When life forces you to start over completely, what would you do? For Allison Gonzalez, a series of devastating blows in 2019—losing her job, the death of her beloved dog, and the onset of a global pandemic—became the unexpected catalyst for a transformative journey of self-discovery through solo RV travel.
Rather than continuing to push for conventional stability after selling her California home, Allison made a bold decision: "I'm just going to skip the house and travel." What began as a reaction to circumstances evolved into a four-year nomadic adventure through national parks, desert landscapes, and mountain terrain across America.
Throughout our conversation, Allison shares the profound lessons learned from living on the road—physical challenges that built resilience, safety concerns that demanded vigilance, and most significantly, the spiritual healing she discovered in nature. "I don't know how to explain it," she reflects about her time among the saguaro cacti and mountain vistas, "it fills your soul." This soul-filling connection became the tonic she needed while rebuilding her life after 50.
For women contemplating their own solo adventures in midlife, Allison offers wisdom from her journey: "Get out of your comfort zone even if it's just a little bit." She emphasizes that small steps build confidence for bigger adventures, while learning from mistakes makes you stronger. Perhaps most surprisingly from an independent traveler, she encourages others to "learn to trust...lean on them" when needed, finding that community support enhances rather than diminishes personal strength.
Whether you're facing your own life reset or simply dreaming of more adventure, this episode offers both practical insights and spiritual reflection on how starting over through travel can lead to discovering your most authentic self. Ready to find out what you're truly capable of? Listen now and be inspired to take that first step.
Follow Allison Gonzalez and her adventures:
https://www.youtube.com@imallierambles
@allierambles
BOOK A COFFE CHAT WITH ME:
https://calendly.com/solotraveladventures/book-a-call
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Facebook community: Solo Travel for Women Over 50
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Have you ever found yourself needing to start over?
Maybe it's starting over withyour diet or your exercise
routine, or you find yourselfstarting over in a new career in
midlife.
What if you had to completelystart over in life in all
aspects?
(00:20):
Well, maybe you find yourselfrecently divorced or an empty
nester and you're at a placewhere you're rediscovering who
you are in this new season ofyour life.
Well, my guest today, allisonGonzalez, has done just that
while incorporating travel in anRV, while starting over in life
(00:44):
after 50.
So, welcome to Solo TravelAdventures.
I'm Cheryl Esch.
Listen in on our conversationand hear her story.
Well, hello, Allison Gonzalez.
I'm so glad you're here todayto share your travel story with
my folks here on my podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
It's great being here .
I'm so excited to talk to you.
I've been waiting for a whilenow and I'm just excited.
I've been preparing for it.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Oh well, good, I'm glad you're here and I always
like to start my podcast whenI've guests, have them share
their origin travel story, likehow did your love for travel
even begin?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
My love for travel.
I think I've always been kindof curious just about, like you
know, different cultures andseeing different things, places
out there and anywhere in desertcities it doesn't matter
natural or not and meetingdifferent people.
Unfortunately I'm an introvert,but I'm trying to fix, I'm
(01:48):
trying to change that a littlebit through the travel.
But no, I think it's alwayskind of been there.
But I specifically remember Ithink I was 12 or 13, and we
went on a family road trip.
I'm originally from southerncalifornia.
We went on a family road tripto a part of arizona and we went
(02:11):
up into colorado and thencruised back through utah and if
you know that area, it's packed, filled with natural national
parks and it's just absolutelygorgeous in those areas, so we
hit all these national parksanywhere from Grand Canyon Zion.
Where else did we go?
I think we went to Mesa Verde.
(02:32):
We went to Colorado Springs andmy mom and my younger brother
he's five years younger than mewe took us out hiking in these
gorgeous places and I just fellin love with it, and this was
one of the first times Iactually saw rain in the
summertime.
We didn't get that in SouthernCalifornia.
(02:53):
So I was like this is reallyneat.
And then I found out later ithappens a lot in other states.
But I just absolutely fell inlove with it and I thought this
is I'm gonna make sure that Ihave traveled in my life and um
went from there.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
I don't care if it was by jet car walking, yeah, I
mean as long as I get it in somany different ways that we can
travel, and that you're open tothat.
Well, I understand.
I know a little bit of yourstory as far as how you more
recently for example, in 2019,you had an event happen in your
(03:31):
life that kind of perpetuatedyou and prompted you to these
new beginnings of like gettinginto solo travel.
So tell me what happened there.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
The universe works in strange ways, doesn't it?
It propels you for sure whenyou're on one track and then you
just you're forced to takeanother one.
But at least this one was anexciting one coming from
something negative so if I justrewind just a little bit, in
2018 I sold my home inCalifornia and then in 2019, a
(04:06):
year later I moved to Arizona.
But I was looking to purchaseanother house and I had been
saving money and I saved thefrom the sale of the house.
I had the equity from that.
So I was ready.
I was going I'm going to buy ahouse in Arizona.
So I was ready, I was going I'mgoing to buy a house in Arizona
(04:40):
.
Um, and I was staying with mymom and her husband.
They had retired in ArizonaArea and so I was actually
planning on buying the home andtraveling too, because I was
working remote.
I could live anywhere.
And in November of 2019, I gotlaid off and I went oh gosh, now
(05:01):
what do I do?
Now, what do I do?
Nobody's going to give amortgage to anybody that doesn't
have money.
And I went oh, gosh.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Now what do I do?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Now what do I do?
Nobody's going to give amortgage to anybody that doesn't
have money.
I had the down payment but Ididn't.
I couldn't make the monthlypayments, of course.
So they gave me a severance andit was.
It was closer to Christmas so Idecided I'm I'm not going to
look for a job right now.
I'm going to go ahead and lookin January it's a fresh year,
I'll look then.
(05:25):
It was at that time just me andmy dog.
I have grown children.
They were out on their own bythen.
So it was me and my dog and sheactually she was 14 at the time
.
She came down with cancer.
So for the whole month ofJanuary I was actually taking
(05:50):
her an hour and 45 minutes awayto I'm forgetting the name of
the type of doctor, but forchemotherapy at a veterinarian
that specialized in cancer inour pets.
Well, it didn't work and sheended up passing away in
February, so about five weekslater.
In February, so about fiveweeks later, she was older, she
(06:10):
was my buddy, she did everythingwith me, she was a great dog,
but she ended up passing.
And that's kind of when Idecided excuse my language, I
won't say it out loud Like Iwon't say the whole word, but I
was just like I won't say it outloud, like I won't say the
whole word, but I was just likeF it, I'm, I'm, I'm going to
live my life.
Because now we were gettinginto also the pandemic time and
(06:39):
I, just over the month ofFebruary and through March, the
pandemic started to hit and Ihad lost my dog, lost my job,
and I said you know what, ifthis is how it's going to be, I
have this chunk of money, I'mjust going to skip the house and
travel.
And so, yeah, I was at thattime.
I was still deciding should Ijust travel and maybe rent
apartments or homes in differentcities around the world, or the
(07:02):
RV?
Well, the pandemic made thatdecision for me as well.
I couldn't travel outside ofthe country and I stayed within
the state too for a while.
So, yeah, just the way thingsjust rolled out, it made my
decision for me.
I have a little side note too.
