As this post goes live I’m en route to Black Sail, a hostel in The Lake District fells only accessible on foot or bike. It’s not a difficult walk and hopefully it’s nice and sunny, but this is England so who the hell knows. If you’d asked me one year ago what I’d be doing today, hiking through England’s highest peaks would not have figured in any list of possible replies.

It’s exactly two years ago since I arrived in Paris, dreaming of adventure. I’ve learnt a lot since then, but the lesson that stands out is that I never have any idea where the world will lead me or who it will lead me to.

Two years is a long time and it isn’t.

So much has happened. Sooooo much. I ran a half-marathon. Went horse riding in Iceland. I moved to the most beautiful place in England. I saw my first iceberg. I went to my first travel bloggers conference. I finally saw Dylan Moran live. I hung out with Stuart O’Grady’s family in a VIP tent at le Tour de France. I was robbed. I went to the Olympics. I built my first snowman. I’ve visited Paris four times and will make it six by the end of the year.

Snowboarding in Vancouver with my friend Craig for my birthday last year.
Snowboarding in Vancouver with my friend Craig for my birthday last year.

I’ve also said goodbye. A lot.

It started two years ago when I left my career, home and friends. Four weeks later I was waving goodbye from a train window, while my family stood on the platform at Tarragona in Spain. There have been hundreds of goodbyes since then, and many more to come. With so little time left in the UK, I’m already making plans to spend time with my friends here before I go – the precursor to saying goodbye to them too.

Meeting people is one of the things I love most about my lifestyle. I travel solo, but not really. There are always people: passengers on a train; CouchSurfing hosts, a traveller in my hostel dorm. It’s those people and the experience of meeting, talking, learning, sharing and perhaps forming a friendship, that I treasure most.

But when people like me say how great it is to meet so many people from all walks of life around the world, we never mention how hard it can be to say goodbye to them all.

Lucie and me at Cap Griz Nez in France.
Lucie and me at Cap Griz Nez in France.

 

Sometimes it’s harmless – to the American guy I explored Barcelona with or the Latvian girl who kept me company on the bus from Paris to London. Thanks for the conversation. Have a great life.

Sometimes it’s just goodbye – for now. Although when travelling, you rarely know that at the time. I’ve written about Lucie – a Couchsurfer who stayed with me when I first moved to Vancouver. We kept in touch and earlier this year I visited her and her family in France. When I met her and Bertie at the skytrain station in Vancouver, I never could have predicted we’d be in touch all this time later.  In a few weeks I’ll hopefully be catching up with some of my first hosts, Mel and Bryan, in Dublin and my host in Berlin, Annika, is about to move to Australia and will even be staying with my sister when she arrives so no doubt we’ll be seeing each other again when I’m home.

But other times saying goodbye is hard. Really hard.

Bre and me at Halloween in Vancouver.
Bre and me at Halloween in Vancouver.

 

The only photos of Annika and me in Berlin were taken in a photo booth. We ripped the strip and took half each.
The only photos of Annika and me in Berlin were taken in a photo booth. We ripped the strip and took half each.

 

Leaving Vancouver was tough. I wasn’t ready to go. I’d made some amazing friends and the city and the people I knew in it were beginning to feel like home. And then I left. Now it looks like I’ll be going back there, but I didn’t know that then. When a close friend said she was worried she’d never see me again, she had a point.

Leaving the UK won’t be any easier. Moving to The Lakes and working for YHA threw me in the middle of an eclectic bunch of adventurous, welcoming and really fun people. There are also friends from Australia who now live in the UK and many won’t go back for a while. Between their travel plans and mine, it will be a long time between drinks.

Dace, Lizzie and Jowsey on a lunch break after a hike in the Lakes.
Dace, Lizzie and Jowsey on a lunch break after a hike in the Lakes.

 

Constantly saying goodbye isn’t unique to travel – people move around all the time for family, careers and love. But in those situations there is usually someone to go home to, or a workplace where there are people to meet and friends to be made. When travelling you say goodbye and then there you are, standing on a train platform, alone again. I’m not complaining – this is the life I’ve chosen and travelling by myself is what I want and love.

I just wish the hello/goodbye ratio wasn’t so even.

While in Ireland earlier this month I caught up with my friend Hanna. We worked together in Vancouver and she’s just moved back to Galway after living in London for a while. We went out for a drink and when it came time to say goodbye she made the very likely, yet depressing, point that we probably won’t see each other again.

Now, I could feel sad about that OR I could think about how lucky I am to have met such a wonderful person. I’ll take the latter and that goes for most of the people that have been part of my travels, however briefly. The cities, the sights, the experiences have been great, but it’s you that have made the last two years so amazing.

Thank you

Author

Pegs on the Line is a collection of stories about places, people and experiences around the world. It's written by Megan Dingwall, an Australian journalist with an insatiable curiosity. Available to answer questions such as is Tasmania a real place (yes) and do Tassie devils spin (no).

8 Comments

  1. I like this article Megan, love how it is written. I actually hadn’t even thought about that part of traveling before.

    • Megan Reply

      Thanks Jak. Seems like only yesterday I said goodbye to you though xx

  2. Bitch! You made me cry!

    Fabulous article! You put that beautifully and perfectly summed it up!
    Although I am afraid that I am sad that you won’t just be down the road! I have loved having you near by. It’s been so great having having someone who knows me and my family around! However they are all selfish thoughts for you I am SO SO SO excited and so in awe of your drive for adventure! I can’t wait to hear all about the next chapters of your adventures!
    So I am refusing to say good bye, just I’ll see you down the track!
    X

    • Megan Reply

      Aw Amy, that’s really sweet. It is hard, but it has it upsides: Who would have thought I’d be in Scotland to celebrate your birthday three years in a row?

  3. Can’t believe it’s been 2 years since I’ve seen that beautiful face… 4 & a half months & counting!!!

    • Megan Reply

      Oh he was brillant. I’m missing him by just a couple of days when he performs in Dublin in a few weeks. If you ever get the chance, you definitely have to see him!

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