This year I would turn 60, a monumental leap into the next chapter of my life and I knew it was going to be painful. 50 something was acceptable but 60 something would take quite something to get used to. I wasn’t ready to become 60 and I wanted to face it alone.

I had also decided that this was the year I was removing my name from the RCVS list of Registered Vet Nurses and it was fitting that I would embrace the end of my professional career by doing something epic and challenging. I had been a veterinary nurse for 43yrs and it was time to leave.

Not really knowing if anyone would come with me, nor did I really care, for some ridiculous reason I came up with the idea of travelling around South America volunteering for a variety of animal charities intermingled with being chauffeured as a guided tourist. Over the years I had volunteered in many sanctuaries in Africa and Indonesia but I had never gone west – so west it was.

I wasn’t ready to put my rucksack up in the loft and don my fluffy slippers so off to Trailfinders I went in search of some excitement. Almost 3 months I decided, 3 months would do it! 3 months of trecking, volunteering and exploring South America – a continent I had never had the privilege to visit.

23rd June ‘19 – It was booked, 29th September – 7th December ’19

1) Peru – cut off from the world in the Amazon Rainforest volunteering at Esperanza Verde – a wildlife rescue sanctuary – 6 weeks,

2) Chile – Patagonia – walking among the fantastic high mountains and glaciers – 2 weeks,

3) Uruguay – volunteering at Karumbe Turtle conservation and rescue centre – 2 weeks.

I knew nothing of turtles – in fact I didn’t really know much about any wildlife but I knew I had the dedication and compassion to nurse and care for any little broken animal.

It was quite a complicated flight path so I chose to travel through Trailfinders,UK’s largest independent travel company, renowned for its tailor-made itineraries. I liked the idea of having their expert organizational skills and professional advice to rely on – it was my wee comfort blanket while travelling.

So, Age 59 soon to be 60: She looks at herself, reminds herself of all the people who can’t even see themselves in the mirror anymore, goes out and conquers the world.

Months came and went and I didn’t really prepare well. In fact the day I was due to leave I was completely disorganized so much so I had no sleep for 24hrs and almost fell apart. At the 11th hour, I had changed my travel plans to include a trip to the Atacama desert 🌵 and I still had 8 hotels to book – I’d have to do that throughout my journey.

Like many of my other trips, I am bound to have at least one disaster but then I’m not really that worried as somehow it all worked out in the end.

So then, this is a diary of my South American adventures – my rucksack diary.