intro & backstory
Two Adventurous Women Nearing Retirement
Introduction:
We thought we’d debut this new chapter with a bit of an introduction and some backstory about us, and our furry friends.
So …. HELLO!!
We are SandS.
One of us ‘retired’ around 5 years ago, but has been working our 1.5ac Farm since; and the other one of us continues to still work – cos she loves what she does – but the realisation that we are getting older, and that its getting to be the time for us to follow our dreams, and to travel this vast beautiful land of Australia, is now upon us.
Retirement:
The golden phase of life when we bid farewell to the daily ‘9-5’ grind and embrace newfound freedoms.
For we two spirited women, this milestone isn’t about slowing down; it’s about revving up our MoHo engine, and hitting the open road.
We”ve decided to embark on an unforgettable journey across and around Australia in our trusty motorhome – affectionately named Henry.
Our four-legged companions Mabi, Molly and Hamish, are equally excited to join the adventure.
The Backstory:
We have always shared a love for exploration and as we approach that highly lauded retirement age, we’re finding ourselves at a crossroads.
The corporate world no longer beckons, and the allure of routine fades against the promise of sunsets over rugged coastlines, star-studded nights in the Outback, and encounters with quirky locals.
Our decision is quickly becoming very clear: Henry – the motorhome we stumbled across online – is the push we’ve needed; and will be our ticket to ‘freedom’.
Meet Henry:
Henry isn’t your typical motorhome.
He’s a character—a patchwork of memories, quirks, and hidden surprises.
He’s an ex-rental, and if walls could talk he would have a million interesting tales to tell of previous drivers who have crisscrossed our beautiful continent; of all whom have called him home for a short time during the last 5 years, prior to his joining our Family.
His cozy interior boasts mismatched pillows, a rear permanent bed, a fold-down table that turns into a second bed, a kitchenette, a small bathroom that doubles as a tardis and contains a shower, vanity and loo, and there is a third bed above the cab.
Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be doing some upgrades to Henry inside and out, including upgrading the house batteries and adding another solar panel or two so that off-grid adventures are a little more comfortable and homey, and our home on wheels is more self-sustaining.
The Canine Co-Pilots:
Our Dogs ~ Mabi: the dignified Kelpie/JR/Staf, Molly: the aging toothless cavalier, and little old Hamish: the Silky who has raging dementia – complete our motley crew.
They perch on the passenger seats, with their seatbelts firmly keeping them safely contained, noses pressed against the window, tails wagging in anticipation.
Mabi dreams of chasing kangaroos across red deserts, while Molly hopes to sniff out secret food trails along beachside esplanades.
Hamish – at 17, and very much winding down, just wants to be able to sleep in 100 different locations, and occasionally bounce around like a two-year-old for 10 minutes before dropping back to sleep.
Their presence definitely adds a heart-filling warmth to Henry’s cozy confines.
The Itinerary:
We’re anticipating that our route will be a mostly-unplanned meandering which will (hopefully!) result in a tapestry of spontaneous, memorable new experiences.
From Sydney’s iconic Opera House to the ever-changing colours of the sheer faces of Uluru, to the stunning turquoise waters of the Ningaloo Coast – we’re planning to travel the coastal highways, seemingly never-ending outback roads, and the winding mountain ranges of this beautiful country of ours.
Along the way, we’ll stay in caravan parks, road-side rest areas, friends driveways; and we’ll camp under secluded star-studded skies.
We’ll swap stories with fellow travellers, watch glorious sunrises and sunsets, walk the dogs along never-before-seen pathways to places they can run and play, and we’ll close out our days savoring homemade delights cooked in our well-stocked little kitchen.
Challenges and Triumphs:
We know our travels won’t be all sunsets, fur-baby kisses, happiness and picnics…
We’re not going into this naively.
We’ve had a lot of time to consider this future we’re leaning into.
A lot of deep thoughts, many discussions and a lot of soul-searching has been (and continues to be) done.
We know we will face challenges that will test us – things like engine troubles, sudden storms, the occasional flat tyre, illness, dogs that aren’t behaving well and days when frankly, we just all piss each other off!
But we also believe that each obstacle will become a shared memory, a lesson in resilience, and a chance to show and know that we really can count on one another.
We like to think that if Henry’s radiator overheats in the middle of nowhere, that we’d laugh, pop the bonnet, and have a sandwich and a cuppa as we discussed what to do next, while we waited for him to cool down.
It’s these moments that will add stories to our journey, and will be bookmarks in our memories.
We know this adventure isn’t just about the places we’ll visit and the people we’ll meet.
It’s about the freedom to choose, the joy of spontaneity, and the love that will sustain us as we embrace lifes twists and turns.
So… if you spot a couple of “old ducks” in a good-looking motorhome named Henry, out there somewhere in the amazing Australian landscape, wave hello (or come over and say hi) – it might just be us and our dogs – working on living our retirement dream one kilometre at a time!
