Chloe had never been one for spontaneity. Her life was meticulously scheduled, her planner filled weeks in advance. But when her best friend, Zoe, called on a Friday afternoon with an urgent tone— “Pack a bag. We’re going 'AWOL'.”—something inside her told her to say yes.
With no idea where they were headed, Chloe tossed a few essentials into a duffel bag and hopped into Zoe’s car. The city streets blurred behind them as they sped toward the unknown.
Three hours later, they arrived at a coastal town. The air smelled of salt and adventure. The town was small, dotted with rows of whitewashed fishermen’s cottages, and an old dock where boats still pull up every day to deliver fresh hauls. A single main street lined with bookshops, bakeries, and antique stores. The ocean stretched endlessly beyond the cliffs, waves crashing against the shore like a welcoming embrace.
Their accommodation was a cozy little cabin overlooking the sea. No Wi-Fi. No plans. Just the sound of nature and the freedom to simply be.
That weekend, Chloe did things she hadn’t done in years. She walked barefoot along the beach, collecting seashells like a child. She read a book from cover to cover without checking her phone once. She and Zoe talked for hours under the stars, sipping wine, reminiscing, and dreaming about the future.
On Sunday morning, they stumbled upon a small café where a local artist was painting by the window. Inspired, Chloe bought a blank notebook and began to sketch—something she hadn’t done since college. It felt like a part of herself she had long forgotten had come alive again.
By the time they drove home, Chloe felt lighter, freer. The worries of her everyday life no longer felt so heavy. That unplanned weekend had been more than just a break—it had been a reminder that sometimes, the best moments happen when you let go of the plan and simply live.
And so it happened that, being past the halfway mark to 100, my husband and I embarked on a new chapter—overlanding.
After years of enjoying timeshare holidays at top destinations, I never imagined that I would find myself camping in the wild with just the essentials. To be honest, I didn’t even know the difference between camping and overlanding, and I wasn’t thrilled about the idea at first.
But my husband, Johnny, was determined. He spent countless hours watching overlanding videos, researching, and planning for our first trip. After about four months of preparation, he had mapped out the route, including towns, landmarks, 4x4 trails, and key attractions. He wanted it to be perfect.
Starting with his trusty Toyota, he fitted it out with Iron Man equipment, but soon we decided a camping trailer would be a game-changer. Each new item—from washing lines to plastic toilets—sparked his excitement. It struck me that just as little girls play house with dollhouses, grown men get to “play house” while building their ultimate camping setup.
Our first trip was truly an experience! Not everything went as planned, but that was part of the adventure. We set out from Delmas, South Africa’s “Town of the Year 2023,” heading toward Rustenburg for our first stop with family. My sister and brother-in-law, seasoned campers themselves, joined us for the journey. For Johnny and me, it was like boarding the Starship Enterprise to explore new frontiers.
After dealing with an unexpected issue—a tire with an expired “best before” date—we headed onward through Kuruman to Red Sands, where we spent our first night in the camping trailer. With the help and patience of our family, everything went smoothly, and our excitement for the days ahead only grew. Overlanding was turning into an adventure of its own, and we couldn’t wait to see what else awaited us on this journey.