The three of us loiter outside Collinson's Restaurant in the Ferry while my mum revs the Alpha up the road to a "legal" parking spot. The cold starts to get to us until the Richardson survival instinct takes hold and we scurry inside towards the warmth. The restaurant was a ghost town with a few old spirits from a boozy Xmas past, clinging to the back wall. The lack of atmosphere and hovering staff makes for awkward and clunky conversation. This may also be, in part, due to my planned departure the following day.
Gavin, a pal from Uni, and I had been loosely planning a trip/career break for the past two years. From bouncing ideas off of each other, we decided to start our adventure with a winter season at Whistler before hitchhiking/road tripping around the Americas. We had made several trips together like this before, the longest of which was a trip to Casablanca, taking just under a month. We undertook these trips on a shoestring budget during our summer breaks. This time it was different; this time we have money as well as time so we should be able to do some pretty cool stuff.
The plan was intentionally left vague like most of our previous travel plans, be it, hitchhiking to Casablanca or road tripping around Scotland. The wiggle room gives an element of freedom and allows us to belt about at our own pace taking the occasional detour where we see fit (especially when confronted with funny sounding place names). My laptop has become full of ideas for this trip from skate spots I've always wanted to hit, iconic monuments, and landscapes I'd love to see, the cracking cuisine I want to demolish to the fantastic festivals I want to experience. I am truly ready to dive in and make the most of what America has to offer. The trip in all fairness is a last hoorah, clinging to what is left of our youth and putting off the responsibilities of full-blown adult life for just a while longer.
During the years of brainstorming travel plans, a last-minute addition was made to my travel roster when I befriended and fell in love with my partner Ruiyu who I have now spent a blissful and memorable year with. Ruiyu, aware of my plans at the end of the year took the decision to move back home to China as soon as a career opportunity opened up in Shanghai. She thought she could get away from me. Unfortunately for her, I am not so easily dissuaded! China has now been set as the final stop of my journey!...Mandarin is easy to learn, right?
After a hearty meal at Collinson's my family and I retire to the Stobbie homestead for much merrymaking and several drinks. Many beers, wine and Gin and Prosecco's later (Lidl's finest of course) the drunken heart-to-hearts begin. My mum, an emotionally grounded woman, starts opening up a little, showing that I will be missed, and offers my childhood bedroom as a fallback if the continental move goes south. In an attempt to lighten the mood I make a joke that "Maggie the Red" (an in-joke about her ardent labour party support) can now house a Refugee in the newly spare bedroom…. it doesn't go down too well. My sister, who I have become extremely close with over the last few years, stresses how much I'll be missed and how little we'll see each other with my move; it makes it tough.
After reminiscing and several drunken ramblings later, my sister keeps me in line, informing me that this would be my last cigarette and I had to go to bed without phoning the entire online community (a terribly embarrassing party trick I have developed). I march off to bed… although my sister didn't say anything about drunken blogging! I launch open my laptop and type the following rough draft into my computer:
"Through years of preparation and the desire to travel I had not prepared for saying goodbye which has proved toughest challenge yet (especially under family circumstances). However, with will and the aid of technology I am sure we can keep this strong bond alive. I love and take everyone from Scotland away with me and hope fulfil the yearn for adventure and learn to lead a fulfilled life."