I just can’t seem to sit in one place very long before my feet itch to be on the road again. Some people like to travel in real time, others from their chair, some not at all. That’s OK. To each their own. But I’ve been a wanderlust since childhood.
Recently reading a post by Island Momma about her wanderlust story sure struck a cord. I think we must be long lost sisters. Yet I’ll bet we’re not alone.
The early influence of 1960s TV opened my eyes to the world, even if not quite as connected as the internet. The Wonderful World of Disney brought nature and wildlife into our living-rooms. Marlin Perkins Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom took us around the world. National Geographic magazine often caused me to giggle at photos of half-naked people living in seemingly exotic places that I longed to see. Books like Robinson Caruso dropped me on a deserted island and the Hobbit lead me on adventures into the unknown. I became Joy Adamson living in the bush with Else the lion, and the movie Born Free may have enticed me to visit Africa many decades later. I dreamed myself into these amazing sights and vistas. The fact that there were very few women didn’t deter me a bit. This was the 60s, and we could grow up to be anything we wanted.
My parents had no desire to travel out of the US but we made several trips across country to visit Grandparents, Illinois to California and back with the whiz of the billboards. This prompted me to take my first solo road trip in my Vega during the 70s with a dog visiting National Parks in the Southwest. I was hooked. Everywhere I went people asked me if I was afraid to travel alone. At first yes, but I learned that I’m OK company and have met so many wonderful people along the journey. I follow my intuition and that’s kept me safe so far.
I have always been curious about the natural world. What’s on the other side of that hill, mountain, lake, ocean, desert and stream and how do I get there. Later, people, cultures and history grabbed my attention. Now I want to know it all. I tend to research before a trip, collect information while there, ask questions, plus follow up afterwards. The world is such an amazing place with so much to learn and so many places to see and people to meet.
I love sharing my journeys through stories and photos and hope to inspire others to follow their dreams. If only I could have blogged back in the 70s. How I wish I still had my journals and photos from those days. Thank goodness I still have the memories.
My wheelestate has changed over time to the current 36 feet which only gets moved twice a year. But I satisfy my itchy feet with local weekend jaunts and three visits to South Africa so far.
Now that I have the smaller camper I’ll be hitting the road again soon. Still working out the tie-downs, not cheap for the necessary safety, and need to replace at least one propane tank. I have one trip planned for mid-January to Quartzsite, Arizona to meet up with friends. But I’d really like to head south before then. Perhaps December in the southern desert to explore places around the Coronado National Forest like Saguaro National Park, Chiricahua National Monument and more. As always, I’m open to suggestions and would love to meet up with you somewhere down the road.
So I guess this wanderlust is in my genes from someone. After only a couple weeks back from Oregon I feel restless and my feet itch to be on the road, again.
What inspires you to wander?
You & I maybe come from the same long line of restless lineage. I so identify with your well written post.
You know my Dad’s side of the family comes from Canada. 😉
Woman after my own heart. My wanderlust started with my grandfather who who show us movies at Christmas time of volcanoes erupting in Mexico, people making tortillas by hand and other wonderful images. Then in elementary school, a traveler came by and did a whole presentation on his travels in Africa. That got me to Nigeria in the Peace Corps in the mid 60s and South Africa last summer. Growing up in California, Mexico and the larger South America always drew me and I followed that siren call.
Would love to meet you someday if you’re in Southern California or when we make it to the Grand Canyon again.
I love that your grandfather inspired you to travel. Maybe more of us vagabonds need to share with school children and encourage them to see the world. Quartzsite might be as close to Southern California as I get this winter but I’ll be back at the North Rim in the summer. Hope we get to meet somewhere along our journeys.
These are extraordinarily beautiful photos, Gaelyn. Long live wanderlust.
Thanks Bibi. Cheers to a fellow vagabond.
Lovely photos. I would love to have a camper and just be able to travel at will from one place to the next, sadly N is not quite as keen. At least this year we did get to travel through Spain to Portugal and back which was great, but we always have to get home to see if all is OK! No major plans as yet for 2015 but hoping. Take care Diane
Thanks Diane. Glad you did travel this year even if not camping. Are there parks and/or public lands to camp in Europe?
Chiricahua National Monument is going to be cold in December possibly snow, watch the forecasts. I have been in Huachuca City for 3 weeks and the weather has been great but I’ll be leaving as it starts to get colder. If you get down in the southeastern corner of Cochise County before 11 December stop by the Quail Ridge RV Resort and say hello, it would be great to meet you.
Saguaro National Park and Organ Pipe National Park would be good choices. I’ll be in Hickiwan Trails RV Park at Why, AZ starting 11 December if you are down that way.
Thanks for the tips Ed. I don’t really want to be cold so will keep an eye on forecasts. I don’t mind moving the plan southeast. Have you spent any time around the San Pedro NCA? Only been to Saguaro once briefly, east side and had to camp outside the park. Loved Organ Pipe many years ago & stayed on BLM around Ajo. Have noted your locations. Never know when you might get a visitor.
I don’t know much about San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (NCA). Google knows more than I do. About all I can tell you is that all the cottonwoods have gone from gold to fallen or to a gray from the distance. It is very surprising that there are cottonwoods in Sierra Vista that are still a beautiful gold and they are at a higher elevation. For some reason Sierra Vista is a warm spot with colder areas surrounding it. There are a couple of tourist sites in the NCA but most of it is not readily accessible.
