The resurrection of a dream.

1996 Cooking breakfast in the great outdoors.

The catalyst that started the yearning to begin travelling again was reading “The best life money CAN’T buy” written by Andy Deering. His philosophy was to own nothing and be open to all opportunities. Jack was also fired up by the book and he said “Let’s do it”

We discussed the possibility of travelling on a very small budget. How could we survive on our pensions? Gradually a plan took shape. If we rented the house for a year and bought a pop top camper van, travelled very slowly, found as many free camping spots as possible, even contemplated contacting  “WWOOFing” hosts to park on farms and properties in exchange for light work to help the budget stretch further.

We had done this in 1996 when we spent 6 months travelling around Queensland in an old, blue, rusty, 1984 Mitsubishi Starwagon that we had converted  into a bed by putting planks from front to back and buying a foam mattress to sleep on. The “Blue Heeler” as we affectionately called our home on wheels has a very special place in our hearts and we had always intended to one day do it again but the next time would be the “BIG LAP” right round Australia.

But day-to-day living took over and time passed, we were involved in our clubs and other activities. Then I had a heart attack 31st July 2008. That, I thought at the time, would be the end of travelling and I mourned the end of a dream…

How wrong I was. After a year of carefully watching my diet, going to the gym, and walking every day, I lost kg’s and feel fitter than I have for years. So the gypsy in me has bubbled back to the surface and I am ready to go…