The original plan was to cover 20 countries in 20 months. The best-laid plans often go astray, especially those made prior to the unexpected emergence of COVID.
No one knows that better than Chris and Marianne Fisher, who began a worldwide odyssey in January of 2020 from their native England only to run right border shutdowns and an eventual need to reverse their route.
The Fishers expected to be finished their intended TREAD The Globe (Travel Responsibly Eat Adventure and Dive) tour in their Fiat Ducato, a 19.52 foot commercial vehicle-turned-camper Trudy, but they91裸聊视频檙e still on the road. In fact, the tour has taken on a completely different life, and may continue indefinitely as they explore new horizons.
The Fishers took time out to chat with Black Press Media while visiting their aunt Julia Barton, in Chemainus, B.C. while on the Vancouver Island leg of their revamped tour.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 like a yo-yo, we keep coming back,91裸聊视频� laughed Chris, 52. 91裸聊视频淚 love Chemainus, everything about it is nice. It91裸聊视频檚 got a really lovely feel and people are very friendly. It91裸聊视频檚 a welcoming, nice place.91裸聊视频�
And that91裸聊视频檚 saying something considering the abundance of places the Fishers have already visited in Europe, Central America, the United States and Canada so far.
The Fishers have become YouTube sensations since the start of their trip. Their videos have surpassed 13 million views and they have 89,000 subscribers.
A series of circumstances led to their decision to sell everything and make this trip 10 years or so ahead of the usual retirement age.
91裸聊视频淥ur friends were retiring and dying or not reaching retirement,91裸聊视频� Marianne said.
91裸聊视频淨uite a few of our friends went within a year and Marianne donated a kidney to a friend,91裸聊视频� Chris elaborated.91裸聊视频淚 had a bit of a panic that I wasn91裸聊视频檛 going to make it to retirement. We all want to make it to retirement to do what we want to do.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淵ou think, 91裸聊视频業 don91裸聊视频檛 want to be one of those people,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� said Marianne. 91裸聊视频淚f I have something to do, I want to do it. I want to be on my death bed saying I actually put my head under freezing cold water in the Arctic Ocean and took on challenges.91裸聊视频�
They made that quick dip in the Arctic Ocean and everything else they91裸聊视频檝e done to date has been entirely worthwhile.
91裸聊视频淲ho gets to say they drove from the Georgia-Russia border to Vancouver Island via Alaska?91裸聊视频� queried Marianne.
Marianne was a hospital administrator and Chris91裸聊视频� last job was the head of catering at two large hospitals. They both left their jobs and sold many of their possessions while keeping their house and renting it out.
They also bought the camper van. An 18-year-old vehicle with 40,000 miles under its belt upon purchase, it has now logged another 70,000.
The trip began in earnest on January 5, 2020 at Telford in Shropshire, England.
91裸聊视频淲e cut a ribbon, we got filmed by the BBC and we drove off into the sunset before COVID,91裸聊视频� said Chris.
Everything went well the first three months through France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia until they hit Turkey. That91裸聊视频檚 when the full impact of COVID became apparent.
91裸聊视频淲e were only supposed to be in Turkey three weeks,91裸聊视频� noted Chris. 91裸聊视频淲e were there 18 months.91裸聊视频�
But the people made it all more bearable.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e found the countries that have the least will give you the most,91裸聊视频� said Chris.
With changing circumstances, including the Russian conflict with Ukraine, the trip literally turned in another direction once the Fishers could get moving again.
They shifted from Istanbul taking the camper van back to the United Kingdom for a couple of weeks and then shipping it to Charleston, South Carolina. They eventually arrived in B.C. after traversing through Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and other states along the way.
They then headed north to Alaska via the Dempster Highway through the Northwest Territories and the Yukon to the Arctic Ocean and back to Chemainus.
Chris has been taking extensive videos of all their experiences on YouTube where they have paid sponsorships helping to pay the bills.
91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 been a real test of everything,91裸聊视频� said Chris. 91裸聊视频淵ou don91裸聊视频檛 know where you91裸聊视频檙e going to sleep, where you91裸聊视频檙e going to get water from. I prefer to stay in the more remote places. It91裸聊视频檚 been fascinating to see. Travelling like this you get another perspective on a country.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 put high expectations on many things,91裸聊视频� offered Marianne. 91裸聊视频淚 find it leads to a much better experience. I always go with a fresh open mind.91裸聊视频�
The final chapter is a long way from being written. Chris intends to write a book someday.
The Fishers are going to tour a bit more of B.C. next and into Alberta before heading south, likely as far as Mexico, then ship the van to Melbourne, Australia. After a brief sabbatical back in England, extensive travels Down Under and probably into New Zealand will follow 91裸聊视频� unless the plan changes.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 say we91裸聊视频檝e got about two years to go on this one,91裸聊视频� said Chris. 91裸聊视频淭he world situation is constantly changing. It91裸聊视频檚 like a game of chess. You just have to make sure you don91裸聊视频檛 get check-mated.91裸聊视频�
You can follow the Fishers under Tread The Globe on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and .
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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