Humble Beginnings

For many years I dreamt of only two things, one was my own horse and the other was travelling. At 22 I was gifted my horse by a friend who won a large jackpot at the races and at 24 I had managed to accumulate the grand sum of R11 000, this was enough to pay for a return open year ticket to London and get me around Europe for the whole of 1982.

My plan was to buy a camper in London, I found an old Comma van for 1250 pounds, ancient she was, and to travel first down to Spain to take in the Soccer World Cup and then to travel as far as my funds would take me. I found a job in Playa da Aro about 100km West of Barcelona and enjoyed the World cup specticle from many a pub and restaurant over the three months I stayed at La Barraca as a barmaid.

I had the most awesome adventures over the year, worked in some strange places, met an assortment of individuals from different cultures, ran into some strange South Africans in odd places, saw some great places, hiked some amazing mountains, got high in Torremolinos and stretched my funds in the most amazing ways.

I eventually got back home with enough money from the sale of the camper to be able to travel to Australia for two months to visit an old penpal.

The travelling bug had bitten fairly deeply at this point and I had gained a great deal of respect for travelling in a home on wheels, the camper was practical, comfortable, affordable, simple, allowed me to carry a lot more than hotel travel would have allowed, I parked on the beach more often than not so did not have to pay for accommodation and had the comfort of my own home to feel safe in, I decided that this form of travel would suit me many more times in the future.