I can't remember the exact daymy dog passed away, but the very
(07:26):
next day I was mourning, Ididn't want to do anything, I
was just sitting in the roomjust going over the internet.
I was looking at hikes andtravel and just something that
would cheer me up because now Ihad this void in my life.
I was used to walking her andgoing places with her and
everything.
So I was just clearing my headand I was part of a group of
(07:50):
women who it's an over 40 hikinggroup and this random woman I
don't know any of thempersonally, or I just don't know
any of the women there Randomwoman said does anybody want to
hike the AZT with me?
And I didn't even know what theAZT was.
(08:12):
I went, I will.
I didn't know her, I didn'tknow what the AZT was.
I said, oh, it's okay, I'll vether, you know we'll.
We'll probably vet each otherand make sure this is legitimate
and safe.
I ended up meeting her and I'mstill friends with her.
If Janet is listening, hello,janet.
She's been a supporter of me.
We've been friends ever since.
(08:32):
We've hiked.
We headed out on the AZT but,as I said, the pandemic.
It took us off after 76 miles.
Yeah, after that I said youknow what?
I love it out here.
I'm going to buy an RV andthat's what started it.
I'm just going to do it.
I don't care if I am solo, see.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
I love that Just like you said just not caring,
taking that leap and doing whatmakes you happy and fulfilled.
Like you needed something tofill that void, as you said.
And yeah, and because youalready have this sort of ground
, this foundation of travel andhow I love how it fits in.
And then, of course, you werenot the only one during that
(09:16):
time that chose to do RVing.
But I guess that answers thequestion why you decided to RV
through the US.
It really, really was decidedfor you.
So what challenges did youencounter while RVing solo in
the US?
Speaker 2 (09:35):
You know what the biggest challenge is?
Well, it's two.
As a solo woman, there's alwaysthat, everywhere.
You're always thinking of yoursafety, always, safety, safety,
safety.
Thinking of different scenarioswhat if my RV breaks down?
You can do that as well with acar, but RV, there's a lot more
involved.
It's a little home what if itbreaks down?
(09:58):
What if I meeting somebodyunsafe?
You know that you're comingacross somebody unsafe and what,
what, what you're going to doin those scenarios and stuff.
So that's one of the biggestchallenges.
A lot of it's mental, like itcan be straining, it can be
stressful if you get yourselfinto a wrong situation.
Driving a rather large vehicleand getting out of a situation
(10:19):
that could be unsafe, thatprobably was the biggest
challenge.
Like I said, it was more mentalthan anything.
Sometimes it can be lonely oh,I wasn't sure if I froze.
Sometimes it can be lonely, butespecially as an introvert.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
But if you're an introvert.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
you'll meet people.
I did meet a few people outthere, but, yeah, you have to be
careful for your safety, so alot of times you don't meet
other people, but I did.
I met a few people out thereand I'm still friends with
actually all of them.
That is so strange.
Yes, all of them.
They live in different Statesbut, yeah, still friends with
them.
(11:02):
Some of them are still nomadsbut, yeah, still friends with
them.
Some of them are still nomads.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
the challenge that I there was another thing that I
was thinking of and I forgotwhat it was, but I think from uh
, so I've, I've done a little.
(11:40):
I lived in my RV for a fewmonths.
So, um, one of my challenges Idon't know if you kind of
encountered this was more thephysical part of, I guess,
unhook.
You know, because it's, it's, Idon't want to say it's a man's
job, but it certainly would makeit a lot easier if a guy would
handle it Right.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
There was one time I was in Texas and I didn't have
the strength to get the.
There's the big hose that dumpsyour gray and black tank, yeah,
and it clicks on.
And you make sure it clicks on,otherwise bad things could
happen.
Like, think about it, I dumpedand then I went to try to take
(12:24):
it off and I couldn't take itoff and you know, I'm just not
strong enough to do it.
I was like I don't have a toolfor this and I I couldn't get it
off and I felt so bad becauseit was at um, I was staying at a
County park and they let youstay there for free and there
was nobody else around.
Oh, okay, every.
(12:46):
Uh, the campers had left forthe day, so I couldn't find
anybody to help me and I had toleave my hose there.
Oh, and I felt so bad I couldbuy another one I just had to go
to walmart or an auto place orwhatever.
You know, I could buy anotherone I felt so bad leaving it
there because it's, you know,leave no trace.
You don't leave a trace behind.
Maybe your your tire tracks,but you clean up after yourself
(13:07):
at your campsite.
Oh, I felt I felt so badleaving it there, but I was
thinking it's a, it's a goodhose still.
Maybe somebody will take it toget it off and take it.
So, oh, I felt so bad, but yeah, it's something like that.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
So you did that for how long?
How long were you doing thisinitially?
Because I know you know, movingto the next kind of phase, I
know you encountered a bit of adetour with the RVing.
You stopped for a little while,I think right.
So how long did you actually, Iguess, solo RV before this
different season or detour inyour life happens?
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Yeah, we can call him a detour.
Detour, yes, I like it.
I was solo for six months inthe very beginning, so I started
in July of 2020.
And I met him January of thenext year, but we but we were on
and off, on and off.
He had his own rig andeverything, so and it was kind
(14:08):
of an on and off relationship.
So, total, I was out there forfour years, okay, with and
without him.
So there was you know there wasa lot of times that I was not.
I was still solo.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
So yeah, four years, I would have kept going, but
circumstances and so you're kindof at a place where you have a
home or whatever like for now.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Yeah, yes, yeah, okay .
Speaker 1 (14:42):
And what did you learn about yourself during
those four years of RVing solo?
Speaker 2 (14:51):
I think the biggest thing I learned about myself is
you know I'm.
I'm stronger than I everthought I was, especially as you
get older.
It's really important to knowthat, to know that you're still
capable.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Of of relying on yourself Strong, just capable I
love that word's, yeah, yeah,you know, because a lot of women
, as they get older and I guessmen too, but I can only speak
for women that I've myself aswell as what I've heard, um,
(15:29):
speaking to other women our age,um, they will, they'll have
this idea that I don't need aman or I don't need anybody else
.
It's like, yeah, you know, intoday's society you kind of
don't.
If you have your career, youhave an income, you can make it
on your own, and so that's niceto know that you can.
(15:49):
And then there are options tohave a partner in your life,
there's options to have yourfriends in your life.
Those are nice things to havein your life.
But it is nice to also knowit's not absolutely necessary
physically or financially.
Psychologically it can getlonely.
But yeah, I mostly learnedabout myself that I'm stronger
(16:13):
than I ever thought I was.
And I don't mean physically, Ijust mean psychologically, the
stresses sometimes that youcould.
That happen while you'retraveling solo.
Like I mentioned, the safety,there had been a few cases where
I felt unsafe.
And getting out of thatsituation safely, getting to
(16:34):
safety, and you go wow, I didthat.
Okay, I'm proud of myself, Iwas able to do that, and now I
know don't do that again.
So, yeah, don't go back there.
So that is so liberating toknow that you can rely on
yourself.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Yes, it really is.
I think, as we age too, that'salso super important, as because
the statistics are that womenoutlive men All right.
And so when you know, even ifyou are married and, um, you
know, say you lose a spouse,whether it's later in life or in
(17:17):
midlife that you already like,I find that women that already
have that confidence, they knowthey're capable of managing
things on their own, tend tofare better than I've seen.
