A barn with a view
After the bright lights of Las Vegas I decided to rent a car of my own and drive 700 miles north to the beautiful state of Idaho. The wonderful people who put me up when I travelled to the states for Angelride told me they had a barn in Idaho that I could use if I planned to go to Yellowstone National Park.
Brian and Chaleen had let me live in their home for the week before the ride so I could do some last minute training. They didn’t have a clue who I was, only that there was some crazy British guy who was going to do the ride with a weeks training. They were so generous and kind to me and we got on like a house on fire. Such lovely, caring and generous people. They had recently lost their son in a car accident and we chatted about life, loss, fear and hope. I felt an instant connection with them and when I left it was like saying goodbye to family.
They told me that their barn was remote but I had no idea how remote. My idea of a barn is also a lot different to theirs!:)
I arrived here just after 11pm on Friday night after a 12 hour drive and couldn’t see a thing. This place is in the middle of nowhere but luckily their next door neighbour (who lives about a mile away) was still awake so I stopped in and asked if I was in the right place.
This place is just stunning and feel like I’m living the dream right now. I couldn’t see the view until I woke up the next morning as there are no street lights nearby but when I did I just couldn’t believe it. The balcony faces the beautiful Grand Teton mountain range and it is from this balcony that I write this update (that’s my dinner in the photo).
There is an outside shower at the side of the barn (bottom left of third photo) so you can look at the mountains as you wash your hair. There is no screen or door and no one around for miles so no one can see you. It’s amazing!
There are no curtains in my room so each morning I wake up to the sun streaming through the window.
I got up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night yesterday and I could see these glowing things on the window. They looked so bright and beautiful. When I looked more closely I realised they were stars. I went out in the balcony and looked up and it seemed like I could see the entire universe. There we’re literally millions of stars shining so bright I couldn’t believe it. I could see the Milky Way in all it’s glory. Even at the observatory I visited in Chile I didn’t see stars like this.
Apart from a trip to the supermarket the first two days were spent sleeping. I was so tired. I haven’t really stopped since the bike ride and this was the perfect escape. I’m here for ten days which is the longest I’ve stayed in one place for a while so I even unpacked my bag.
I then went to the Grand Teton national park and have just spent the past two days seeing the wondrous Yellowstone National Park. Photos and video to follow soon.
Brian and I would often chat about how we believe many things happen for a reason. Coming to the states has led to many magical meetings and adventures which I could never have even dreamed of.
On the first day I set off for Yellowstone I put the address for the park into my GPS and when I got to the end of the driveway I looked down to see how many miles it was and I couldn’t quite believe it…. 101 miles to Yellowstone! Maybe I was meant to come here all along!
Brain and Chaleen, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for me and for everything you have taught me. I feel truly blessed to have met you.
X
American Road Trip – Part 5 – Las Vegas
They say ‘what goes on in Vegas… stays in Vegas’ but I’m going to tell you everything!:)….sorry, no ‘The Hangover’ type tales to tell you all.
What an amazing way to finish a memorable three weeks on the road with my two amazing friends Jim and Dave.
Vegas is one of these places that has to be seen to be believed. Even if you think Vegas is not your thing I would definitely recommend spending a couple of days there. There are no clocks in this town and the hotels pump oxygen into the casinos so you don’t know what time it is and you never get tired! Sneaky!
I’ve actually been to Vegas before and I loved it otherwise it would have been on my list. It’s like nowhere else in the world. This time round was a bit more low key than the previous time I was there. I’ll tell you about that experience when I know my mums not reading!:)
There is so much to do and see and it’s not all drinking and gambling. I only gambled once and that was only $1 on a slot machine. I won and then I lost and then it quickly occurred to me that this how Vegas makes its money! Vegas made something like $6 billion last year alone.
I must admit I did toy with the idea of putting all my remaining money on red. If I won I would double my money and continue this amazing trip for a wee but longer. It was then pointed out to me that if I lost I would be going home….immediately!
