean pounding only a few metres away. Porto was beautiful but very crowded with tourists.

      For the last 9 days we've really not seen too many pilgrims on the road but now that we've reached the confluence of the Spanish Camino there are a more of us. I expect that as we enter Santiago there will be hundreds.

      We've only had two wet days so far - the first was drowned rat territory - we staggered into the hotel dripping wet. Today was drizzle for most of the morning but it was easy walking mostly through forest.

      We've navigated major roads, walked through medieval villages, traversed eucalyptus and pine forests and followed stone walls hundreds of years old.

      My feet hurt, my shoes are wet and I'm glad that we're nearly there. It's been quite an experience and we've met so many amazing people from around the world. I must be crazy to do something like this and pay for privilege. But you all know me. I love a challenge. I'm just glad we have a hot shower and warm bed at the end of every day (oh, and the food is pretty good too)!      Leia mais

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