The Long Ride to London

I was on the phone with Daddy when the night train to NYC came rolling into the station. Of course I was crying my eyes out. I had called him jubilant, just to say goodbye and check on my dog one last time, but saying goodbye to my father is never easy. 

The train is pretty full. Not much like I remember when I've been up and down the West coast; this time the ride out of North Charleston is very bumpy. 

I'm taking a very big step to do something I've talked about hundreds of times with friends. I remember us all sitting around with drinks on many occasions boasting of our future travels together.  We always listed all the places we'd wanted to go. My list was always full of Europe and Australia. 

In this world there are sayers and there are doers. I've always strived to be a doer. This economy has not afforded me the luxuries that I thought the real estate market could provide. I put off travel again and again for a few more months, or a year, or until I'd saved up some money. 

What happened? My house was getting bigger and bigger. I owned nicer and nicer things. I kept after that American dream of things that I needed in my life. But I'd never saved for what I wanted. Always distracted by the shiny things on sale. The next time you see a 'Buy more, Save more!' sign, do me a favor and think of me. Think of 'Life on Sale' instead.

I'm currently on a journey that will take me far, far from home. I will be staying at a hostel in London to start, and from there I'm not sure what the world holds for me. I do have a travel companion. My boyfriend, Jay, will be following me a short time after I get to London. From there we plan to bicycle and live throughout Europe for some period of time that is undefined exactly at this time. It could be 6 weeks or 6 months, but there is much to explore in Europe! 

Here, I will detail for you our experiences and photos as well as our cost of travel. It is my intent to show all my friends who keep putting off such travels how affordable it can be done!

Packed with me is one small carry on, my guitar that is carried on, waterproof (basically) backpack that is checked and I've checked my bicycle.

With no clue of what awaits me on the other side of the wardrobe, I am stepping through.