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 theysa国际传媒檙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.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 like a yo-yo, we keep coming back,sa国际传媒� laughed Chris, 52. sa国际传媒淚 love Chemainus, everything about it is nice. Itsa国际传媒檚 got a really lovely feel and people are very friendly. Itsa国际传媒檚 a welcoming, nice place.sa国际传媒�
And thatsa国际传媒檚 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.
sa国际传媒淥ur friends were retiring and dying or not reaching retirement,sa国际传媒� Marianne said.
sa国际传媒淨uite a few of our friends went within a year and Marianne donated a kidney to a friend,sa国际传媒� Chris elaborated.sa国际传媒淚 had a bit of a panic that I wasnsa国际传媒檛 going to make it to retirement. We all want to make it to retirement to do what we want to do.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淵ou think, sa国际传媒業 donsa国际传媒檛 want to be one of those people,sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒� said Marianne. sa国际传媒淚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.sa国际传媒�
They made that quick dip in the Arctic Ocean and everything else theysa国际传媒檝e done to date has been entirely worthwhile.
sa国际传媒淲ho gets to say they drove from the Georgia-Russia border to Vancouver Island via Alaska?sa国际传媒� queried Marianne.
Marianne was a hospital administrator and Chrissa国际传媒� 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.
sa国际传媒淲e cut a ribbon, we got filmed by the BBC and we drove off into the sunset before COVID,sa国际传媒� said Chris.
Everything went well the first three months through France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia until they hit Turkey. Thatsa国际传媒檚 when the full impact of COVID became apparent.
sa国际传媒淲e were only supposed to be in Turkey three weeks,sa国际传媒� noted Chris. sa国际传媒淲e were there 18 months.sa国际传媒�
But the people made it all more bearable.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e found the countries that have the least will give you the most,sa国际传媒� 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.
sa国际传媒淚 think itsa国际传媒檚 been a real test of everything,sa国际传媒� said Chris. sa国际传媒淵ou donsa国际传媒檛 know where yousa国际传媒檙e going to sleep, where yousa国际传媒檙e going to get water from. I prefer to stay in the more remote places. Itsa国际传媒檚 been fascinating to see. Travelling like this you get another perspective on a country.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 put high expectations on many things,sa国际传媒� offered Marianne. sa国际传媒淚 find it leads to a much better experience. I always go with a fresh open mind.sa国际传媒�
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 sa国际传媒� unless the plan changes.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檇 say wesa国际传媒檝e got about two years to go on this one,sa国际传媒� said Chris. sa国际传媒淭he world situation is constantly changing. Itsa国际传媒檚 like a game of chess. You just have to make sure you donsa国际传媒檛 get check-mated.sa国际传媒�
You can follow the Fishers under Tread The Globe on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and .
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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