We circumnavigated the globe!!!!

WE DID IT! 🌎🥂 🚂✈️🛳⛵️🚖🌍

“Single Mummy from Worthing successfully circumnavigates the globe with 7 yr old son”

(Can you tell I’m feeling pretty chuffed?)

I once dreamed of being a millionaire – and now I am, for I have a million priceless memories which no one can ever take from me.…

It still feels like yesterday that as a pregnant single mother- to-be I sat on my kitchen floor sobbing my heart out, scared that I wouldn’t be good enough, scared that I wouldn’t have enough money to even feed & clothe my baby…..

Today however after the past 24 days aboard the MS Maasdam, Cam & I sailed under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and in to the beautiful bay of San Francisco. Although our travels are far from over, this symbolic day for us marks the fact that since we arrived in Vancouver back in September last year, we have now successfully circumnavigated the entire globe and ECSTATIC doesn’t even come close to how we are feeling right now!!

Since we pulled out of Vancouver onboard the Rocky Mountaineer back in October towards Kamloops we have crossed 4 continents – had 6 full days and 1 night travelling aboard various trains, 17 flights totalling 34610 miles, spent 7 weeks at sea aboard 3 different cruise ships, slept in 22 different beds, crossed the international date line, the equator & goodness knows how many times zones and lived a life which once upon a time I couldn’t have even dreamed of.

Our travels took us coast to coast from Vancouver to New York, then southerly from Chicago down to New Orleans and around the Caribbean. After a short stop back in the U.K. in January we headed on to South East Asia, Australia, & New Zealand before boarding our final cruise ship in Auckland to sail across the pacific ocean via numerous polynesian islands to San Francisco.

There have been a few challenges along the way, a couple of grotty hotel rooms and two occasions when Cameron became hospitalised (once when we woke up in Calgary and wasn’t able to walk, the second when he ended up on a drip aboard MS Maasdam just a couple of weeks ago with a severe case of influenza!) Both times were pretty scary and the only times when I felt completely alone and a million miles from home.

Other than that though, EVERY day has been happy, magical, exciting and breathtaking. We have met and connected with the most incredible people, spending time with friends old and new along the way. The experience has provided us both with enrichment far beyond my wildest dreams and without any shadow of a doubt been the happiest time of my entire life.

I have learnt many valuable lessons throughout this journey but most importantly just to live your life to the fullest – grasp it, run with it, and don’t let anything or anyone stand in your way.

Would I do it all over again?? YES, in a heartbeat.

As I said at the beginning though, our travels are not ending yet. We shall be spending the next couple of weeks here in San Francisco – those closest to us will know that this city is already very special to me as it is where my brother chose to spend the last 12 years of his life and where he died at the age of just 37. Last time I was here in 2010 I shed a LOT of tears and I would be lying if I denied feeling more than a little emotional today; desperately wishing he could have been here proudly watching us sail into the bay this morning and been there to greet us with open arms and join in our celebrations. BUT – this time I am determined to seek only joy here as I watch my little boy run, play, jump, laugh, sing, learn and explore in the city which his Uncle loved so dearly and I know that wherever we walk we shall be enshrouded with rainbows🌈🌈

After our time here in San Francisco we shall then be doubling back on ourselves to fly to Hawaii, then later onward to Bali and Hong Kong.

Cameron is due to go back to school in September, but school or no school our journey of exploring & learning from this phenomenal planet & it’s people is far from over.

THANK YOU to everyone who has read our blogs, supported us from afar & shared in our adventures – and perhaps more importantly ‘thank you’ to my brave & beautiful little boy Cameron, who has truly done me proud and been a real little trouper. He did not ask for this journey as it was MY dream, however he has left behind his home, his school, his family and his friends to fully engage & grasp everything the world has to offer. I am so very blessed to have shared this journey with such an incredible little human and been able to view the magic & wonder of this planet through his eyes. 💙

Below – A few highlights from our magnificent journey around the globe:

Leaving Vancouver on the Rocky Mountaineer

Calgary

Cruising the Caribbean on The Carnival Dream

Palm Beach

Rotorua

Brisbane in the rain!

Australia Zoo, Nr. Brisbane ⬆️⬇️

The final sail away from French Polynesia

Sailing across the equator

King Neptune Ceremony

The last 7 days at sea in the Pacific