Journeys
A visual gallery of the lands that sparked my wanderlust
PAST DESTINATIONS
Travel Map
Journeys
The Trail That Changed Everything
In 2019, I laced up my boots and set out alone on the West Highland Way. Across ninety-six miles of mist, rain, Munros, and lochs, I found the quiet kind of courage that only surfaces when it is just you and the trail. I planned every single mile, every meal stop, and every place I would rest my head. Somewhere between Milngavie and Fort William, something shifted. That trek did more than just spark a love for long-distance hiking; it began an annual tradition. Every year since, I have chosen a new trail to conquer, letting each path shape me in its own quiet, powerful way. It is the trail that lit the fire which eventually became Bold Thistle Travel, and the reason I believe so deeply in the magic of a well-crafted journey.
Africa: A Journey That Stays With You
Years later, Africa completely redefined my sense of wonder. There is nothing quite like the stillness of a safari morning—the soft light, the distant call of the wild, and the feeling of the world waking up around you. Seeing lions at sunrise and elephants moving across the vast plains offers a quiet power that truly changes you. A safari is more than just a trip; it is a profound perspective shift. It is the moment you realize how big, wild, and breathtaking this planet really is.
Horses have carried me into some of the most unforgettable corners of the world. Tölting across Iceland’s volcanic landscapes on sure-footed Icelandic horses, galloping over open fields on powerful Irish Draughts, and riding along black-sand beaches with the surf crashing beside me. These journeys blend freedom, connection, and pure joy, reminding me that some of the best adventures begin in the saddle and lead to the most beautiful, untouched places on Earth.
Horsebound Adventures
Oceans That Feel Like Home
My love for the ocean began long before I ever stepped onto a modern cruise ship. In 1997, I stood on the deck of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) as a young Sailor, with the Mediterranean stretching out and the whole world ahead of me. That deployment took me to ports I had only read about, waking up to new coastlines, rich cultures, and the kind of freedom you only feel at sea. Those early days aboard the carrier were my first true taste of cruising, even if the experience looked a bit different back then. The rhythm of the waves, the thrill of arriving somewhere new, and the sense that the ocean could carry you anywhere have always stayed with me. Today, being on the water still feels like coming home. Between the sunsets and the salt air, it is where my love of travel first took root and where it still feels the most natural.