Whilst there I didn’t see any shows as I was just happy walking around the amazing hotels like Caesars palace, the famous fountains of the Belagio, The canals of The Venetian and the Eiffel Tower of Paris. The guys went to see the cirque de solei show ‘O’ and said it was out of this world. By the way they buzzing afterwards I would say it is definitely one for your lists.
We went to the famous ‘Old Vegas’ and watched a Bon Jovi concert on a screen which hangs over the length of the street. AMAZING!
My most favourite thing in Vegas has to be the fountains of the Belagio. I must have seen them about 10 times on this visit. Watching these fountains light up at night whilst listening to Elton John’s ‘Your Song’ will light up your heart. It’s just beautiful and you can’t stop smiling.
I also gave a talk at school which was fantastic. When I asked the kids what would be top of their lists many of them said Legoland. The question of the day had to be one of the kids asking me “why are you in all of the pictures?” Ha! Love it.
On the way to Vegas we stopped off at the incredible Hoover Dam. I wasn’t too bothered about seeing this at first but it is truly a sight to behold.
My wonderful friends treated me to a helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon which was unbelievable and then spoiling me even more to dinner at the revolving restaurant on top of the Stratosphere tower. Like many of the days it was like a dream.
We ate at the Bubba Gump restaurant which was another highlight (as you may know I’m a big fan of the film Forest Gump) and I had my picture taken on the forest Gump bench!
Being invited on this road trip was like going on a dream holiday. As we sat having our final meal together we all couldn’t believe the things we’d see and done. This was Jim and Dave’s holiday and they kindly invited me to share this amazing experience with them. I can’t even begin to find the words to describe their generosity and how grateful I am. Thank you from the bottom of my heart guys.
Jim and Dave flew home on the 19th and I spent the evening with my good friend Terolyn and her amazing son Kody before driving north on the 20th. This last night in Vegas turned out to be one of the most memorable nights of my life and one which I’ll share in a separate post as there is so much to tell you all.
I’m now on my own again in the beautiful state of Idaho and I write this overlooking the beautiful Grand Teton mountain range. Next thing to tick off the list…the worlds very first National Park…the awesome Yellowstone!
Video coming for road trip coming soon!
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Father’s Day
Last Sunday was Father’s Day in the UK. This post is dedicated to all of those who have lost their fathers far too early in life. It is also dedicated to my wonderful Dad.
When special days like Father’s Day and Mother’s Day come along I am reminded just how lucky I am to still have both my parents in my life.
I have many friends and who have lost parents to either cancer or other forms of ill health. I know from your emails that many of you have as well. I often wonder what it must feel like for those who have lost a parent to see Facebook swamped with posts and pictures of people with their Dad on Father’s Day. I can imagine it must be really difficult but hopefully it also brings back fond memories of the time they shared with their Dad and also shows how grateful other people are to still have their dads in their lives.
This is a picture of me and my big bro with our wonderful Dad, Alan.
My dad is the most amazing and loving man I know. My big brother is my inspiration for travel and adventure and my Dad is where I inherited my ethic for hard work, how to treat others and that family is indeed the best thing in the world.
I also (unfortunately) inherited his sense of humour. When you meet him at our Hot Chocolate gathering on Richmond hill next year ask him to tell you joke about ‘the guy with the speech impediment who goes for the job on the radio’. So bad it’s hilarious!
Since I started writing my book I’ve given a lot of thought to how my illness’ affected my family.
When I was ill as child my mum gave up work so she was with me a lot of the time. I’ve often wondered what it was like for my dad having to go into work each day knowing his son was so ill. How did he cope and what did he think? I don’t think I’ve ever asked him these questions. I will never forget his face when he walked into the intensive care unit after my operation in 2010 and saw me lying there in pain with all the tubes coming out of me. He looked so upset and I know he was doing his best not to show how scared he was.
My dad has worked in a full time job since he was 15 years old and like many people of his generation a steady job is one of the most important things you can have in life. When I told him I was going to leave my job and go travelling he thought it was bad idea and didn’t approve.