You know some women thatcompletely rely on their, their
(17:38):
spouse, for everything, and thenwhen they pass they're, they're
not.
I mean everybody's going to bedevastated losing somebody they
love, but they're even moredevastated because they they
don't have the skills to sort oftake care of themselves, manage
things in the household orwhatever it is that's needed to
(17:59):
be done.
So I agree that it's importantnow, especially you know in
midlife, that you know we arestrong, resilient women.
Most of us are Gen Xers, so wehave that in us.
But you know, like, but toremind ourselves, like you said,
through that whole process, youknow getting that confidence
(18:20):
back if you've lost it throughlife, or you know just building
it up and knowing you arecapable of hard things.
I mean that's, that's hard.
I mean I don't know many womenthat would just say, yeah, I'm
going to go RV solo.
You know that's a hugeundertaking, so I admire you and
(18:42):
I couldn't last very longactually Well, thank you.
It was just an adventure to me.
Yes, yes, and I think attitude,like you said, mental attitude
really does play into a lot ofwhat you've experienced, and
just in travel in general.
So thank you for sharing that.
Did you while you were in thisprocess?
(19:05):
You know, besides findingyourself, finding your voice, or
finding yourself being capableof certain things that you
didn't think, or learning thingsabout yourself like, oh, I
won't do that again, we alwayshave those moments right.
Was there?
Was there a process of, besidesthe confidence building, where
you felt yourself being healedor transformed from any kind of
(19:28):
prior you know situation, Ithink, I think prior to 2018,
were you?
Were you going through adivorce or something?
Speaker 2 (19:37):
my divorce was final in 2015 okay and yeah, um, I had
always been with somebody.
You know, as a child it wasyour parents that helped, that
took care of you, and then,later on, I was in school, I
(19:57):
went to university and you haveyour roommates and you still
have your parents to back you upto lean, like you lean heavily
on them, and then it was myhusband for almost 20 years, and
so you're leaning, leaning.
Then it's kind of like you getto experience yourself, if that
(20:19):
makes sense.
It's more of a spiritual,soulful thing.
I have a hard time explainingthis part of the journey.
Yeah, I can tell you about allthe other ones the physical, the
psychological, but that, um,the soul-filling part of it for
me.
I like to be outdoors, um, Istayed a lot on public lands and
(20:44):
wake up in the morning and feelthat cool breeze, feel the
sunrise, um, or if it's reallycold too, it doesn't matter, you
just absorb and you have natureall around you and there's just
this connection I felt withnature.
So it was very soul healing andI think I needed that.
(21:04):
I think I had been craving itsince that.
Sometimes I get a littleemotional about it.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
It hits me a little bit, because I miss it.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
It hits me a little bit because I miss it, um, that
that trip to colorado when I was12, 13, with my family.
I missed that and so I ofcourse went back to colorado and
I started rv and I spent a lotof time in colorado and I missed
it so much and just beingaround the trees and the Rockies
and in the deserts and stuff.
I don't know how to explain it.
It says it's a.
It fills your soul.
(21:41):
It's very healing to be innature.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
If it's just a neighborhood park, you know, to
touch the trees or walk in thegrass, there has to be some type
of energy transfer between usand the dirt and nature.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
There's the science behind it.
So, and I, I would agree it'ssomething hard to explain, but
someone else who's experiencedlike what you are trying to
explain, I have to, like Iunderstand it.
I understand that.
That feeling, that elation,that, yes, like I think someone
just recently and I I actuallyjust mentioned it to somebody
(22:20):
else like that it is a tonic foryour soul.
Yeah, I mean, I loved how theyphrased it I'm like I'm going to
steal that Cause I I thinkthat's a great way to describe
what you're saying.
When you're in nature and you'regetting that, that fill in your
soul, um, that that's what itdoes to us.
And there is, there's sciencebehind it, you know, with us
(22:43):
being connected to nature and,like you said, the energy that
it admits, you know.
But I find also you sound a lotlike myself and that knowing
you sounds like you rediscoveredthat that's what fills you,
like you need to be in natureand that's what kind of has
filled you and sounds like youmiss it.
(23:04):
So, like I know I miss itimmensely.
Yes, I understand that feeling.
Yeah, so it's hard, like yousaid, it's hard to explain
unless you yourself have alsomaybe experienced that.
Well, I guess there's threethings.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Getting back on my feet is a huge push for me, but
(23:40):
what keeps me going isremembering how.
I felt when I was out there.
Yes, that I was reconnectingwith me.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
I'm sure you've had guests on Mm-hmm.
You're a manager, you'remanaging people, whatever
customers, you're giving, giving, giving.
So this, actually, I felt alittle selfish during this time
and I thought, well, this is forme, this is for me, so I do
miss that.
But I always circle back aroundbecause you can't give what you
(24:29):
don't already have.
So if I don't have thatserenity for myself, if I don't
have love for myself, respectfor myself, I can't give it, to
say, my children I can't giveaway, right if I don't have it.
So it was very healing, um, butknowing that feeling keeps me
going.
Now it pushes, pushes, pushes.
(24:50):
Even when I'm tired I go.
No, no, I remember being outthere and I remember having and
it doesn't have to necessarilybe that lifestyle again.
I just remember that feeling.
So I want that back.
And then my children.
I work to leave a legacy forthem, I guess to have a strong
mother as young adults andencourage them and be able to
(25:14):
support them.
So they push me still, even inadulthood.
We never give up being mothers.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
So it's those two things.
I love that.
Well, you mentioned Coloradobeing kind of a place that you
returned to because of thememories involved with that.
Did you have any other specialplaces that were like your
favorites along the way?
Speaker 2 (25:39):
There's.
Well, I don't want to give itaway, but there's a place
outside of Tucson.
That's really a lot of times wekeep our little places secret.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, that's all right.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
It's just that there's a place, and you know it
, outside of Tucson there's likeall these saguaros.
There's Saguaro National Park.
Yeah, so it's just a calmingplace.
There's just something aboutthe desert.
I never thought I'd like it,but you're surrounded by
saguaros and the creosotes andall the desert plants and the
(26:12):
small animals and the coyotes,and that was another place.
Like I would hop between thetwo.
Of course, we I followed thethe weather, so when it started
getting cold in colorado, youstart heading south so I come
down to arizona, a little bit ofnew mexico, but um yeah, I
really loved certain placesoutside of Tucson that I would
(26:36):
go to.
Nothing outrageous about it.
It wasn't spectacularlygorgeous like Sedona or Yosemite
or Yellowstone or anything likethat.
It was just a nice place torest.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Yeah, the quiet desert called you, it did, it
spoke to you.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Yeah, it definitely did and I felt safe there.
There was always a few other.
A lot of times you either onpublic land, you camp around
other nomadic people and theycan be of every age.
I've met young couples andsnowbirds that are just out
(27:18):
there and they bring you know.
They have their lifestyle andeverything.
They may go into Tucson duringthe day, or they have
side-by-side or motorcycles orsomething like that and they
explore.
So you have this wide range ofpeople that you'd meet.
I loved it, so I felt safethere.
They were always people likethat, were always camped out
there.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Yes, yeah, I meet a lot of people.
Definitely.
You brought up a place that Iam not believe it or not.
I do a lot of hiking, but I'mnot familiar with the AZT.
