I was born in South Africa, a place that has always held a special place in my heart. As a child, I yearned to explore the world, my love for Africa’s wilderness, wildlife, and diverse cultures and people was unwavering. It was during the university student anti-apartheid protests in South Africa that I met my husband, Tom, a pivotal moment that shaped our lives.
After marrying Tom, an exploration geologist, we embraced a life in the wilderness, surrounded by wildlife, with no running water or electricity, and a young child. This rugged lifestyle was a testament to our resilience. However, our unwavering stance against apartheid led us to immigrate to Canada in 1979. Despite this significant change, my desire to return to Africa and explore the continent never waned.
I studied at the University of Witwatersrand (B.Sc. in Nursing and Sociology), the University of Michigan (MHA) Health Administration and the Humber School of Writers (Creative Nonfiction Certificate).
My husband, Tom, and I live in Calgary, Canada, close to the Rocky Mountains, with our dog Sky, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Our two sons and two grandchildren also live in Calgary, Canada.
Publication, Overland Journal, Fall 2011. Lessons from Ethiopia: A heart-wrenching story of travel and loss. We have presented to a wide variety of audiences.
About Us
"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much."
Helen Keller
Our love for independent travel began in 1974 when we travelled to Europe from South Africa for our first international overland trip. We purchased a battered little vehicle and spent 8 months driving camping, and youth hosteling throughout Europe for less than $5.00 a day.
Once our sons, Derek and David, were launched, Tom and I set off in 2005 to drive from across East Africa. We returned and completed two journeys across West and North Africa, travelling over 80,000km for more than 500 days on the road: a distance equivalent to twice around the world. We have travelled through 34 African countries. These journeys were not without their challenges, from navigating rough terrains to dealing with border crossings and language barriers, each experience was a lesson in resilience and adaptability.
In 2010-2012, we explored the Americas, heading south from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, North America, south to Central and South America. After 17 months and 65,000km, we arrived at Ushuaia, the most southern town in the world. Our passion and curiosity about the world and what lie beyond borders have taken us to over 95 countries.
“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; It is lethal.”– Paulo Coelho
We are fascinated by the changes in travel over the years. Some things, such as GPS, cell phones, and the Internet, make it easier, but other influences have made it more challenging. We continue learning to travel well without breaking the bank and have fantastic adventures.
“Life is a long travel. The end of the journey is often unpredictable.”
