North America & Hawaii

North America:
Boston
Vancouver
Washington State
Oregon
Hawaii Read more

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Trip start
July 9, 2023
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Day 2
Monday, July 10, 2023
🌧 21 °C
Altitude: 18 m
United States Phillips Square 42.35126, -71.0634942°21’5” N 71°3’49” W
Boston
July 10, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
Unexpected start to the 5 month trip with a cancelled flight leaving me stranded in Boston for 24 hours... luckily, I'd had 3 glasses of wine on the plane over so was up for an impromptu adventure!
Quick search and booked into a hostel... and thankfull I packed my rain coat!
Boston was pretty good really!Read more
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Day 3
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 44 m
Canada Stanley Park 49.30259, -123.14456549°18’9” N 123°8’40” W
Vancouver
July 11, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Finally made it to Vancouver and met up with the awesome Cristina... One less day than expected, so got up early and made the most of it! Approx 15 miles walked in new sandles courtesy of work colleagues (thanks guys, perfect gift!)
Only really got the opportunity to see Stanley Park and the Harbour but loved it... must go back.
Also on my early morning walk an owl flew right across my path and settled in a tree... can you spot it in the pictures?!Read more
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Day 4
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 57 m
United States Chihuly Garden and Glass 47.620548, -122.34973347°37’14” N 122°20’59” W
Seattle
July 12, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
After an Amtrak ride between Vancouver and Seattle (and a very good night's sleep in a bonkers high-tech modern hotel) time to explore again!
Loved Pike Place Market, people throwing fish and of course the chewing gum wall (don't think Cristina was as enthusiastic about it as I was though judging by her face - even though she suggested it! Haha!)
The flight over Washington was also cool on Pier 57 but obvs couldn't get a pic of that... but I did get to go on the carousel which I always enjoy 😁
Also went to Chihuly Garden and Glass which was AMAZING and finished the day off up the space needle for sunset... was fab!Read more
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Day 5
Thursday, July 13, 2023
☀️ 13 °C
Altitude: 4,258 m
United States Columbia Crest 46.856195, -121.7598546°51’22” N 121°45’35” W
Mt Rainier & Mt St Helens
July 13, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Hired a car from Seattle to start our road trip to Corvallis via Mt Rainier, Mt St Helens and Route 101 coastal path... here's a few from the mountains / volcanos... lots of mahmoots... and mozzies 😶
Also saw a few bald eagles but didn't get any pics as I was designated driver.Read more
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Day 7
Saturday, July 15, 2023
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 44 m
United States Nye Beach 44.649231, -124.05676244°38’57” N 124°3’24” W
Coastal path - Route 101
July 15, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Run through the coastal path and beautiful stop off points... honestly they were stunning!
- Seaside (very foggy and had to walk about half a mile off shore to find the sea!)
- Cannon Beach (film location of the goonies and point break! 😁)
- Neahkhnie View point (I hope I spelt that right!)
- Original Pronto Pup (where the corn dog was first 'invented'... my opinion, very strange not sure if I'll have another one, the corn was very sweet!)
- Three Grace's
- Tillamook Creamery (awsome ice cream, huge portions!)
- Neskowin Beach (just beautiful!)