You called it, so the ArizonaTrail trail, right?
So, yeah, tell me a little bitabout that work, like speak to
me like I don't know where,where it is and where it runs to
(28:02):
, how long it is, you know, andthat stuff.
And I think you've done part ofit, correct?
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (28:08):
um.
So the azt is the arizona trail.
It runs from the Mexican borderin.
Arizona to a town it runs toUtah.
I think it's the town of Kaibab.
I could be wrong.
Okay, kaibab, I'm probablymutilating the name, so you know
(28:29):
.
And it just travels up thespine of Arizona.
So you hit deserts, you hithigh mountains along the way.
You go through the Grand Canyonas well.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
So Wow and you do it.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
I guess it takes about six to eight weeks because
it's 800 miles.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Okay, so Sounds about right, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
And so that was the one that I started with my
friend Janet, and we also hadanother person with us, david,
and we got 76 miles north.
We started at the Mexicanborder and we hiked 76 miles and
we hit a place called KentuckyCamp.
(29:15):
It seemed like it was in themiddle of nowhere.
Still I think it is, andthere's a camp host there,
because you can rent out thelittle cabin there, I think, and
he was there and he goes oh,you guys have to get off trail,
because when you're on trail youdon't hear news.
There's no cell signal.
Well, sometimes there is, butyou don't hear news.
You're hiking.
You there is, but you don'thear news.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
You're hiking, you're enjoying yourself you're,
you're paying attention to thetrail.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
You're disconnected, exactly, and that's part of the
reason you do it.
You're disconnected and thiswas early march of 2020, so we
went ahead with our trip becausewe're like, oh, this is only
going to last a couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
We all thought that.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
This thing, you know, and two weeks in, this guy's
telling us, oh no, no, you needto go home, everything's
shutting down.
I think he kind of made it alittle worse than it was at the
time, but it scared me and Jan,because we both have kids, grown
kids, and we didn't know whatwas happening, like, oh, people
are dying, and it's like, okay,I can't be out here if this is
(30:19):
going down, for one, nothing'sgoing to be open.
Where would we get our food?
We have to replenish our food.
We want to be able to stay inmotels to rest, at least once a
week.
Yeah so, and we wanted to bewith family.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Yeah, you want to be a family during that time.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
So we made it 60, 76 miles and got off trail.
But since then Jan has actuallyshe lives north of here she's
come down and we've been.
We'll hike, like sections of it.
I haven't been able to do itwith her, but we've hiked
sections.
We hiked a big section inFlagstaff.
I've hiked another sectionupiked a big section in
flagstaff.
(30:56):
Okay, um, I've hiked a littleanother section up by the grand
canyon.
So I'm kind of piecing ittogether, yeah, yeah I've done
200 miles or so of it.
Okay, um, and if I just try topark my art, I used to try to
park my rv as close as I couldto the trail, if I could on
public lands, and then day hikeit, yeah so, or backpack it if I
(31:21):
could.
Someday I'll finish it.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
And people do that with the AT Trail, the
Appalachian Trail too.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
They do with the AT, they do it with Pacific Crest
yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
So I mean that's huge .
I mean I give you credit,that's amazing.
But it's exciting to hear thatyou are back doing it, because I
know that I'm sure that was alittle disappointing at the time
that you were kind of due tounforeseen circumstances you
were forced off the trail again,so but I'm glad you're back
(31:55):
doing that.
I love it yeah so, aside from,you know, doing some day hikes
or backpacking overnight hikesto try to get section of the az
trail done, um, what are someother plans you have with your
solo travel coming up?
Anything else?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
you know, to tell you the honest truth, I'm such a
backpacker, I'm still back, I'mstill wanting to backpack.
There's there's a trail in inspain, it's called the santiago
or yes, the santiago, the camino.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Yeah, want to do the Camino that?
Speaker 2 (32:37):
yeah, that is actually it's.
It's on my bucket list, ofcourse.
Um, yeah, I don't really haveany.
I I do, but it's mostly likecar travel and then backpacking
or day hiking.
I still I'm I feel we'refortunate to live in a country
(32:59):
where we can see um experience alot of different cultures in
different States, as well as thebeauty of the different States
as well.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Yes, and all of our national parks are incredible.
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
So I just got.
My mom's husband has friends.
They're originally they're fromScotland and they stay in Spain
a lot along the Mediterranean.
They came to visit the Statesjust actually a few days ago and
they told me anytime you wantto come to Spain.
(33:38):
I said, oh, don't tell me that.
Don't tell me that I will bethere.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
How much is a plane?
Speaker 2 (33:43):
ticket.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
I got mine pretty well.
I flew into Portugal.
So I did the Camino last year.
I did the Portuguese portion,not the one in well, it dumps
you into Spain, portugueseportion, not the one in, well,
it dumps you into Spain,obviously at Santiago.
But, um, I went, uh, portugalas the route that I took.
But you know many people do thethe, the one through Spain, um,
(34:12):
the St James way they call it,or the original way, um, but
fantastic, I mean you shoulddefinitely do it.
Um, if you need any advice I'mhere, but you know it's, it's
definitely was on my bucket listto do and I'm glad I did it.
And you know you have apossibility to stay with
somebody for a little bit, right, I mean that, yeah, yeah, and
(34:32):
flights weren't too baddepending on when you're going.
So, yeah, it takes a littleplanning, though I will tell you
, but since you're already abackpacker, you should probably
you'll fare well because you'llknow how to pack at someone,
maybe in their midlife, that isconsidering a solo trip.
I really thought of these whenyou said this, because I wanted
to make sure I get this.
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
I just I really thought of these because I I
like to inspire other women todo your best.
Be your best If you have adream or a hope.
(35:35):
I know it sounds a little snowwhite or whatever the fantasy.
But it's true If you have adream or a hope, at least try
for it.
So for me, it was to get out ofmy comfort zone even if it's
just a little bit.
Just a little bit.
I mean, if you hate to fly,obviously don't fly, but take a
train.
Then Drive a car.
If you really just want totravel and meet people and see
(35:59):
things, just get out of yourcomfort zone and you'll learn
that it was not as scary onceyou do it.
Even just little steps.
I've also learned from mymistakes.
So learn from your mistakes.
If you didn't filter your waterand you drank it while you got
sick, don't do that again.
(36:19):
Just stuff, not stuff like that.
But definitely learn from yourmistakes, because it just makes
you stronger and then more bold.
You'll get more bold and you'lltry even more neat things to do.
But another thing is is thatyou know those are all for
yourself.
Those are pulling from yourstrength.
But also learn to.
(36:41):
This was a hard one for me.
Learn to trust.
Trust your loved ones like leanon them.
I didn't want to lean on my momuntil I had to.
Now I may not wait till I haveto.
I lean on her more for advice.
I didn't before.
(37:01):
I could do this on my own.
You don't always have to do iton your own.
It's great to solo travel, butit's also nice to have those
friends that you lean on.
I have friends I lean on andnot just during the bad bad
times, during some good timestoo and involve them and you can
still enjoy the solo travel andyou can enjoy time with them as
(37:23):
well.
But I've had to learn to leanon people.
I thought I could always do itby myself so, and then I was
just think just have fun.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Yes, yeah, I love the leaning on, cause I think we
often, you know, we think, ohwell, we're doing the solo, we
got to do it by ourselves, wegot to figure it out by
ourselves.
