Wild Daisy Soul Searcher Blog Entry
The other night I was chatting online with a friend who made a comment about how “lucky” I am to be able to be experiencing this trip, travelling across this great country of ours.
I don’t really believe in “luck” nor do I believe that I am any more or less lucky than anyone else. I am grateful for what I have and accept what life brings my way. I believe we create our lives and our experiences in a number of ways. And, of course, I believe in listening to and following my heart.
Her comment got me thinking about the concept of luck however, and our perceptions of luck, when it greets us in our own lives or in the lives of others. It got me thinking enough that it lead me to write the following on my Facebook page last night.
“Luck, whether ‘good’ or ‘bad’, has nothing to do with it. We are where we are because of the choices we’ve made, thoughts we’ve carried with us, risks we’ve taken or not taken and actions we’ve put into motion. That’s the hard truth of life – we’re the only ones that we can hold accountable for where we are and how we respond when life offers us the ‘good’ or the ‘bad’”.
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Ted carefully preparing Miss Daisy for her tow
Wild Daisy Soul Searcher Blog Entry
Being on the road or bike by myself, day after day, affords me a lot of time to think about things. Where should I head to next? When will I finish that damn jar of salsa? I wonder what ever happened to Larry the Cow?
Some days, such as today, I ponder larger issues, like The One True Love.
About a week ago I was chatting on the phone to my friend Pat, who mentioned to me that she’d told a friend of hers about my trip. And, apparently, he couldn’t believe (actually I think his words were “that it was impossible”) that a woman would spend the summer travelling by herself without some sort of companion travelling with her. And that got me to thinking, “who says we can’t travel alone at times in life?” Where does that belief come from? Who says that we need a companion? Perhaps, in fact, we need to travel alone in order to find our One True Love.
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My Radar Jammin' Guardian Angel
Wild Daisy Soul Searcher Blog Entry
I’ve spent the past few days in Jasper which has been spectacular. Surrounded by the serenity of beautiful mountain scenery, it is definitely a place to rejuvenate and inspire the soul. In addition to the beauty of the Athabasca Glacier which is nearby, you’re also close to Mt. Robson which I visited yesterday for some more sightseeing and cycling.
It’s also a place that is filled with much wildlife. Signs everywhere warn you to pay attention as you drive as you’ll often see elk, deer, sheep or something else at the side of, or on, the road, as I did this morning during my bike ride just outside of Jasper. I saw two coyotes, one very large buck (all of which moved too quickly for me and my camera) and these sheep which took over the road. Obviously, you don’t want your vehicle to come in contact with any wildlife but it’s the not the wildlife that concerns me at this point, it’s the Australians.
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Wild Daisy Soul Searcher Blog Entry
I have not done many of the traditional touristy things in the 6 weeks I’ve been on the road. I tend to prefer doing things on my own, with either Miss Daisy or my bicycle, or walking around to see the local sights. I think I just find it a bit more “organic” in a way, meandering around and just seeing what comes up, letting life flow naturally. After 40ish years of listening to what I “should or shouldn’t” do I kind of like experiencing life and the locales on my own terms these days.
There was one experience that I couldn’t pass up however. I wasn’t originally going to head to Jasper and pass the Columbia Icefield but along the way I changed my mind and started researching the area. I decided that I had to go there – actually, no, I “felt” that I needed to go there – and booked a Snobus excursion on the Athabasca Glacier on line.
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Icefields Parkway
Jackie O’ Soul Searcher Blog Entry
Well, the countdown begins. One week to go!!
August 27th 2009 Jackie oh
Grandma and Fallon I'm going to miss this girl very much!
I’ve got almost everything done and bought except a set of long underwear and I still have to go pick up the Euros I ordered from the bank. Plus I still have to move my clothes from my dresser so Maureen can put hers away. No, I haven’t packed yet. I will wait until the last day to pack. I have to try to keep my back pack to under 14 LBs, so may have to rethink what I’ll be bringing. I will arrive in Paris at 7am Sept. 4. I am staying with a CS girl for 2 nights and then taking the late high speed train to Bordeaux where I will stay for 2 nights again with another CS girl. Then not sure until I get to St. Jean Pied de Port – the start of the Camino!! Yes!! I’m VERY, VERY excited!! I found out that my new friend, Camino Ken, will be arriving at the Camino and starting out the same day as me, so we’ll start out together. This 66 year old gentleman has much more energy than me so I’m sure he’ll lose me in his dust!! Ha ha! I’ve had a really nice guy from Germany, Mark, couch surfing with me the past 2 days. He has given me some great hints and advice about traveling in different parts of Europe and has talked me into adding Germany to my tour. I’ve also put a message out to House sitters on Couch Surfers to let people know that I will watch their houses for them if they want to go away for an extended period of time. This will give me a bit of a break too. Thanks to Grant, I got a name of a guy who owns a condo apartment in Nice, France. It costs $350 Euros a week, so if anyone wants to join me there and split the rent, let me know! It looks like a great place and a really good location! I will try to write on this blog once or twice a month and hopefully will be able to download pictures as well. Be well, everyone! Peace! Jackie Oh!
