We all have choices in life. I feel lucky that most of my choices are between 2 ‘good’ options. For example do I take the low road or the high road? Should I stay or should I go? Given those options – I usually take the high road, and I usually go. Right now I’m on a train down to Oxford at the start of my journey along the Aleutian island chain and the Alaskan peninsula. It promises to be as big and bold an adventure as any I’ve undertaken. I thrive on these wild, unpredictable voyages of discovery where I have to rely on my wits and a few carefully chosen possessions to safely travel through a magical landscape. I even enjoy the hardships – at least when I relive them ‘afterwards’. These experiences where I have to work hard for my comfort, food and propulsion definitely make me happier, calmer, nicer.

The other side of the coin is the people and places I chose to be apart from for sometimes long periods of time. Wales has been so beautifully summery this last week. The countryside oozes with the promise of new life. A paddle with Barry along the gorgeous coastline of the “Stacks” felt poignant as my ‘last’ Welsh paddle until August probably. I’ll miss the people I care about and I’ll miss the explosion of spring flowers, the noisy return of nesting sea birds and friends having babies, bbqs and burgers.