- Newport - very nice, spent my last day in Oregon there as well 😆Read more
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Day 9
Monday, July 17, 2023
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 68 m
United States Kermit E Roth City Park 44.569284, -123.25505944°34’9” N 123°15’18” W
Portland and Corvallis
July 17, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
So this is a one week round up of the first week in Corvallis which included a trip to Portland 😁
About a 2 hour bus ride from Corvallis, Portland was pretty cool to see (although the bus/train station is in a pretty dodgy location!) We went to Washington Park for a meander and a general gander around town on the west side before we ventured over to the east. I preferred the east, was a nice residential area where Cristina used to live, there was some fab street art and food trucks for a late lunch 🙂
We also visited the highest point in Corvallis - Mary's Peak where we saw a friendly woodpecker and heard an ominous noise we didn't know what... so did the sensible thing and turned around in case it was some large human eating mamal 🤣 🐆🐾
Also visited one of the 79 winerys in the area which i got very excited about 🍷🍷🍷, went tubing down Willamette River (Cristina got stuck waaaay far back, you may see an orange dot in one of the pics, that is her! was fun trying to coordinate ourselves against the flow... we did see an otter as well 🦦)
We also went to see the Barbie movie in a cute little cinema in downtown Corvallis!Read more
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Day 16
Monday, July 24, 2023
☁️ 24 °C
Altitude: 167 m
United States City of Corvallis 44.60563, -123.29586144°36’20” N 123°17’45” W
Corvallis Week 2
July 24, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
24th-28th Cristina was at work so I was left to my own devices! I finished a book I was reading which was good and left it in one of the lil makeshift community book swaps around the neighbourhood...
I took advantage of the Swimming pool around the corner from Cristinas house (it sold wine by the pool 😍)
I explored her local neighbourhood which also included a great walk which we did together, as well as wild turkeys and deer just wandering the streets!
There was lots of doggo time (ball is life!), wandering to downtown (mini pub crawl and ice cream cookie sandwich). I also joined Cristina's mum at work for a bit of volunteering teaching English as a foreign language (I completed a TEFL course about 10 years ago and always thought about doing more of this!)
Had to obviously visit another winery where I met some lovely people including Ruth and Lilli (in pic) and two other ladies who had 'escaped their husbands' for the afternoon who gave me a lift back to Corvallis when my uber didn't work (sometimes getting in the car with strangers works out OK! 🤣)
Byeeee Oregon and Cristina... until next time!Read more
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Day 21
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Altitude: 13 m
United States Royal-Moana Beach 21.274949, -157.82521721°16’30” N 157°49’31” W
Hawaii - O'ahu
July 29, 2023 in the United States
So mum came to visit Hawaii for 2 weeks so am very limited as to pictures I can post as she does not want to be online in any way shape or form... so this post is going to be a combination of Waikiki beach on days between 29th July and 17th August! Enjoy!Read more
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Day 23
Monday, July 31, 2023
☁️ 28 °C
Altitude: Sea level
United States Mokuiki 21.366566, -157.94573521°21’60” N 157°56’45” W
Pearl Harbour
July 31, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
This is a must for me. Lest we forget. (Also sparked by my interest in International Relations/Politics and history)
Was very sombre but very well done memorial.
The memorial is above the sunken remains of the Arizona battleship which had the most fatalities - the majority of which are on the ship...
It is so hard to think of such a tragic event happening in a spot of such idyllic beauty, peace and quiet...Read more
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Day 26
Thursday, August 3, 2023
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 18 m
United States Lauhulu 21.617407, -158.08739921°37’3” N 158°5’15” W
Car trip - O'ahu
August 3, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Covering a lot of what is stared on the map pic, mum and I hired a car (designated driver again!) and visited the following:
- Dole Pineapple Plantation (beautiful gardens and great cafe and shops!)
- Laniakea Beach - much quieter beach than Waikiki and so many sea turtles... this one came up on the beach to say hi!!! Great spot for a snorkel as well 😁
- Waimea Valley and falls - nice easy walk 🙂
-North Shore
- Coastal Drive
- Kaipapa'U Beach (beautiful very very quiet!)
- Kahana Beach - stunning views 👌Read more
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Day 27
Friday, August 4, 2023
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 126 m
United States Waiakeakua Stream 21.327922, -157.79918821°19’41” N 157°47’57” W
Manoa Falls
August 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Mum needed a 'recovery day' so I left her in Waikiki and went for a hike in Manoa Falls... Great opportunity to try out the public transport - not bad (can't help but take work with me 🤦‍♀️)
Great hike, started nicely - bit of an incline but over all well paved and fairly easy... reached the Falls in under an hour so decided to take another route - much more challenging and a lot less people! I think you may be able to tell the difference in the pics 😅
It also started to rain quite heavily an hour or so in so decided to turn back before hiking turned into canyoning!!! My ill-prepared self got very wet and muddy 🤣 luckily there was a hose to clean myself off and it doesn't take anything long to dry once the sun is back out!
