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 theyB次元官网网址檙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.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like a yo-yo, we keep coming back,B次元官网网址� laughed Chris, 52. B次元官网网址淚 love Chemainus, everything about it is nice. ItB次元官网网址檚 got a really lovely feel and people are very friendly. ItB次元官网网址檚 a welcoming, nice place.B次元官网网址�
And thatB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淥ur friends were retiring and dying or not reaching retirement,B次元官网网址� Marianne said.
B次元官网网址淨uite a few of our friends went within a year and Marianne donated a kidney to a friend,B次元官网网址� Chris elaborated.B次元官网网址淚 had a bit of a panic that I wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to make it to retirement. We all want to make it to retirement to do what we want to do.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵ou think, B次元官网网址業 donB次元官网网址檛 want to be one of those people,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Marianne. B次元官网网址淚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.B次元官网网址�
They made that quick dip in the Arctic Ocean and everything else theyB次元官网网址檝e done to date has been entirely worthwhile.
B次元官网网址淲ho gets to say they drove from the Georgia-Russia border to Vancouver Island via Alaska?B次元官网网址� queried Marianne.
Marianne was a hospital administrator and ChrisB次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淲e cut a ribbon, we got filmed by the BBC and we drove off into the sunset before COVID,B次元官网网址� said Chris.
Everything went well the first three months through France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia until they hit Turkey. ThatB次元官网网址檚 when the full impact of COVID became apparent.
B次元官网网址淲e were only supposed to be in Turkey three weeks,B次元官网网址� noted Chris. B次元官网网址淲e were there 18 months.B次元官网网址�
But the people made it all more bearable.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e found the countries that have the least will give you the most,B次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 been a real test of everything,B次元官网网址� said Chris. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 know where youB次元官网网址檙e going to sleep, where youB次元官网网址檙e going to get water from. I prefer to stay in the more remote places. ItB次元官网网址檚 been fascinating to see. Travelling like this you get another perspective on a country.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 put high expectations on many things,B次元官网网址� offered Marianne. B次元官网网址淚 find it leads to a much better experience. I always go with a fresh open mind.B次元官网网址�
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 B次元官网网址� unless the plan changes.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 say weB次元官网网址檝e got about two years to go on this one,B次元官网网址� said Chris. B次元官网网址淭he world situation is constantly changing. ItB次元官网网址檚 like a game of chess. You just have to make sure you donB次元官网网址檛 get check-mated.B次元官网网址�
You can follow the Fishers under Tread The Globe on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and .
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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