A Look Back On 2022

Not a huge number of trips this year, but then I did have a huge trip in the summer.

One thing I have discovered about myself in recent years though, is that I no longer mind if a trip involves wild camping, sites, bothies/huts or hostels. It seems I have grown much more concerned about the journey and the trip as a whole, and of course different trips and different areas lend themselves to different arrangements. I also seem to be less likely to go out for just one night, preferring to make it at least a two or three night trip, if possible.

So the first excursion this year was a four day circuit in March, from home, with all of us for a change – me, Geoff, Pebbles and Islay. It was a super trip and we had the most gorgeous weather, but poor Islay did cut a paw quite badly on some broken glass on the second day, causing us to reduce the mileage on the third day and then catch a train home on the last day.

The second trip of the year was another four day circuit from home, in May, but this time I was on my own.

Mixed weather this time. Heavy rain, a couple of hot days and finally a cool, bracing day.

And so, to the Big One, five weeks, across Sweden and Norway.

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and had an amazing time, and it mustn’t be forgotten that you all raised a fantastic amount of money in Lauren’s memory – over £1500! Thank you all so much.

This was certainly a trip where I didn’t camp anywhere near as much as I was expecting to, but the ensuing range of accommodation I ended up using brought an interesting twist to the journey! The whole thing was great – not without its challenges – but the sense of freedom when travelling solo on something like this is just amazing.

I started the trip properly at Sundsvall, on the Baltic Coast

I had previously made friends with Movitz and Signe and their human parents, on social media. They were really hospitable and met up with me when I reached Ostersund, to take me out for fika and a scenic tour of Froson Island

Waiting for the train at Storlien, on the Norwegian border

Finishing the trip at Stjoerdal, at Trondheimsfjord – ie: the Atlantic

Well, after being away for so long, the next trip just had to be a night out with Pebbles!