Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is many things for many different people. I have friends who have lost their mum’s to cancer and when this day comes around I often think of them and how they must be feeling. This post goes out to all those who have lost their mums to this horrible disease. Thinking of you all on this day and sending you lots of love.
This is a picture of me and my wonderful mum the day before I went in for my operation in 2010. I wasn’t sure how I was going to look after this day so I wanted a recent picture of me and my family looking healthy and happy. I owe my mum and dad everything that I have in my life and I feel eternally grateful to still have them with me in life.
It was my mum telling me everything would be ok that helped me get through my cancer as a child. She sat by my bed stroking my back and holding my sick bowl as I had what seemed like endless amounts of chemo, slept at the hospital and gave up work to look after me. She’s without doubt my best friend in the world and I wouldn’t be here without her.
Happy Mother’s Day mum and thank you for more than you will ever know.
I hope all you mums are having a wonderful day and being spoilt rotten.
X
Thing #66 – Hike through the wondrous Torres del Paine in Chile
I’ve just got back from a 6 day hike to what I can only describe as one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been to. The Torres del Paine National Park is in Southern Patagonia in Chile is considered to be South America’s best National Parks. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of it before now.
This was without doubt the hardest thing I have ever done. For 6 six days my pal Ryan and I camped and trekked in the most diverse weather conditions I ever experienced. We trekked up to 14km a day in sunshine, rain, snow, 100km winds and slept in freezing cold conditions. Four seasons in 6 days.
As ever in these pictures I am smiling and looking like I’m having the most fabulous time but the truth is that I was cold, exhausted and my leg hurt like hell. Within an hour of starting the trek (called the ‘W’ trek) I had to offload most of the food I was carrying to Ryan as I couldn’t even walk on the flats let alone up the hills. At night it was so cold I couldn’t sleep and whilst walking the following day I would dream of a bed, a hot shower and a big comfy couch to collapse on!
I think by looking at these pictures you would agree that this was worth every second of those tough times. I saw glaciers, waterfalls, huge towering mountains, snow covered forests, green coloured lakes and landscapes that make you wonder if you are actually awake or in a beautiful dream.
I don’t say this very often but I’m very proud of myself to have completed this trek. I am now into my 4th year of remission for bowel cancer and I have a blood clot which makes walking difficult but I did it!
If you’ve had treatment or an operation and feel like you will never your strength back, please please please believe me…. you will! No doubt about it. I felt exactly the same only two years ago and now I’ve just done this trek. You will be doing things like this soon, I promise you.
A massive thank you to Ryan for carrying the heavy stuff and taking some wonderful photos.
A new addition to my list and one I’m so grateful to have discovered. X
My journey to Patagonia
The last week or so has mainly involved trying to get to Southern Patagonia. As spring approaches back home in the UK winter is on its way down here so I wanted to get here before it really kicks in.
My pal Ryan and I jumped on 36 hour ferry from a place called Puerto Montt in Chile (where we spent a couple of nights in a national park called Cochamo which had the most amazing mountains and waterfall) down to a place called Puerto Chacabuco. We we’re told we would be in a dormitory but to our surprise we got our own private en-suite room which was the best news ever!
I’ve been feeling really tired recently and think I may have overdone it with the volcano climb so it was lovely to have an excuse to do absolutely nothing but read my book ( A Game of Thrones! It’s really good!). I slept, ate, read and slept a whole lot more! It was bliss and I felt back to my best afterwards so all good.
After we got off the ferry we were taken to a woman’s house in Puerto Aysen by the bus driver where I shared a room with a French couple. It’s a very strange thing sleeping next to a couple you’ve never met before but they were the loveliest people who didn’t snore….much!:) They were heading the same way as us so we all got another bus to Coyhaique where we had 4 hours to wait for another bus. During that time I quickly got my head shaved and then jumped on another bus to place called Rio Ibanez where we all had to wait another day for another ferry across Lake General Carrera to Chile Chico.
A one hour bus ride to Los Antiguos and we were finally in Southern Argentina. A nights stay in a hostel this time sharing a room with the French couple and Ryan (things are starting to get weird now!:)) and then a 16 hour bus journey to where I am now, El Calafate….The capital of Patagonia!
Tomorrow I’m off to see one of my childhood dreams….The Perito Morino Glacier! A massive glacier which I’ve seen in geography books all my life. I’m ridiculously excited!
On Sunday we head back into Chile for a five day hike in what is widely considered to be the most beautiful National Park in South America. I reckon that’s where I’m going to make my money back on my new hiking boots!:)x