RAMBLER PROFILES

My love for hiking and the great outdoors was instilled in me by my father, who immigrated to Canada in 1956 from Berlin just before the wall went up. He was incredibly grateful to be in Canada and always prioritized exploring our stunning landscapes with his young family during every spare moment.

You will learn that you are smarter, stronger and more worthy than you give yourself credit for. Believe in yourself, you will grow into a strong and independent woman who may still struggle with insecurity but will find courage and become the person you have hiding inside.

There is a small mountain in Connemara called Máméan (Mawmean), where I go whenever my soul needs a hug. It was an important place of worship in the Pagan Times and is also a place of pilgrimage at certain times of the year.

Sole Sister Ramblers came into my life at just the right time when my world had turned upside down. For years, I had to take care of my husband with Alzheimer's, and as a result, our social circle slowly shrank.

I enjoy being a part of the group of Founders that is bringing Sole Sister Ramblers to the world. I've loved the collaboration of working with some very old friends and a new one. We are in each other's lives daily, which we wouldn't be if Sole Sister Ramblers didn't exist. 

I love how comfortable I am in my own skin. I love the confidence this age has brought me. I love watching my children start their lives. This age also makes me sad. Life is going too fast. I crave for it to slow down. I try to be grateful for every moment … easier said than done.

I love bright colors and flowers in my home, and my favorites are burgundy, blue, and orange. My home entrance is painted pumpkin orange, burgundy in the living room, and the family room is slate blue. I love the colors, and I get a lot of compliments.

Christina Ho is just your average everyday sane, psycho, and super goddess. She is a proud 58-year-old, was born in Taipei, and today loves to ramble in her hometown of Seattle, USA.

Joanne Collins is 65, was born in Toronto, Canada, and currently lives in the township of Magnetawan (population 1,753), located a few hours north of her hometown. She doesn't do things half-measure and tries to squeeze all the great things...

I love the feeling of being comfortable with who I am, the good and the bad. I also love being a witness to the adults my three kids have grown into and the relationship that has evolved between them and me.

So, we bought a rocky scrap of land on Vancouver Island, lived in a holiday trailer with our dog for a couple years, drew a house on grid paper, built it, and officially opened Island Time B&B this year.  I even built the website myself!  How hard could it be, indeed!

Trying to please everyone has been an ongoing theme in my life for as long as I can remember. I’m still learning to set boundaries as I learn more about self-care.  That “no” is a complete sentence is some of the best advice I have received.   

Lisa Spender is a dance teacher with tiny feet who is almost 55 and lives in the United Kingdom. No Shirley Bassey jokes please! Her bravest moment was leaving a long abusive relationship to be a single mum. Also, she left a thirty-year career nine months ago with no plan.

My bucket list includes a road trip across Canada and the United States, visiting all the federal parks. I also dream of spending time anywhere with warm weather and water. I also want to do a walking tour of Scotland, England, and Ireland someday!

I am a night owl and my favorite way to relax is with a strong cappuccino. My teens were spent riding my horse on trails through the woods and over the fields, safely hanging out on beaches, or wandering quiet roads in the moonlight with my friends.

The bravest thing I have ever done was travel alone to Guatemala and Honduras in 2001. I spent two and a half months exploring these two countries, which was scary, exciting, and enlightening.

Big trees speak to my soul. I stepped out of the car and into the forest and immediately felt small in the silence and watchfulness of the thousand-year-old giants.

I want to cruise around Cape Horn and see penguins, hike Machu Picchu and explore more of Via Ferrata, which is a climbing area in Quebec.

As teenagers, we covered ourselves in baby oil and got horribly burnt while trying for that Farrah Fawcett tan! I loved knowing almost all the kids in town and being able to explore everywhere fearlessly by bike and on foot.