Oh yer... and LOADS of chickens (don't know if the video has sound, but they are really on edge!!!)!!!Read more
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Day 28
Saturday, August 5, 2023
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 18 m
United States Pohukaina 21.306783, -157.85880421°18’24” N 157°51’32” W
Iolani Palace
August 5, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
So before Hawaii was territorialised by the US and became the 50th state, it had its Royal family (modelled on the British royal family!!!).
I enjoy learning about the history of places that I go to, how society has evolved to what it is today and what the significant turning points were.
So a trip to Hawaii's Iolani Palace was a must. I learnt about King Khamehameha (who united the islands of Hawaii) and his predecessors, and the fall of the Royal Family to America. Really interesting stuff which could turn this footprint into an essay so won't write it all - I encourage a Google search!!! Lol
After an educational morning, time for pineapple drinks at Barefoot Cafe on the beach and cocktails after sunset!Read more
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Day 30
Monday, August 7, 2023
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 12 m
United States Pahu‘ula 21.639031, -157.92026521°38’21” N 157°55’13” W
Polynesian Cultural Centre
August 7, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Continuing the cultural education, a visit to the Polynesian Culture Centre... was great.
Can visit 6 of the 'islands' in Polynesia to find out about the cultures (Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Hawaii and Tonga) including traditional dancing, food and clothing. Finished the day off with the magnificent show 'HĀ: Breath of Life' show... was buzzing when it was time to leave...Read more
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Day 31
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Altitude: 570 m
United States Pu‘u‘okona 21.320622, -157.72316921°19’14” N 157°43’23” W
Kuli'ou'ou Forest Reserve
August 8, 2023 in the United States
Another rest day for mum = another hiking adventure for me!
I turned my back on the clear beautiful skies and sea of the coast and headed inland to what looked like quite stormy mountains!
Fab hike up a ridge trail... not for those who are afraid of heights as it's a sheer drop each side of a 1.5/2m ridge path at some points, and the views were pretty epic.
Trail was great, really diverse and a steep set of steps to the top... was hot and humid throughout but a great refreshing wind at the top! (As you can probably tell by my snazzy hair doo!)Read more
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Day 34
Friday, August 11, 2023
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 10 m
United States Ke‘ehi Lagoon 21.321285, -157.90910721°19’17” N 157°54’33” W
Helicopter tour!
August 11, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Last day with mum!
Left her alone in the hotel lobby for 5 mins, when I see her she's looking all excited and comes out with 'let's go on a helicopter tour!' - who am I to say no! 😅 and so it is booked (and in the back of my mind I'm thinking how much cycling I will need to do to carbon neutralise this one!)
Was very cool, had a great pilot called Ben but he couldn't understand a word I said as apparently I have a strong accent!
O'ahu from the air is pretty immense, saw a lot of film settings (jurrasic park, lost etc) and the valleys are just indescribable!
Plus have never been in a helicopter before... really cool!Read more
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Day 36
Sunday, August 13, 2023
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 1,223 m
United States Sulphur Banks 19.42876, -155.25722919°25’44” N 155°15’26” W
To the Big Island Hawaii! Volcano Park
August 13, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
After a night in a hostel in O'ahu I flew to the Big Island, Hawaii. There I immediately met some lovely Swiss people, Manuela and Elli... and we started planning!
Within an hour we had booked a car for the Monday (13th) and made a plan for Sunday (12th) to go to the Volcano National Park and me booking on a tag along trip the two had already planned for some stargazing up Mauna Kea...
Nice early start to VNP with a 7:40am bus... but its free so absolutely worth it!!!