But I like that advice to leanon others and even as just not
family, like you said, lean onsomeone who's maybe had more
experience doing what you'retrying to do.
(37:57):
Right, I love that.
Yeah, not being ashamed to youknow, ask questions or you know
exactly.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
Yeah, yes, ask for help Right.
Ask for help, ask for help,it's okay and there's a lot of
people that will oblige.
They enjoy doing that.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
And if they don't want to, then move on to another
person.
We're human, we're social, welike to help each other, despite
what we see on TV and the newsand stuff we do.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
Yeah, yes, and I hear that a lot.
When people travel, travel they, we often, like you said, you
know, we experience morekindness in the world than we
maybe hear through media, butthere are a lot of kind people
out there and, like you said,willing to help and it's just it
(38:48):
really makes me smile about youknow, just humanity, and that
we, we, it's it's out there, wejust have to, you know, yeah,
sometimes look to be we, we,it's, it's out there, we just
have to.
You know, yeah, sometimes lookto be open to it.
Yeah, yeah, and then look for it.
Yes, Well, you have.
You have a blog, you haveInstagram, you have a YouTube.
(39:09):
Where can people follow you inas you kind of move forward into
some, probably some newadventures for yourself?
Speaker 2 (39:19):
hopefully.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
And so continue, you know, continue that section of
the AZT, so you know where canthey follow you Share that with
us.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
So the main hub where I'm always at is my Allie
Rambles.
So that's my blog.
It's A-L-L-I-E-R-A-M-B-L-E-S,allieramblescom, and that's
where I write and I share a lotof my story and also resources.
As I gain knowledge ofresources, I'll put them in
(39:51):
there as well, nice.
I'll put them in there as well,but if you, I have a YouTube
channel, I have an Instagrampage, also Facebook, but if you
were to, just for any of thosethat you like, some people
prefer Instagram, some peopleprefer YouTube.
You just look up Allie RamblesAllie Rambles YouTube and it'll
(40:13):
pop up in Google or whateversearch engine you're looking at,
because I think I'm one of theonly Allie Rambles out there, so
you're bound to find me if youwant to follow my story.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
That would be great, so encouraging.
Well, allison, I appreciate yousharing your story and even the
great advice you gave to otherwomen out there that might be
wanting to take that trip, thatsolo trip.
You are definitely I meandefinitely an inspiration for
(40:46):
how much confidence it took todo the RV stuff.
So, I just, I just admire you.
So thank you for sharing that,and showing that it is possible
for other women to possibly dothe same if that's something
they're interested in, so great,definitely.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
Thank you so much, Cheryl, for having me.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Absolutely Well.
I hope you were inspired byAllison's story and all the
roadblocks and detours that sheencountered.
She kept going, she changedcourse.
She even paused to stop andreevaluate.
Right now, but she's ran intowhether it was the pandemic that
(41:28):
sort of thorped her plans orwhether it was a relationship
that changed her course.
It was a relationship thatchanged her course.
She is back to looking down thatroad and looking to do another
solo trip and start over againand again.
And if that's where you're atin your life, you are ready to
(41:48):
start over.
You want to take that leap intoa solo trip.
I want you to book a call withme.
Let's have a little coffee chatand let's just see if I can
help you Well, how I can helpyou.
I want you to be moving forwardand taking that leap and
develop that confidence that youknow, as Alison shared uh, she
(42:10):
was doing things she didn't knowshe could do and she was more
confident than she realized.
She's more capable, I think wasthe word that was used, and I
want that for you.
So in the show notes there is alink where you can book a call
with me and I would love to hearfrom you and sisters get out
there and have that adventure.
Have you ever found yourself needing to start over?
Maybe it's starting over withyour diet or your exercise
routine, or you find yourselfstarting over in a new career in
midlife.
What if you had to completelystart over in life in all
aspects?
(00:20):
Well, maybe you find yourselfrecently divorced or an empty
nester and you're at a placewhere you're rediscovering who
you are in this new season ofyour life.
Well, my guest today, allisonGonzalez, has done just that
while incorporating travel in anRV, while starting over in life
(00:44):
after 50.
So, welcome to Solo TravelAdventures.
I'm Cheryl Esch.
Listen in on our conversationand hear her story.
Well, hello, Allison Gonzalez.
I'm so glad you're here todayto share your travel story with
my folks here on my podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
It's great being here .
I'm so excited to talk to you.
I've been waiting for a whilenow and I'm just excited.
I've been preparing for it.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Oh well, good, I'm glad you're here and I always
like to start my podcast whenI've guests, have them share
their origin travel story, likehow did your love for travel
even begin?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
My love for travel.
I think I've always been kindof curious just about, like you
know, different cultures andseeing different things, places
out there and anywhere in desertcities it doesn't matter
natural or not and meetingdifferent people.
Unfortunately I'm an introvert,but I'm trying to fix, I'm
(01:48):
trying to change that a littlebit through the travel.
But no, I think it's alwayskind of been there.
But I specifically remember Ithink I was 12 or 13, and we
went on a family road trip.
I'm originally from southerncalifornia.
We went on a family road tripto a part of arizona and we went
(02:11):
up into colorado and thencruised back through utah and if
you know that area, it's packed, filled with natural national
parks and it's just absolutelygorgeous in those areas, so we
hit all these national parksanywhere from Grand Canyon Zion.
Where else did we go?
I think we went to Mesa Verde.
(02:32):
We went to Colorado Springs andmy mom and my younger brother
he's five years younger than mewe took us out hiking in these
gorgeous places and I just fellin love with it, and this was
one of the first times Iactually saw rain in the
summertime.
We didn't get that in SouthernCalifornia.
(02:53):
So I was like this is reallyneat.
And then I found out later ithappens a lot in other states.
But I just absolutely fell inlove with it and I thought this
is I'm gonna make sure that Ihave traveled in my life and um
went from there.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
I don't care if it was by jet car walking, yeah, I
mean as long as I get it in somany different ways that we can
travel, and that you're open tothat.
Well, I understand.
I know a little bit of yourstory as far as how you more
recently for example, in 2019,you had an event happen in your
(03:31):
life that kind of perpetuatedyou and prompted you to these
new beginnings of like gettinginto solo travel.
So tell me what happened there.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
The universe works in strange ways, doesn't it?
It propels you for sure whenyou're on one track and then you
just you're forced to takeanother one.
But at least this one was anexciting one coming from
something negative so if I justrewind just a little bit, in
2018 I sold my home inCalifornia and then in 2019, a
(04:06):
year later I moved to Arizona.
But I was looking to purchaseanother house and I had been
saving money and I saved thefrom the sale of the house.
I had the equity from that.
So I was ready.
I was going I'm going to buy ahouse in Arizona.
So I was ready, I was going I'mgoing to buy a house in Arizona
(04:40):
.
Um, and I was staying with mymom and her husband.
They had retired in ArizonaArea and so I was actually
planning on buying the home andtraveling too, because I was
working remote.
I could live anywhere.
And in November of 2019, I gotlaid off and I went oh gosh, now
(05:01):
what do I do?
Now, what do I do?
Nobody's going to give amortgage to anybody that doesn't
have money.
And I went oh, gosh.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Now what do I do?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Now what do I do?
