Adventurous Women Travelers

"All of life is a journey.

Which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us. We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there."

~ Anonymous ~

This week I've read several blogs where the writer has been tagged and one of the questions responded to has been about the places they've been. I've learned that several women have visited places many of us would never dream of going to..................this has made me wonder why, and how, they got to see countries off the beaten track or rarely touted as vacation destinations.

In Barbara Hodgson's book she traces three hundred years of world travel by both celebrated and unknown women who endured bed bugs, scorching heat, exotic diseases, etc............all in the name of adventure. Globe trotting women tore down boundaries leaving as their legacy a world wide open for today's women.

Original pen & ink drawing of Fingle Bridge, Dartmoor, Devon

~ Edward Pemberton ~ c. 1935 (my Uncle)

My first real personal journey took me from the quiet Devon countryside of England across the Atlantic to the bustling city of Washington, D.C.

Starting in the 17th century, Barbara says, "the best reason to travel may have been no reason at all......................and British women, more than any other group, abandoned themselves to this passion................". Well I certainly kicked over the traces in a much later century. But why? Was it adventure or passion? Perhaps I'll tell you on Valentine's Day.

Vintage Images from Secret Leaves - go here to see their incredible offerings.