When planning 101 things I wrote out type of business plan with all my aims and objectives on it and why I was doing it. The main reason I wanted to travel was to find my happiness again. I had tried all sorts of therapy but nothing could snap me out of the world of fear and anxiety I had created for myself. I wrote down everything I was feeling and the worries I had for the limited future I saw for myself.
My mum had told me how dad had been worrying about the fact I was about to give up my job so she suggested I send him my business plan. So one night I sent it to him and in the morning I woke up to find an email from my dad saying that he now understood and how proud he was of me. Mum told me he had cried when he read it. I’m not sure he really knew the extent of what I was going through before reading that. I wanted his blessing so much and I think it was when I got his email that I really started working hard to make this trip happen. He’s the smartest person I know so I knew if Dad believed in me then everything would be ok….and it was.
So Dad, this message is for you. You’ve always been there for me and I’m so grateful you still are. If I’m half as wonderful a dad as you are then my kids will be the luckiest children in the world.
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American Road Trip – Part 4 – Monument Valley and The Grand Canyon
Monument valley is probably one of the most recognised landscapes in the world. For years it’s been used in movies such as Easy Rider, Forest Gump and pretty much every Wild West movie ever made.
These massive rock formations known as known as ‘buttes’ and ‘mesas’ are the result of millions of years of geological uplift which were then eroded and shaped by wind and water.
We were lucky enough to stay the night inside the valley and got to see the beautiful sunset with a huge moon rising over the valley and then the following day we watched the sunrise above the famous ‘mittens’ rock formations (named so because they look like mittens). I can’t even describe how beautiful it was and this had led me to add it to my list of things to do when you survive. Thing #68 – Watch the sunrise over Monument Valley.
Even though I still have many more things to add to my list before I reach 101 I’m still being quite selective but this is a must for anyone. My only suggestion would be to stay for two nights at the Park. That way you can have one morning for photos and then the next just to take it all in. I sometimes feel like I miss something when seeing these wonderful things because I’m always photographing and filming. I think I need to make more time just to view these things with nothing more than my own eyes. It’s difficult with sunsets and sunrises as they just keep getting better and better!
I also got to run down the Forest Gump Road which unleashed the inner geek in me. Love that film! (I didn’t have time to grow the big beard though).
The mighty Grand Canyon was next up on this road trip of a lifetime and it did not disappoint. This massive canyon is 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide! For millions of years the Colorado river has cut through these layers of rocks to form the canyon as it is today.
I don’t think my pictures do the the Grand Canyon justice unfortunately. The place is so big I just didn’t know how to capture it. There was a haze over the valley which also made it hard to see it’s true colours but if you look at the background closely you can see how huge it is.
Jim and I sat and ate our sandwiches on the edge of the canyon today, no cameras or videos just a view and a good chat. I loved it. It was probably the most impressive place I’ve ever eaten my lunch.
Feeling like the luckiest person on the planet at the moment.
Next and final stop are the bright lights of Las Vegas baby!
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American Road Trip – Part 3 – Death Valley…
… And Valley of Fire, Zion National Park, Antelope Canyon and Horse Shoe Bend
My thirst for travelling and seeing new things has always been fuelled by the images I’ve seen in magazines and on television documentaries. I’ve always wondered if these places are really are as beautiful in real life as they are in the photographs. The answer is a big fat yes! They are incredible.
After you see the photographs in this Album you will no doubt be updating your lists to include these wonderful places.
Death Valley National Park
So after visiting the wondrous Yosemite Park the lads and I drove to the hottest place on Earth, Death Valley National Park. The day we visited it was 117*F (47*C). I’ve never experienced heat like it. As much as I love the sun and warmth even this was far too much for me. I thought Death Valley would be quite a miserable place but it was actually really beautiful with sweeping landscapes, stunning sand dunes and a still silence that I’ve never experienced before.