Nobody's going to give amortgage to anybody that doesn't
have money.
I had the down payment but Ididn't.
I couldn't make the monthlypayments, of course.
So they gave me a severance andit was.
It was closer to Christmas so Idecided I'm I'm not going to
look for a job right now.
I'm going to go ahead and lookin January it's a fresh year,
I'll look then.
(05:25):
It was at that time just me andmy dog.
I have grown children.
They were out on their own bythen.
So it was me and my dog and sheactually she was 14 at the time
.
She came down with cancer.
So for the whole month ofJanuary I was actually taking
(05:50):
her an hour and 45 minutes awayto I'm forgetting the name of
the type of doctor, but forchemotherapy at a veterinarian
that specialized in cancer inour pets.
Well, it didn't work and sheended up passing away in
February, so about five weekslater.
In February, so about fiveweeks later, she was older, she
(06:10):
was my buddy, she did everythingwith me, she was a great dog,
but she ended up passing.
And that's kind of when Idecided excuse my language, I
won't say it out loud Like Iwon't say the whole word, but I
was just like I won't say it outloud, like I won't say the
whole word, but I was just likeF it, I'm, I'm, I'm going to
live my life.
Because now we were gettinginto also the pandemic time and
(06:39):
I, just over the month ofFebruary and through March, the
pandemic started to hit and Ihad lost my dog, lost my job,
and I said you know what, ifthis is how it's going to be, I
have this chunk of money, I'mjust going to skip the house and
travel.
And so, yeah, I was at thattime.
I was still deciding should Ijust travel and maybe rent
apartments or homes in differentcities around the world, or the
(07:02):
RV?
Well, the pandemic made thatdecision for me as well.
I couldn't travel outside ofthe country and I stayed within
the state too for a while.
So, yeah, just the way thingsjust rolled out, it made my
decision for me.
I have a little side note too.
I can't remember the exact daymy dog passed away, but the very
(07:26):
next day I was mourning, Ididn't want to do anything, I
was just sitting in the roomjust going over the internet.
I was looking at hikes andtravel and just something that
would cheer me up because now Ihad this void in my life.
I was used to walking her andgoing places with her and
everything.
So I was just clearing my headand I was part of a group of
(07:50):
women who it's an over 40 hikinggroup and this random woman I
don't know any of thempersonally, or I just don't know
any of the women there Randomwoman said does anybody want to
hike the AZT with me?
And I didn't even know what theAZT was.
(08:12):
I went, I will.
I didn't know her, I didn'tknow what the AZT was.
I said, oh, it's okay, I'll vether, you know we'll.
We'll probably vet each otherand make sure this is legitimate
and safe.
I ended up meeting her and I'mstill friends with her.
If Janet is listening, hello,janet.
She's been a supporter of me.
We've been friends ever since.
(08:32):
We've hiked.
We headed out on the AZT but,as I said, the pandemic.
It took us off after 76 miles.
Yeah, after that I said youknow what?
I love it out here.
I'm going to buy an RV andthat's what started it.
I'm just going to do it.
I don't care if I am solo, see.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
I love that Just like you said just not caring,
taking that leap and doing whatmakes you happy and fulfilled.
Like you needed something tofill that void, as you said.
And yeah, and because youalready have this sort of ground
, this foundation of travel andhow I love how it fits in.
And then, of course, you werenot the only one during that
(09:16):
time that chose to do RVing.
But I guess that answers thequestion why you decided to RV
through the US.
It really, really was decidedfor you.
So what challenges did youencounter while RVing solo in
the US?
Speaker 2 (09:35):
You know what the biggest challenge is?
Well, it's two.
As a solo woman, there's alwaysthat, everywhere.
You're always thinking of yoursafety, always, safety, safety,
safety.
Thinking of different scenarioswhat if my RV breaks down?
You can do that as well with acar, but RV, there's a lot more
involved.
It's a little home what if itbreaks down?
(09:58):
What if I meeting somebodyunsafe?
You know that you're comingacross somebody unsafe and what,
what, what you're going to doin those scenarios and stuff.
So that's one of the biggestchallenges.
A lot of it's mental, like itcan be straining, it can be
stressful if you get yourselfinto a wrong situation.
Driving a rather large vehicleand getting out of a situation
(10:19):
that could be unsafe, thatprobably was the biggest
challenge.
Like I said, it was more mentalthan anything.
Sometimes it can be lonely oh,I wasn't sure if I froze.
Sometimes it can be lonely, butespecially as an introvert.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
But if you're an introvert.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
you'll meet people.
I did meet a few people outthere, but, yeah, you have to be
careful for your safety, so alot of times you don't meet
other people, but I did.
I met a few people out thereand I'm still friends with
actually all of them.
That is so strange.
Yes, all of them.
They live in different Statesbut, yeah, still friends with
them.
(11:02):
Some of them are still nomadsbut, yeah, still friends with
them.
Some of them are still nomads.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
the challenge that I there was another thing that I
was thinking of and I forgotwhat it was, but I think from uh
, so I've, I've done a little.
(11:40):
I lived in my RV for a fewmonths.
So, um, one of my challenges Idon't know if you kind of
encountered this was more thephysical part of, I guess,
unhook.
You know, because it's, it's, Idon't want to say it's a man's
job, but it certainly would makeit a lot easier if a guy would
handle it Right.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
There was one time I was in Texas and I didn't have
the strength to get the.
There's the big hose that dumpsyour gray and black tank, yeah,
and it clicks on.
And you make sure it clicks on,otherwise bad things could
happen.
Like, think about it, I dumpedand then I went to try to take
(12:24):
it off and I couldn't take itoff and you know, I'm just not
strong enough to do it.
I was like I don't have a toolfor this and I I couldn't get it
off and I felt so bad becauseit was at um, I was staying at a
County park and they let youstay there for free and there
was nobody else around.
Oh, okay, every.
(12:46):
Uh, the campers had left forthe day, so I couldn't find
anybody to help me and I had toleave my hose there.
Oh, and I felt so bad I couldbuy another one I just had to go
to walmart or an auto place orwhatever.
You know, I could buy anotherone I felt so bad leaving it
there because it's, you know,leave no trace.
You don't leave a trace behind.
Maybe your your tire tracks,but you clean up after yourself
(13:07):
at your campsite.
Oh, I felt I felt so badleaving it there, but I was
thinking it's a, it's a goodhose still.
Maybe somebody will take it toget it off and take it.
So, oh, I felt so bad, but yeah, it's something like that.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
So you did that for how long?
How long were you doing thisinitially?
Because I know you know, movingto the next kind of phase, I
know you encountered a bit of adetour with the RVing.
You stopped for a little while,I think right.
So how long did you actually, Iguess, solo RV before this
different season or detour inyour life happens?
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Yeah, we can call him a detour.
Detour, yes, I like it.
I was solo for six months inthe very beginning, so I started
in July of 2020.
And I met him January of thenext year, but we but we were on
and off, on and off.
He had his own rig andeverything, so and it was kind
(14:08):
of an on and off relationship.
So, total, I was out there forfour years, okay, with and
without him.
So there was you know there wasa lot of times that I was not.
I was still solo.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
So yeah, four years, I would have kept going, but
circumstances and so you're kindof at a place where you have a
home or whatever like for now.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Yeah, yes, yeah, okay .
