In August 2010, while still living in Mackay, Neil and Michele discussed the fact that we hadn't been to Gallipoli and that it was on both our bucket lists. With the 100 year anniversay coming up in 2015 we decided to investigate the possibility of making that the year of our visit. In September 2010, we booked and paid a deposit for a cruise from Venice to Instanbul, Kanakle, Instanbul and back to Venice with Australian Military History Tours.
Not long after this I realised that the Rugby World Cup was in England same year and not that far from Venice and suggested that we should extend our time o/s from April to October. At this stage I was thinking that a villa in south of France or Tuscany would be great for a few months. It took a while to convince Neil that we should 'spend the kids inheritance' and make a tour of 2015, but once I had done this of course having Neil sit still in a villa for a few months was not a possibility (easy to understand if you know Neil). We then needed to fill in the intervening 6 months.
The Pilgramage of St James to Santiago de Compestela came onto our radar and quickly became something that interested both of us. A couple of weeks after initially discussing the pilgramage we went to New Farm Shopping Centre for a coffee and chanced across Claude Tranchant who was there selling her book of her experience of the Pilgramage called "Boots to Bliss" - coincidence?? All the reading we have done says that 'you are called to do this pilgramage' and coincidences continually occur until you answer the call. Those that know Michele know that the villa in Tuscany is more a natural
choice than walking!!! for 1- 2 thousand kilometres with backpack, but her excitement to undertake this uncharacteristic journey seems to point to this being true. Exciting and scary!!!
The initial plan was to walk from Le Puy in France through to Finistere and Muxia on the Spanish Coast - a journey of 2 thousand kilometres in 80 days - a little (well a lot) daunting for Michele. We then became aware of the visa agreement that exists for Europe - Schengen Agreement - which only allows Australians to be in the Schengen area (Europe) for 90 days out of any 180 days. Well with our 'walk' scheduled to take 80 days that didn't allow for other proposed plans in Europe, Neil also fell on his 'football' knee and was incapacitated for several weeks, so we changed our plans to only walk from St Jean de Port in France(base of the Pyrennes) to Finistere and Muxia on the Spanish Coast - back to 40 days. When you apply for extended visas with most of the countries - they will give them for study and work(of course with conditions) but won't even consider for tourists - seems strange when all you want to do is spend money in their country.
During this period I discovered on facebook an International Dougherty Clan (based in America) that have a five year reunion on the Inishowen Penisula, Ireland which is scheduled not long after we finish the walk - meant to be. An international irish reunion - that opportunity doesn't come along very often for those with irish heritage.
For years we have watched the Edinburgh Tattoo on tv and visited Endinburgh and have wondered how it is performed where it is, as it looks very different level wise from real to tv, so next off to see the Endinburgh Tattoo.
We have also had on our bucket lists an European River Cruise and both have an interest in 'war history'. Upon investigation we discovered that 'Scenic Tours' have a tour that has a land content from Prague through the German and Polish 'WWII areas' and then a cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. Booked.
Back to Great Britain (because of Schengen Agreement) to spend some time 'housesitting' we hope and then Rugby World Cup in England. Tickets booked for all the finals, undecided about the other games at this stage.
Finally on 01 November 2015 we fly home after 208 days 'SKIing'.
103 DAYS TO GO.