Valley of Fire
Next up was the red sandstone formations of the amazing Valley of Fire which consists of great sand dunes frozen in time from the dinosaur period.
Zion National Park
We then headed to Zion National Park which I must admit I’d never heard of. My friends organised this trip so I’m just tagging along but this place was unbelievable. Huge mountains surrounding a beautiful green valley. Wow!
The first pictures in this album are of the awe inspiring (I like that term) Horse Shoe Bend on the Colorado river and of Antelope Canyon in Arizona. As you walk up to horse show bend you can’t see anything and then suddenly BOOM! There it is. The most beautiful view of the river bend from up on the surrounding cliffs. It’s just breathtaking.
Antelope canyon is known as a photographers Mecca. This beautiful slot canyon formed by flash flood erosion illuminates light from above which results in stunning beams of light reflecting off the air born sand.
As you will see in this album of 17 photographs I appear in a lot of them. The reason for this is so I could give the landscape some kind of scale and I also that every shot was a 101 ‘I’m embracing life’ arms up in the air moment so I couldn’t help myself!:)
The second shot in the album which is me watching the sunset over the horse show bend was actually a complete accident. I had my camera on a time lapse setting so I could capture the ever changing sunset. I set the camera to take a picture every 30 seconds but I forgot to turn the wide frame setting off. I then went and sat right in the picture without knowing it. I’m so glad I did now as it’s turned out to be one of my favourite pictures.
Coming to the states has turned out to be best short notice decision I’ve ever made. What an unbelievable place. Every view is one that I will cherish forever. Next stop is the iconic Monument valley.
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American Road Trip – Part 2 – Yosemite National Park
Wow wow wow! This is the only way I can describe the beautify of Yosemite National Park.
After the beautiful San Francisco myself and the other two amigos drove to the awesome Yosemite national park. As I’ve said many times before nature played a massive part in helping me get through my chemo and I feel instantly more alive when I’m around any type of natural beauty. I was a bit run down when I was in San Francisco but as soon as we got to Yosemite I felt instantly better.
The Americans were the ones who first came up with the idea of protecting areas of natural beauty and always maintain that it was their best idea. Yellowstone park was the world’s very first National and Yosemite wasn’t very far behind.
I’ve seen so many wonderful natural sights over the past 12 months but Yosemite has to be the most beautiful I’ve ever experienced. The park is enormous with spectacular granite cliffs, huge waterfalls, endless forests and my favourite, the Giant Sequoia trees.
These trees can grow up to 300 ft tall and can live for up to 3000 years. They are amazing. (Have a look at the size of the people in the pics compared to the trees. Crazy big!)
The famous half dome of Yosemite also had me standing in awe. I’ve taken quite a few pics of it as you’ll see in this album. This massive granite rock rises over 4737 ft above the valley floor and is just stunning. It’s also the logo for The North Face clothing company which is something I only just found out. (good knowledge for pub quizzes there).
Just as I thought the world couldn’t get any more beautiful Yosemite National Park came into my life. This is definitely one for your lists!
Next stop, the hottest place on earth, Death Valley!
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Thing #67 – Go on an American Road Trip – Part 1 – San Francisco
A new edition to my list after I was kindly invited by a couple of friends (Jim and Dave) to join them on a dream road trip around the western part of the US. I’m feeling very lucky to be here and even luckier to be able to share these wonderful experiences with friends. This was never something I planned on doing but I’m so happy I am. It’s lovely to have someone else do the organising for once. I don’t have to worry about where I am staying, what bus I need or how I get to places. I feel like I can relax a bit more here. The guys have organised an amazing itinerary and I’ve been managing to stay of the ‘right’ side of the road so far!:)
First stop on the trip was the beautiful San Francisco where I met up with the boys. Unfortunately I wasn’t very well in San Francisco so I’m not sure I got the best out of the city. I’ve been feeling wiped out since my charity bike ride and it all came to a head in San Fran in the form of stomach issues, a cold and fatigue. If I’m completely honest sleep and a diner called Lori’s were my most favourite things but I had a lovely time and visited Alcatraz prison, Muir woods which are home to the giant redwood trees (some were hugged) and also saw the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
I also bought my very first souvenir when I was at Alcatraz. I don’t usually buy souvenirs and in the 11 months I’ve been travelling I haven’t bought a single one but this one caught my attention and I bought it without even hesitating. I bought a baseball with Alcatraz written on it. One of my most favourite things has always been throwing and catching a ball. I can’t explain why but I could do it for hours and since buying it I can’t put it down. As soon as I bought it I threw away the box and started throwing it around. I always wanted a dog so I’d have someone to throw a ball to on a daily basis. Ha! I might add that one to my list for when I get home.