Speaker 1 (14:42):
And what did you learn about yourself during
those four years of RVing solo?
Speaker 2 (14:51):
I think the biggest thing I learned about myself is
you know I'm.
I'm stronger than I everthought I was, especially as you
get older.
It's really important to knowthat, to know that you're still
capable.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Of of relying on yourself Strong, just capable I
love that word's, yeah, yeah,you know, because a lot of women
, as they get older and I guessmen too, but I can only speak
for women that I've myself aswell as what I've heard, um,
(15:29):
speaking to other women our age,um, they will, they'll have
this idea that I don't need aman or I don't need anybody else
.
It's like, yeah, you know, intoday's society you kind of
don't.
If you have your career, youhave an income, you can make it
on your own, and so that's niceto know that you can.
(15:49):
And then there are options tohave a partner in your life,
there's options to have yourfriends in your life.
Those are nice things to havein your life.
But it is nice to also knowit's not absolutely necessary
physically or financially.
Psychologically it can getlonely.
But yeah, I mostly learnedabout myself that I'm stronger
(16:13):
than I ever thought I was.
And I don't mean physically, Ijust mean psychologically, the
stresses sometimes that youcould.
That happen while you'retraveling solo.
Like I mentioned, the safety,there had been a few cases where
I felt unsafe.
And getting out of thatsituation safely, getting to
(16:34):
safety, and you go wow, I didthat.
Okay, I'm proud of myself, Iwas able to do that, and now I
know don't do that again.
So, yeah, don't go back there.
So that is so liberating toknow that you can rely on
yourself.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Yes, it really is.
I think, as we age too, that'salso super important, as because
the statistics are that womenoutlive men All right.
And so when you know, even ifyou are married and, um, you
know, say you lose a spouse,whether it's later in life or in
(17:17):
midlife that you already like,I find that women that already
have that confidence, they knowthey're capable of managing
things on their own, tend tofare better than I've seen.
You know some women thatcompletely rely on their, their
(17:38):
spouse, for everything, and thenwhen they pass they're, they're
not.
I mean everybody's going to bedevastated losing somebody they
love, but they're even moredevastated because they they
don't have the skills to sort oftake care of themselves, manage
things in the household orwhatever it is that's needed to
(17:59):
be done.
So I agree that it's importantnow, especially you know in
midlife, that you know we arestrong, resilient women.
Most of us are Gen Xers, so wehave that in us.
But you know, like, but toremind ourselves, like you said,
through that whole process, youknow getting that confidence
(18:20):
back if you've lost it throughlife, or you know just building
it up and knowing you arecapable of hard things.
I mean that's, that's hard.
I mean I don't know many womenthat would just say, yeah, I'm
going to go RV solo.
You know that's a hugeundertaking, so I admire you and
(18:42):
I couldn't last very longactually Well, thank you.
It was just an adventure to me.
Yes, yes, and I think attitude,like you said, mental attitude
really does play into a lot ofwhat you've experienced, and
just in travel in general.
So thank you for sharing that.
Did you while you were in thisprocess?
(19:05):
You know, besides findingyourself, finding your voice, or
finding yourself being capableof certain things that you
didn't think, or learning thingsabout yourself like, oh, I
won't do that again, we alwayshave those moments right.
Was there?
Was there a process of, besidesthe confidence building, where
you felt yourself being healedor transformed from any kind of
(19:28):
prior you know situation, Ithink, I think prior to 2018,
were you?
Were you going through adivorce or something?
Speaker 2 (19:37):
my divorce was final in 2015 okay and yeah, um, I had
always been with somebody.
You know, as a child it wasyour parents that helped, that
took care of you, and then,later on, I was in school, I
(19:57):
went to university and you haveyour roommates and you still
have your parents to back you upto lean, like you lean heavily
on them, and then it was myhusband for almost 20 years, and
so you're leaning, leaning.
Then it's kind of like you getto experience yourself, if that
(20:19):
makes sense.
It's more of a spiritual,soulful thing.
I have a hard time explainingthis part of the journey.
Yeah, I can tell you about allthe other ones the physical, the
psychological, but that, um,the soul-filling part of it for
me.
I like to be outdoors, um, Istayed a lot on public lands and
(20:44):
wake up in the morning and feelthat cool breeze, feel the
sunrise, um, or if it's reallycold too, it doesn't matter, you
just absorb and you have natureall around you and there's just
this connection I felt withnature.
So it was very soul healing andI think I needed that.
(21:04):
I think I had been craving itsince that.
Sometimes I get a littleemotional about it.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
It hits me a little bit, because I miss it.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
It hits me a little bit because I miss it, um, that
that trip to colorado when I was12, 13, with my family.
I missed that and so I ofcourse went back to colorado and
I started rv and I spent a lotof time in colorado and I missed
it so much and just beingaround the trees and the Rockies
and in the deserts and stuff.
I don't know how to explain it.
It says it's a.
It fills your soul.
(21:41):
It's very healing to be innature.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
If it's just a neighborhood park, you know, to
touch the trees or walk in thegrass, there has to be some type
of energy transfer between usand the dirt and nature.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
There's the science behind it.
So, and I, I would agree it'ssomething hard to explain, but
someone else who's experiencedlike what you are trying to
explain, I have to, like Iunderstand it.
I understand that.
That feeling, that elation,that, yes, like I think someone
just recently and I I actuallyjust mentioned it to somebody
(22:20):
else like that it is a tonic foryour soul.
Yeah, I mean, I loved how theyphrased it I'm like I'm going to
steal that Cause I I thinkthat's a great way to describe
what you're saying.
When you're in nature and you'regetting that, that fill in your
soul, um, that that's what itdoes to us.
And there is, there's sciencebehind it, you know, with us
(22:43):
being connected to nature and,like you said, the energy that
it admits, you know.
But I find also you sound a lotlike myself and that knowing
you sounds like you rediscoveredthat that's what fills you,
like you need to be in natureand that's what kind of has
filled you and sounds like youmiss it.
(23:04):
So, like I know I miss itimmensely.
Yes, I understand that feeling.
Yeah, so it's hard, like yousaid, it's hard to explain
unless you yourself have alsomaybe experienced that.
Well, I guess there's threethings.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Getting back on my feet is a huge push for me, but
(23:40):
what keeps me going isremembering how.
I felt when I was out there.
Yes, that I was reconnectingwith me.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
I'm sure you've had guests on Mm-hmm.
You're a manager, you'remanaging people, whatever
customers, you're giving, giving, giving.
So this, actually, I felt alittle selfish during this time
and I thought, well, this is forme, this is for me, so I do
miss that.
But I always circle back aroundbecause you can't give what you
(24:29):
don't already have.
So if I don't have thatserenity for myself, if I don't
have love for myself, respectfor myself, I can't give it, to
say, my children I can't giveaway, right if I don't have it.
So it was very healing, um, butknowing that feeling keeps me
going.
Now it pushes, pushes, pushes.
(24:50):
Even when I'm tired I go.
No, no, I remember being outthere and I remember having and
it doesn't have to necessarilybe that lifestyle again.
I just remember that feeling.
So I want that back.
And then my children.
I work to leave a legacy forthem, I guess to have a strong
mother as young adults andencourage them and be able to
(25:14):
support them.
