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 they香蕉视频直播檙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.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 like a yo-yo, we keep coming back,香蕉视频直播� laughed Chris, 52. 香蕉视频直播淚 love Chemainus, everything about it is nice. It香蕉视频直播檚 got a really lovely feel and people are very friendly. It香蕉视频直播檚 a welcoming, nice place.香蕉视频直播�
And that香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淥ur friends were retiring and dying or not reaching retirement,香蕉视频直播� Marianne said.
香蕉视频直播淨uite a few of our friends went within a year and Marianne donated a kidney to a friend,香蕉视频直播� Chris elaborated.香蕉视频直播淚 had a bit of a panic that I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 going to make it to retirement. We all want to make it to retirement to do what we want to do.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淵ou think, 香蕉视频直播業 don香蕉视频直播檛 want to be one of those people,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 said Marianne. 香蕉视频直播淚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.香蕉视频直播�
They made that quick dip in the Arctic Ocean and everything else they香蕉视频直播檝e done to date has been entirely worthwhile.
香蕉视频直播淲ho gets to say they drove from the Georgia-Russia border to Vancouver Island via Alaska?香蕉视频直播� queried Marianne.
Marianne was a hospital administrator and Chris香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淲e cut a ribbon, we got filmed by the BBC and we drove off into the sunset before COVID,香蕉视频直播� said Chris.
Everything went well the first three months through France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia until they hit Turkey. That香蕉视频直播檚 when the full impact of COVID became apparent.
香蕉视频直播淲e were only supposed to be in Turkey three weeks,香蕉视频直播� noted Chris. 香蕉视频直播淲e were there 18 months.香蕉视频直播�
But the people made it all more bearable.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e found the countries that have the least will give you the most,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 been a real test of everything,香蕉视频直播� said Chris. 香蕉视频直播淵ou don香蕉视频直播檛 know where you香蕉视频直播檙e going to sleep, where you香蕉视频直播檙e going to get water from. I prefer to stay in the more remote places. It香蕉视频直播檚 been fascinating to see. Travelling like this you get another perspective on a country.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 put high expectations on many things,香蕉视频直播� offered Marianne. 香蕉视频直播淚 find it leads to a much better experience. I always go with a fresh open mind.香蕉视频直播�
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 香蕉视频直播� unless the plan changes.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 say we香蕉视频直播檝e got about two years to go on this one,香蕉视频直播� said Chris. 香蕉视频直播淭he world situation is constantly changing. It香蕉视频直播檚 like a game of chess. You just have to make sure you don香蕉视频直播檛 get check-mated.香蕉视频直播�
You can follow the Fishers under Tread The Globe on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and .
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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