We’ve just arrived in the awe inspiring Yosemite National Park and I can already feel my energy levels rising. Maybe it’s something about me and cities these days. I just feel better and more alive when I’m around nature these days.
Lots more pics to come gang.
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Life after loss
When in New York my mum and I went to visit the newly opened 9/11 Memorial museum. We went along with my friend Anna and her baby daughter Amelie.
I don’t think I need to write too much about what happened on the 11th September 2001. It’s without doubt one of the most horrific things to have ever occurred and is etched into the memory of every living soul who was alive when it happened.
The museum is located underneath where the two towers once stood and tells the story of that fateful day but also how everyday people turned into heroes to save others. As Barak Obama said at the opening it tells the story of “co workers who led others to safety, passengers who stormed a cockpit, men and women who charged into an inferno”.
I wasn’t sure what my reaction would be when I saw the memorial site. Is it something I would want to be reminded of? But I was really surprised at how beautiful it is. The areas where the towers once stood are now beautiful fountains with the names of those who lost their lives inscribed around them. The people of the untied states do not want to forget this tragic day. The museum is as inspiring as it is heartbreaking.
Having little Amelie there added a new dimension to my visit. She has taken a bit of shine to me and likes to call out ‘Geg’ at every given opportunity. When she sees me her little face lights up. One minute I’d be looking at these heartbreaking images and stories and the next I’d hear ‘Geg…Geg’. I’d look down and there was this little beautiful face smiling back at me completely oblivious to all the horror that had occurred that day 13 years ago. It was lovely having her there as once again it was that little reminder that at this present moment all is well and there is a lot of love and hope for the future.
Something that has stayed with me since I visited the museum was hearing a voice message left by one of the victims of Flight 175 for his wife. Believing he was going to die this amazing man called Brian Sweeney phoned his wife and left a voice message telling her that he “absolutely loved” her and wanted her to “do good and have good times”. A selfless message saying that he wanted her and his family to be happy without him.
As heartbreaking as that message is, it is also lovely because he loved his wife so much he wanted her to be happy again and not spend the rest of her days being sad that he was no longer there.
I have met and received messages from people who have lost loved ones far to early in their lives. Some have told me that when they find themselves feeling happy it sometimes makes them feel bad because they their loved one is no longer with them. As I’ve said before I believe happiness is our ultimate goal in life. It the right for everyone to experience this but many struggle to find it. If I hadn’t survived cancer I would definitely wanted my family to ‘go and do good and have fun times’. I certainly wouldn’t want to think of them being sad and angry all the time and not enjoying life.
As heart breaking as Brian’s message to his wife is, it’s also lovely because he got to tell her that there is still a life after tragedy and that it’s ok to feel happy afterwards.
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Into the West
Well it’s fair to say that I was a bit knackered after last weeks amazing bike ride. My brother flew home the day after the ride and went straight from the airport and into work (the guy is a machine…or just crazy) and my mum and I headed to New York to stay with our wonderful friends. It was so wonderful to see my brother and mum after so long away.
What was planned as a 3 day sightseeing frenzy of New York before my mum headed home on Friday actually turned into a sleeping, coffee shop visiting and chatting in the park extravaganza. Both mum and I were absolutely exhausted from the weekends shenanigans so we decided to do our favourite thing of sitting around with a cuppa and watching the world go by.
