Boots, Bikes and Border Crossings
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Who Knew Male Mosquitoes Don’t Bite?
Well, you learn something new every day in Paraguay! One thing I’ve noticed here in Filadelfia is the extraordinary number of mosquitoes. They seem to have appointed themselves as my personal welcoming committee. They swarm around my face, buzz around my ears and investigate my hands with great enthusiasm. But here’s the strange part… they…
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A Machete, a Mushroom and a Numb Tongue
Well, today brought another collection of surprises — although by now I am beginning to realise that this is probably just life at the ranch! The daily routine is settling in nicely. First, feed Pancho, then get on with the sewing and help out wherever I can. Today that included preparing the dehydrator with marigolds.…
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A Little Sewing, A Lot of Wildlife
Yesterday was a fantastic day! After feeding Pancho at 7am, then I settled into a large pile of mending. Everything from mosquito-net doors and towels to making covers for the tops of freezers. Then, over lunch of delicious local piranha fish, Marilyn casually asked if I’d like to join her on one of her tours…
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The Day I Met Pancho
Finally… we made it to the ranch! What a journey. The roads were more mud than road, and along the way we shared the adventure with three enormous double-trailer trucks heading off to the abattoirs, a family of five capybaras, one very dead snake, and plenty of friendly Paraguayan chatter. And then there was Hotel…
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A Journey of Faith and Survival
Today I learnt a little of Marilyn’s family history — and suddenly Filadelfia felt like so much more than a town. The Mennonites began in the Netherlands more than 500 years ago. Their beliefs included living peacefully and traditionally refusing to participate in war. Religious persecution eventually forced many to leave, first settling in Poland…
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Five-Star Dreams on a 100,000 PYG Budget
The room cost 100,000 PYG — about AUD $24.00 — and apparently toilet paper is a luxury extra, adding another 3,000 PYG to the bill. 😂 If you don’t specifically ask for a towel or blanket… you don’t get one. Thankfully, when I asked, I was presented with a rather fetching microfibre blanket decorated with…
Visited Countries
Interactive World Map
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Route Plan (Eastern Europe)
Here’s the planned route PDF. Download below.
Route Map
About Me
Happy, grateful, and full of joy – that’s how I see my life. Growing up in the small country town of Karaka, New Zealand, I was a curious little girl who dreamed of seeing the world. At 14, I took my first trip overseas to Fiji, and since then I’ve explored 66 countries, each adventure filling me with wonder at new cultures, unexpected moments, and the thrill of discovery.
I’ve leapt from planes, dived into unseen depths of the ocean, pedaled across borders, and roared through deserts on motorbikes. From crossing the Gobi Desert on two wheels to cruising down to Antarctica, from riding through roads less traveled to moments that took my breath away, I collect memories, not possessions.
Contact Me
Have a question or want to collaborate? Drop me a line.