Going On Holiday!

​Tomorrow morning I head out of town … for ten glorious responsible-only-for-me days. To top it all off, I’m heading to my most favourite place in the whole wide world.
 
For those who know me, I mean, really know me, you’ll know exactly where I’m heading. For those who know me only through my blog, you might venture a guess. Here, however, is a hint: I’m driving (not flying … so that kinda rules out Scotland and/or Italy!) and my vehicle is full of camping gear.
 
That’s it. That’s all you get! Well, except for the teaser photo coming up at the end.
 
Where I’m going there is no internet, no cell service, no ‘grid’ amenities whatsoever. I get to tap out, unplug and disconnect myself from the outside world and (hopefully, at least this is the plan) to connect entirely with myself, my emotions, my thoughts and the staggeringly beautiful natural world that will surround me. After all, that’s what holidays are for, right?
 
The original intent of this getaway was to hole up in a comfortable place and write, write, write. Draft 5 of my memoir needed isolated focus and dedication. Then, about a month ago, a huge emotional curveball knocked me off my feet that still has my mind in a spin. I have not yet taken the time to fully reconcile this new revelation (and, it’s a biggie … see previous blog entries). Because of this, my emotional stability and overall level of energy are currently walking two very thin lines.
 
Add to that, a very busy three months of contract work, parental care, moving from one apartment to another and an out of the blue yet heartfelt suggestion, presented by a trusted friend and colleague in the book world, about my own writing project.
 
Can I scream any louder that ‘I need a break!’?
 
So, first thing tomorrow morning, at the crack of dawn with the robins singing their little hearts out into the fresh, dewy air, I will hop into my Jeep and drive eastward. It’s been a couple of years since I drove this very familiar route and I know exactly where I will stop along the way before reaching my ultimate destination.
 
For five nights I will luxuriate in remote wilderness bliss, contemplating the world and my writing from a secluded log cabin surrounded by easily accessible trails and mind-blowing vistas. Then, for the next five nights, I’ll hop around to different campgrounds, laughing and giggling and chattering endlessly with different girlfriends, filling my soul to the brim and beyond with those elements of life I value most (besides my children, who are doing their own things!).
 
Tonight, before falling asleep, I’ll be switching my phone into Airplane mode and there it will remain for 10 days. I will not be checking emails, nor texts, nor social media platforms. I may have to make one telephone call to coordinate one specific girlfriend rendezvous, but other than that, as far as the world is concerned, I will be completely and utterly unavailable. I can hardly wait.
 
So, dear readers, here's to much needed holidays, and the new journals we pack along with us.
 
See ya in 10 days’ time!