The park itself was pretty epic with the steam rising (and smelly), lava tunnels and the crater huge... again some fab hiking, but this time with great company... Elli and I also ventured down to the crater floor - so vast!Read more
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Day 37
Monday, August 14, 2023
Altitude: 464 m
United States Napo‘opo‘o 19.481785, -155.90000619°28’54” N 155°54’0” W
Girls Car Trip around Big Island
August 14, 2023 in the United States
Big Island car trip! So a new friend Yumiko came with us for a girlie trip around the island... and endured Manuela and my karaoke 🎤 Elli somehow fell asleep but learnt that she is very good at sleeping anywhere 🤣
Places we visited:
- Akaka Falls
- Waipi'o Valley (wanted to go for a hike but it was closed but the lookout point was good!)
- Kona for lunch at 'Da Shark Shack' (I had chicken wings... have to say the view was fab but for wings Greidy's in B'ham, UK are better!) Made a gheko friend
- Nāpo'opo'o Park for snorkeling... beautiful place and quiet as only allows 50 guests in at any one point... saw more tropical fish here than I did on the Great barrier reef in Aus... and there's also resting dolphins at the bottom... they didn't want to say hi to us but that's okay!
- Punalu'u Black Sand Beach which was just really cool! Taught the girlie's my 'airplane pose' which you'll see they adopted 😏😅Read more
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Day 38
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 3:00 PM
⛅ 11 °C
Altitude: 4,120 m
United States Pu‘uhau‘oki 19.824576, -155.47371919°49’28” N 155°28’25” W
Stargazing - Mauna Kea
August 15, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
Short footprint for this one as had my phone on charge most the morning while I went and read my book in local park (so nice!) and trying to get pics of the activity was boarder line impossible on a phone (thanks for sending me yours Manuela!)
Yumiko moved into new accommodation today but gave me a lovely gift of an origami crane to give me luck and safety for our future travels 🥰
Manuela, Elli and I went stargazing... our guide was... memorable... we heard a lot about his lettuce growing business and how he single handedly set up the astronomy centre on top of Mauna Kea (yer right!) 🙄 and his obsession with polishing rocks 🪨
Buuut the star gazing was cool, saw the milkyway and Saturn through the telescope - rings and 2 moons as well!!! And cluster stars and just really cool stuff that makes you feel very small and insignificant in the great scheme of things 🙃 loved it... even if guide guy forgot the cups for a warm drink! 😅Read more
TravelerMemorable🤣🤣🤣
8/19/23Reply
TravelerHe was!!! 🤣
8/20/23Reply
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Day 39
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 9:00 AM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 313 m
United States Waiko‘ana Stream 19.776896, -155.12858419°46’37” N 155°7’43” W
Botanical Gardens
August 16, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
So before flying back to the O'ahu for last day of the trip, Kevin, a German guy from the Hostel, drove the three of us (and himself... although hardly as the car was scarily automated!!! 😶) to the botanical gardens...
So see the pics of lots of beautiful greenery and flowers and stuff...
We all got half eatern alive by mozzies though 🤦‍♀️
I'm not even entirely sure where this was on the big island! 😅Read more
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Day 40
Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 8:44 PM
🌙 26 °C
Altitude: 22 m
United States Royal-Moana Beach 21.275527, -157.82530721°16’32” N 157°49’31” W
Surfs up!
August 17, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 26 °C
Last day in North America (or so I thought uploading this two days later from LA airport!!!) and Hawaii
Flew back to O'ahu yesterday but really wanted to get a surf lesson - how can you go to the birthplace of surf culture and not surf?!
So yer, was fab, I surprised myself and was able to stand... but also completely took out a kid 😖😅 'sorry, sorry, sorry I don't know how to turn!!!'

In the evening the gang from the Big Island was also around so we all went for food and said our goodbyes... a lot of love for these guys! And a place to stay in Brum if they ever want to visit! 🥰Read more
TravelerThaks for the fun time, was so cool to meet you💕see you in Switzerland or Birmingham...safe trip!
8/20/23Reply
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Trip end
August 18, 2023