RAMBLE LOGS

The trail pops out at the lovely Wat Pha Lat temple. Temples abound in these parts, but this one is a bit sweeter than the rest. It feels mystic, with the jungle encroaching on all sides.

We met in our Sole Circle, discovered we were neighbors and a year later walked a 1,000-year-old Byzantine road, and visited ancient archaeological sites and swam in the Aegean Sea.

Walking four Caminos has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Each has brought challenges, beauty, and meaning, shaping who I am and giving me memories I'll cherish forever.

We may not have been fast or graceful, but we did it—just one foot in front of the other, sometimes loving it, sometimes hating it, but with such a feeling of satisfaction at finishing.

Karijini, a place that's truly off the beaten path, offers a unique adventure worth adding to your bucket list! The allure of its rugged beauty and the thrill of its adventures are calling me back.

Every time we visit we discover more gems and interesting paths. The Indigenous people call this lake “Gitche Gumee,” meaning “Great Sea,” and it has a spiritual attraction that keeps us going back.

The Skookumchuck Narrows is a passage through which 200 billion gallons of water surges twice a day. If you listened to the logger stories back in the day, there were plenty of hair-raising tales of misadventure on this coast, and this area figured in quite a few.

Every day the temple hosts 10,000 guests feeding each one of them a hot meal free of charge. I felt amazed by the huge amount of guests and that the entire operation was run by volunteers. 

I rambled the Caldera from Fira to Oia in Santorini, Greece - a 10-km trek overlooking the Sea of Crete. It reminded me that out of the explosive eruptions and deepest depressions comes true beauty and that, I, too, can be redeemed.

On our final day, we discovered a cove called Emu Bay. Access was down a steep rock incline that opened up to a stunning white beach, as seen in the movies. We swam in the blue water while an artist sat on the rocks painting, and a couple fished. 

After 50+ years of haunting the trails around Lynn Canyon in North Vancouver getting past the concession area, over the bridge, and onto an actual trail is always sweet. Most of what was a simple dirt trail back in the days when "the canyon" was our playground is now a system of boardwalks with landings and stairs.

Without a doubt, I fell in love with Nicaragua—the beauty, resilience, kindness, and hope. I’ve been home for a long while, and I still find myself pondering the experience—it knocked me off-kilter excellently. This is a trip I highly recommend.

There is always something to see—this ramble has it all: gorgeous views of the Salish Sea, plentiful and interesting boat traffic, pretty forested paths, seasonal wildflowers, interesting birds and wildlife and moderate to easy groomed hiking trails.

The many rambles we experienced in New Zealand and Australia, with the incredible birds we’ve spotted, have cemented in my mind that I am destined to become a bird-watcher. I might even get a vest with excessive pockets, Teva sandals with the requisite dirty toes, and zip-away pants to match my binoculars!

What would a ramble to the Art Museum be without ascending the steps made famous by Sylvester Stallone in the 1976 movie Rocky? We climb all 72 steps, and we’re among many who snap pictures and videos of ourselves in front of Rocky Balboa’s statue when we come back down.

After dinner, we visited Atlanta's most infamous strip club - the Clermont Lounge in the hotel's basement. It felt a little like a rebellious decision, but how could we not - it's famously known as one of the best dive bars in the USA.

Buc'ees has redefined the gas station experience - in a way that is only possible or likely in the USA. It's definitely worth a pit stop. It has over 200 gas pumps and 74,000 square feet of retail space.

One of our favorite stops is Jungle Beach, about a ten-minute drive north of Skidegate. It has a beautiful, long, luxurious stretch of sandy beach at low tide that feels unreal. The only problem with the beaches here is that we never have enough time to spend on them.

"Don't look the monkeys in the eyes!" Wait, what? A wild boar? Welcome to my first days exploring Singapore with the AWA walking group – a fascinating hike filled with wonder, surprises, and a few giggles. I soon realized that without this group of amazing ladies, I would miss out on so much.

Hidden at the trail's end is the glorious, quiet, sheltered La Playuela Beach, where the waves gently lap the shore, and you can enjoy a leisurely swim in the warm sea. Or if you prefer, you can sit under a tree perfectly designed to shade you from the heat and sun.

Hunting down cool coffee shops is an excellent ramble enabler. It takes me to areas in my hometown of Toronto that I wouldn't otherwise have occasion to visit. When I'm traveling, searching for coffee shops gives me destinations to head for, taking me to different parts of those places.