We arrived back in Victoria last night. My parents, sister and Jane waiting for us at the airport. Was pretty jet lagged coming back, and the whole trip seems sort of surreal now.

When I think back to New York City, I can’t help laugh; suited up, 35 pounds heavier, short hair, no facial hair at all and a backpack that felt as if I was carrying dumbbells.  After a few weeks the bag become pretty much like a feather on my back. To summarize the trip from start to finish would take forever, and still I’ll miss something. So instead, let’s go over some funny things I learned:

1) Ignore hostel ratings. A good hostel becomes “good” by the people we met in them.  Some are filled with great people, others with fat-naked-snoring-stinky men walking around in the middle of the night. Like Russian Roulette, without the death.

2) Take the route less traveled. When we did this, we stayed in really neat little hostels and the people are very hospitable.

3) Patience. When waiting for trains that are late, or connecting trains, or for Jordan to hurry up and pack his bag out of the tent so I can pack the tent itself… you learn patience! haha!

4) No slap bets involving liquor… ever!

5) Don’t follow the route you set… you’ll never follow it. Although we missed some things, Rome isn’t going anywhere… it’s been there for quite some time now.

6) My true-passion for becoming a professional whistler may be a little out of my reach.

Some statistics:

Countries visited: 24
Cities visited: 70
Train rides: 114
Boat rides: 14
Plane rides: 10
Hospital visits: 2

The best is yet to come. Bike Across Canada is next.

Bye for now!