I have just touched down in San Francisco on the west coast of the US. This is a place I’ve wanted to visit ever since I first saw the film Escape from Alcatraz.
As ever I can’t believe I’m here now (I may have said that a lot in the past 11 months).
When I told people I was coming a couple of my friends got in touch and told me they were coming to the states for a holiday and asked if I fancied joining them. So I got a cheap last minute flight and will meet my pals Dave and Jim tomorrow. They have hired a car and the plan is to go on a three week road trip with me as a stowaway!:) First stop San Francisco, then Yosemite Park, Death Valley, the Grand Canyon and then Vegas baby! I can’t wait for Vegas as I am due to give a talk at a school…. I’m probably more excited about the talk than actually going to Vegas!
Hoping to bring you lots of amazing pictures and stories in the coming weeks gang. Jim is a photographer so get ready for some amazing photos.
Oh, and I thought you might be getting bored of pictures of me with my arms up in air by now so here is one of my mum instead!:)
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The persuit of happiness
As those of you who have read my website or have joined me on my adventure over the past year will know I wasn’t a very happy chappy a couple of years ago.
Gripped by thought of cancer returning (or never actually leaving), suffering from insomnia and caked in eczema I felt like the world was falling down around me. The limited future I saw for myself was ridden with illness and suffering. After months of therapy, anti depressants and eventually the break up of my relationship I knew the time had come for drastic measures. I could either change my life or live in a world of fear for the rest of whatever life I chose to give myself.
It was then that 101 Things to Do When You Survive was born. I made a list of cool stuff I always wanted to see and do and as I planned my trip I started to feel better. I slept, my skin cleared up and I found my smile. I was back to being Greig before I even left on my pursuit of happiness.
The thing is, travelling for such a long time is not really my thing. I love seeing all these wonderful things but I find when I get there the thing I enjoy the most is wondering what you guys will think when you see my pictures or watch my videos. How will it make you feel and most of all will you imagine yourself doing it in the ‘future’.
Without you guys my trip would have ended about 6 months ago. I’m a homebody at heart, I like routine, believe it or not I’m an introvert and I love being around my family.
When I was riding this weekend, tired and in pain I thought about people experiencing illness seeing what I’d done and then believing they could do it too. That’s what kept me going, especially on the Saturday when I rode 86 miles over a long 10hrs 30mins. That’s why I had to finish, so I could show others that there is life after cancer.
People came up to me afterwards and told me how I’d inspired them by what I’d done. Some people who had never done the ride said they would have a go at the ride next year after seeing me do it. That was the best feeling of all because they saw a normal guy who on paper sounds like a medical nightmare do something extraordinary and then they believed they could do it too. Its the best feeling.
We are all searching for things that make us happy. I thought seeing the world would make me happy but it turns out that happiness for me is actually helping and inspiring others. This is what gives me that little excited butterfly feeling in my stomach. I didn’t experience that feeling for a long time. I missed that feeling very much and I’m so grateful to have found it again.
That same guy who was once gripped by fear and sadness only 2 years ago has just been voted on to a ‘Happy List‘.
This is a list complied by the Independent on Sunday newspaper. A list made up of 100 people in the UK who ‘make life better for others’. Founded as an antidote to all those rich lists and celebrity lists, it celebrates a different set of values, embracing those who start charities, help troubled youngsters, give huge amounts of time to volunteering and raising money, foster children, care for wildlife, and much more.
I don’t often share any press on here but apart from feeling completely honoured, I wanted to use this to illustrate that there is a way out of a world of anxiety and depression. And please believe me when I say you don’t need to travel the world to do this.
I can’t emphasise enough that I am just a normal person who is not special in the slightest. If I can get through these physical and psychological battles then you can too. Just keep searching, keep fighting and in every sense of the term, never stop trying to get better.
Thank you so much to everyone who voted me onto this list alongside all these amazing people. I’m feeling ridiculously honoured and happy at this very moment which is the only moment that matters.
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