Thanks Ed.
I don’t need to tell you how much I enjoyed or identified with this do I!!!!! Thanks for the shoutout. Perhaps we knew each other in a previous life?? LOL.
You just nudged another memory of mine, which I’m pretty sure I didn’t include in the post …… at school we had piles of National Geographics , junior school that is. Rarely pick one up, even now, without remembering them!
You inspired this post, Sister. If it’s possible, I may have worn out the pages on those old NGs. 🙂
I so identify with you wanderlust Gaelyn and I do think it’s a gene rather than something that’s learned 😉 I too wish blogging had been around in the 70’s. I have loads and loads of journals, and scraps of paper to document my travels, but gosh it would be nice to have it all online 😉 Loved your pics too 🙂 Thanks for popping by to my other blog Lifestyle Fifty and commenting earlier today x
Would be fun to share some of those travel stories from the past. Thanks for coming by.
” I have loads and loads of journals, and scraps of paper to document my travels, but gosh it would be nice to have it all online..”
Much of my web site is made up from the journals, maps, memory and scraps of paper that I had from my travels. If it would be nice to have it all online the JUST DO IT.
The pictures in this post are wonderful. Really love those first 3. I’ve had the wanderlust all my life. I made up other lives for myself as a child much to the embarrassment of my stay at home parents I talked about all the travels we went on. My fondest wish in High School was to be an airline stewardess. I couldn’t think of any other way I could afford to travel. Since then I’ve worked it out and have never been afraid to travel alone. I’ve done many trips by myself when I had more vacation time that anyone else in my family. Not sure what gives me itchy feet but I know it when I experience it. I’m on the move again day after tomorrow. Not far but at this time of year my goal is just to stay warm. Wish I could try that out in Arizona some year.
I know you are a wanderlust. Birds of a feather you know. And so you’ve always been a storyteller too. I thought about the ‘stewardess’ thing for the same reason until I figured out it’s a glorified waitress job in the tight spaces. I am SO with you on the staying warm part. Wish I was in South Africa but will settle with southern Arizona.
Oh I think you and I may have been tied with nomadic ancestors somewhere centuries ago as well. I grew up in Yakima , an only child and had two wonderful parents who traveled no further than Idaho in my lifetime. Not sure when and where the wander-lust and wonder-lust hit me, but I am so with you. . .way too much world to be discovered whether on a weekend near-by or somewhere far distant. Great post!
I’m glad to be part of this traveling family of friends.
Oh no. What happened to my long comment. Going to have to try again and remember what I said.
We never really traveled much when we were lids. Spent holidays with my grandparents about 80km west of Port Elizabeth and did the occasional road trip to my other grandfather up north every two years. It was only after school that the bug bit and I decided to go into the tourism industry. Travel is my passion and I wish I could do it professionally in some way. I am really trying hard to install a love and appreciation for travel in my kids and hope they will continue to love it as they get bigger. And once they are out the house and not such a financial burden I hope we will get the opportunity to travel more and perhaps even overseas.
I think you’re doing a great job of passing the travel bug along to your kids. Wish I could get paid to do it too.
We are certainly feeling that itch as well! Too much eating, tho’ loving our family time, the weather is cold and rainy, and we’re so looking forward to getting to the desert; departure scheduled for 12/15. First stop, Anza Borrego for some boondocking. We’ll stay until the wind blows us out. Then on to southern AZ, but no set destinations. Hopefully, our paths will cross.
That restless pull seems to be contagious. Anza Berrego sounds enticing. Haven’t been there in many years. If not there, somewhere in the southern desert I’m certain we’ll meet.
The wild Kingdom was intense….. Subconsciously, it may have influenced me to become a biologist.
I have always like to travel, not as much as you do. I am so curious about things and what is happening elsewhere. I have to content myself now mainly with just exploring where I live and its surroundings and am amazed at people who are not curious about things.
No lie but I work with people who have worked in the same building downtown for over 30 years and have no idea where the main city square is, two blocks away.
I think that curiosity will keep your brain working. I too know people who’ve never left their town, county or state. I don’t get it. But, to each their own.
Ah, the wonderful world of Disney, I remember being glued to the television and Walt Disney would introduce the show each week. Such memories! And guess what? My first car was a Vega!
If I had a TV I’d still be watching Disney. Vega was a good car, at the time. Sure don’t see them on the road any more.
I understand perfectly. I’ve been a wanderlust my whole life. I want to see what’s around a bend and what’s on the other side of the next hill I see. I want to see every single thing in this country before I die. *sigh*
Sounds like a good plan.
I remember growing up watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom! My love of travel began back in the early 70’s, when my Dad, his lady friend and I took a drive to the West Coast. It was fantastic, as she really knew how to travel, and showed me a taste of luxury that I would never forget!
Great story. I have no experience with luxury. My parents camped and I still do too, though I’ve taken it up a notch.
You and my friend Mary are definitely cut from the same cloth! She just left AZ for several months in Hawaii. I admire your solo travels and sense of adventure, Gaelyn.
Thanks Barb. I wish I was some place warmer like Hawaii, or South Africa.
Hi Gaelyn. Bryan and I hope to see you when you are in Tucson area.
I’ll get in touch.
Me too! Lovely post.