Wild Daisy Soul Searcher Blog Entry
I must say that I’m feeling really grateful today. I’ve received a number of really wonderful emails and comments while out on the road. I’ve appreciated every single one of them and always enjoy hearing from my friends and blog followers.
I received several comments and notes, in particular, about “The Smile Effect”, all of which left me with a smile as well. I am really grateful for the adventure that I’m on and even more grateful to be able to share it with others for whatever inspiration, community or entertainment it provides.
Writing my blog is a complete joy for me, a way for me to share my journey and a way to encourage others to also follow their hearts in life. If I ever did wonder whether I made the right decision in selling my house, downsizing my life, buying Miss Daisy and hitting the road, I know the answer each and every time I’ve smiled in response to a comment or note about one of my posts or received some supportive words of encouragement along the way.
I wish to send you a Huge Thank You for sharing the journey. I look at those smiles along the way as nudges of encouragement that I am indeed following my heart, exactly where I need to go.
Thank you.
You know you’re following your heart when you can’t stop smiling about it. Whatever “it” is for you.
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Wild Daisy Soul Searcher Blog Entry
Before leaving Canmore this morning I stopped in for a fill-up before hitting the road. Just as I was finishing up a gentleman pulled into the station and walked over to me. He said he saw my RV and pulled in to check it out, adding that he had a good friend who is a florist whose favourite flower is the daisy. We chatted for a few minutes, exchanging names and cross-country driving stories before parting ways. Nothing like sharing some daisy love to get your day off to a good start.
So I hit the highway and popped in one of my new cassette tapes, “The Doobie Brothers Greatest Hits”. Yes, I said cassette tapes. Remember those? Miss Daisy is a 1989 vintage and I am still enjoying the original sound system and equipment (but getting no use out of the cigarette lighter I might add).
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Wild daisies just outside of Lake Louise
Wild Daisy Soul Searcher Blog Entry
It wasn’t originally part of my plan to visit Manitoulin Island. When I landed at my campsite in Espanola, which is about 50 kms from Manitoulin, I’d intended to stop over for a couple of nights, relax and get out for a short bike ride. The original plan was to get up early on the second morning and continue driving on to Sault Ste. Marie.
But something changed along the way. As I went about my routine on my first day in Espanola, something was tugging at me to go to Manitoulin, even if just for a day. I’d been there a few years back, coming in from Tobermory, and felt drawn to go back a second time. So I decided to wake up early the next morning, pack up Miss Daisy, and drive to Little Current, northernmost access town in Manitoulin and head off on my bicycle from there.
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Wild daisies on Manitoulin
Wild Daisy Soul Searcher Blog Entry
I have never had a big yearning to be “out there”, to be the centre of attention. I guess I should have realized that driving around in a giant Daisymobile would seriously compromise any thoughts I might have of making it through the summer being inconspicuous. Seems I can’t get too far without being noticed, for one reason or another, while driving Miss Daisy.
People honk at me while I’m driving down the highway which I don’t mind although I can’t tell whether it’s a friendly “hello” honk or a “hey Daisymobile driver, there are flames coming out of your exhaust pipe and we could toast marshmallows back here…..”. So I did have this thought the other day, to put a sign on the back of Miss Daisy to help me with this dilemma. Honk once if you love wild daisies!! Honk repeatedly if any of the following conditions apply:
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Patch of wild daisies at the entrance to the campground
Wild Daisy Soul Searcher Blog Entry
Okay, even I have caught myself feeling a bit under the weather about the weather recently!! While driving to Sudbury this morning, under a sky of cloud and single digit temperatures, I began to wonder if I’d ever get to break a sweat this summer.
And then I got a great email to warm my thoughts. One of my blog readers, Tracy, who lives out in Kitchener is an avid photographer. She went outside to her garden on the weekend, during a break in the rain, to pull some weeds. And this is what she saw…….
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A smiling wild daisy
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