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?
