SuperTrip 2026

Grounded in our shared gratitude for health, strength, and in celebration of Carey's 60th birthday. We recognise our privilege and are thrilled to be returning to Europe - to explore and to walk, and to cross the Atlantic ocean on the last remaining liner, the Queen Mary 2

We celebrated Carey's 60th birthday in December 2025. His birthday experience, apart from a fantastic party, complete with chocolate cake in the shape of a drone, is to cross the Atlantic on the last remaining ocean liner, the Queen Mary 2. We will be ending SuperTrip 2026 with that, returning to New York on July 3rd and flying to Calgary on July 4th.

We remain mindful that, at our ages, continued health and strength are not guaranteed. My osteoporosis diagnosis in 2025 is a case in point. We are at the "use it or lose it" stage of life. With no prospect of paid work in the near term, we have time to roam, literally. We also have become addicted to the freedom, simplicity and community of camino life. No SuperTrip would be complete without a pilgrimage. This year, we will be walking the Le Puy Way, from Le Puy en Velay in Southern France, up to St Jean de Pied de Porte, the modern starting place of the Camino Francés.

Having chosen this route, new to both of us, and decided to take a short, more fancy trip (Paris, Lyon, St Etienne, by rail with boutique hotels) to enjoy the journey to our starting point, we looked at each other and said: "Well, while we're right there..." So, inevitably, we have added the first 3 weeks of the Camino Francés, crossing the Pyrenees to León. These are our favourite stages of the trail and avoid the crowds on the "short camino" from Sarria. Our total walk is a little under 1,300km, which we expect to take 62 days.

We fly back to London for a few days and will make our way down to Southampton to board the liner. We will be more isolated during the crossing than throughout the remainer of our trip. We are not signing up for the wifi package (or for the alcohol). Our eSIMs will stop working. We also do not expect to find open companions interested in introspection, although that may be unfair. So, we will have the spiritual detox of the camino, and also a mind detox (in much finer surroundings) before we return to our lives at home. What an amazing series of gifts! For both of us.