World Wide Walkies

Lonely? A Traveller’s Tale of Christmas on the Other Side of the World.

paragliding-225621_1280 (2) — Christmas Morning on the Other Side of the World.

I opened the curtains on to a bright, sunny day. I watched a lone paraglider spiral slowly down through the perfect blue sky.

It was Christmas morning and I was alone. In a motel room in Queenstown, New Zealand.

“It’s just another day!” I had assured Sue, my travelling companion, convinced that it wouldn’t trouble me at all. Her boyfriend had flown out to join her for Christmas. Mine hadn’t. He was far too busy. Far to important. Traits that would ultimately clinch his place among the ranks of the X-Men.

But it was not just another day. By my own choice, I was on the other side of the planet from my loved ones and I missed them like hell.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

P1040147 — Mirmande – one of the most beautiful villages in France!

The sleepless nights were redundant. It could have been so different… but it was a no-tears exit from our pitch at Allevarde. No-one had parked next to us – so it was straight out over the two adjacent pitches and on our way!

We followed the glacial blue River Isère as we meandered down through the mountains. The steep-sided valleys widened, until they were able to cocoon Grenoble in a soaring, green amphitheatre, crowned with a halo of bright, white limestone.

We knew that we were in a city; pedestrians rushed along pavements, phones glued to their ears; impatient drivers cut in front of us or hooted impatiently when we didn’t move forward to block the intersections completely with our caravan, even though doing so would only add to the gridlock and chaos!Continue reading “A Trip Down Memory Lane”

Unlucky Al-levard!

It was an impressive drive from Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval to Allevard les Bains. We descended past the foot of Mont Blanc, then climbed back up through the ski resort of Megeve, skirting the Bauges Regional Natural Park.

Being a complete child, however, my favourite landmark was Bastard Automobiles in Sallanches. Sadly, much like when I saw a bus in Zimbabwe with ‘Wankie Express’ emblazoned down its side, I was just not quick enough with the camera to catch it!Continue reading “Unlucky Al-levard!”

Winterised World Wide Walkies – 10 Tips to Keep Chilly Canines Cosy!

It’s that time of year again. The wrong kind of snow has brought Britain to a halt. But with the UK’s weather turning Baltic and the infrastructure buckling due to literally centimetres of snow, now is a good time to share some tips on Winterising your World Wide Walkies!

Our precious pups came skiing for the first time in the Italian Alps last year. It got down to -20, so we can claim a bit of experience in this area!