17 months. 519 days. 747,300 minutes. 44,838,000 seconds.
8 Countries. England. Scotland. Spain. France. Italy. Japan. Vietnam. New Zealand.
1 Disease. 1 Pandemic. 1 Worldwide Lockdown.
That’s how long it had been since I had seen my best friend in the flesh.
My best friend married an aussie guy in Thailand back in 2019, and since that trip his family officially became my family too. Let’s be honest though, they were my family long before Liz and Luke were married. Whenever I’ve been in the country I’ve spent Christmas day with my best friend, her family, and then when Luke joined the party, his family joined in too. Over the years we’ve all gotten very close, so when Luke’s mom said she was having surgery and asked if I would come help her, without hesitation my answer was yes.
Traveling between New Zealand and Australia had just become possible with a one-way travel bubble opening up, and we had just decided we were nearing the end of our New Zealand chapter, so serendipity was on our side.
After sharing with Liz my plans to go help out, Liz & Luke decided a two week quarantine and some serious moolah was worth the trip, and decided to make the trek from Canada.
Fast forward to the end of May 2021, the end of our New Zealand adventure, the end of living in a rooftop tent, the end of our “2 years of traveling,” and I was on a flight headed to Oz. Headed to wrap my arms around family for the first time in 17 months.
3 hours and 45 minutes after take off I got my first views of Australia. Sadly, Oliver accidentally filed the incorrect application for a visa to Oz, so this trip was a solo one. We spent the week relaxing with family, going for long walks, going to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, and even got to spend a couple nights with friends on the Noosa North Shore.
Wandering Wild 