So they push me still, even inadulthood.
We never give up being mothers.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
So it's those two things.
I love that.
Well, you mentioned Coloradobeing kind of a place that you
returned to because of thememories involved with that.
Did you have any other specialplaces that were like your
favorites along the way?
Speaker 2 (25:39):
There's.
Well, I don't want to give itaway, but there's a place
outside of Tucson.
That's really a lot of times wekeep our little places secret.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, that's all right.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
It's just that there's a place, and you know it
, outside of Tucson there's likeall these saguaros.
There's Saguaro National Park.
Yeah, so it's just a calmingplace.
There's just something aboutthe desert.
I never thought I'd like it,but you're surrounded by
saguaros and the creosotes andall the desert plants and the
(26:12):
small animals and the coyotes,and that was another place.
Like I would hop between thetwo.
Of course, we I followed thethe weather, so when it started
getting cold in colorado, youstart heading south so I come
down to arizona, a little bit ofnew mexico, but um yeah, I
really loved certain placesoutside of Tucson that I would
(26:36):
go to.
Nothing outrageous about it.
It wasn't spectacularlygorgeous like Sedona or Yosemite
or Yellowstone or anything likethat.
It was just a nice place torest.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Yeah, the quiet desert called you, it did, it
spoke to you.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Yeah, it definitely did and I felt safe there.
There was always a few other.
A lot of times you either onpublic land, you camp around
other nomadic people and theycan be of every age.
I've met young couples andsnowbirds that are just out
(27:18):
there and they bring you know.
They have their lifestyle andeverything.
They may go into Tucson duringthe day, or they have
side-by-side or motorcycles orsomething like that and they
explore.
So you have this wide range ofpeople that you'd meet.
I loved it, so I felt safethere.
They were always people likethat, were always camped out
there.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Yes, yeah, I meet a lot of people.
Definitely.
You brought up a place that Iam not believe it or not.
I do a lot of hiking, but I'mnot familiar with the AZT.
You called it, so the ArizonaTrail trail, right?
So, yeah, tell me a little bitabout that work, like speak to
me like I don't know where,where it is and where it runs to
(28:02):
, how long it is, you know, andthat stuff.
And I think you've done part ofit, correct?
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (28:08):
um.
So the azt is the arizona trail.
It runs from the Mexican borderin.
Arizona to a town it runs toUtah.
I think it's the town of Kaibab.
I could be wrong.
Okay, kaibab, I'm probablymutilating the name, so you know
(28:29):
.
And it just travels up thespine of Arizona.
So you hit deserts, you hithigh mountains along the way.
You go through the Grand Canyonas well.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
So Wow and you do it.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
I guess it takes about six to eight weeks because
it's 800 miles.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Okay, so Sounds about right, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
And so that was the one that I started with my
friend Janet, and we also hadanother person with us, david,
and we got 76 miles north.
We started at the Mexicanborder and we hiked 76 miles and
we hit a place called KentuckyCamp.
(29:15):
It seemed like it was in themiddle of nowhere.
Still I think it is, andthere's a camp host there,
because you can rent out thelittle cabin there, I think, and
he was there and he goes oh,you guys have to get off trail,
because when you're on trail youdon't hear news.
There's no cell signal.
Well, sometimes there is, butyou don't hear news.
You're hiking.
You there is, but you don'thear news.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
You're hiking, you're enjoying yourself you're,
you're paying attention to thetrail.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
You're disconnected, exactly, and that's part of the
reason you do it.
You're disconnected and thiswas early march of 2020, so we
went ahead with our trip becausewe're like, oh, this is only
going to last a couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
We all thought that.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
This thing, you know, and two weeks in, this guy's
telling us, oh no, no, you needto go home, everything's
shutting down.
I think he kind of made it alittle worse than it was at the
time, but it scared me and Jan,because we both have kids, grown
kids, and we didn't know whatwas happening, like, oh, people
are dying, and it's like, okay,I can't be out here if this is
(30:19):
going down, for one, nothing'sgoing to be open.
Where would we get our food?
We have to replenish our food.
We want to be able to stay inmotels to rest, at least once a
week.
Yeah so, and we wanted to bewith family.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Yeah, you want to be a family during that time.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
So we made it 60, 76 miles and got off trail.
But since then Jan has actuallyshe lives north of here she's
come down and we've been.
We'll hike, like sections of it.
I haven't been able to do itwith her, but we've hiked
sections.
We hiked a big section inFlagstaff.
I've hiked another sectionupiked a big section in
flagstaff.
(30:56):
Okay, um, I've hiked a littleanother section up by the grand
canyon.
So I'm kind of piecing ittogether, yeah, yeah I've done
200 miles or so of it.
Okay, um, and if I just try topark my art, I used to try to
park my rv as close as I couldto the trail, if I could on
public lands, and then day hikeit, yeah so, or backpack it if I
(31:21):
could.
Someday I'll finish it.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
And people do that with the AT Trail, the
Appalachian Trail too.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
They do with the AT, they do it with Pacific Crest
yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
So I mean that's huge .
I mean I give you credit,that's amazing.
But it's exciting to hear thatyou are back doing it, because I
know that I'm sure that was alittle disappointing at the time
that you were kind of due tounforeseen circumstances you
were forced off the trail again,so but I'm glad you're back
(31:55):
doing that.
I love it yeah so, aside from,you know, doing some day hikes
or backpacking overnight hikesto try to get section of the az
trail done, um, what are someother plans you have with your
solo travel coming up?
Anything else?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
you know, to tell you the honest truth, I'm such a
backpacker, I'm still back, I'mstill wanting to backpack.
There's there's a trail in inspain, it's called the santiago
or yes, the santiago, the camino.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Yeah, want to do the Camino that?
Speaker 2 (32:37):
yeah, that is actually it's.
It's on my bucket list, ofcourse.
Um, yeah, I don't really haveany.
I I do, but it's mostly likecar travel and then backpacking
or day hiking.
I still I'm I feel we'refortunate to live in a country
(32:59):
where we can see um experience alot of different cultures in
different States, as well as thebeauty of the different States
as well.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Yes, and all of our national parks are incredible.
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
So I just got.
My mom's husband has friends.
They're originally they're fromScotland and they stay in Spain
a lot along the Mediterranean.
They came to visit the Statesjust actually a few days ago and
they told me anytime you wantto come to Spain.
(33:38):
I said, oh, don't tell me that.
Don't tell me that I will bethere.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
How much is a plane?
Speaker 2 (33:43):
ticket.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
I got mine pretty well.
I flew into Portugal.
So I did the Camino last year.
I did the Portuguese portion,not the one in well, it dumps
you into Spain, portugueseportion, not the one in, well,
it dumps you into Spain,obviously at Santiago.
But, um, I went, uh, portugalas the route that I took.
But you know many people do thethe, the one through Spain, um,
(34:12):
the St James way they call it,or the original way, um, but
fantastic, I mean you shoulddefinitely do it.
Um, if you need any advice I'mhere, but you know it's, it's
definitely was on my bucket listto do and I'm glad I did it.
And you know you have apossibility to stay with
somebody for a little bit, right, I mean that, yeah, yeah, and
(34:32):
flights weren't too baddepending on when you're going.
So, yeah, it takes a littleplanning, though I will tell you
, but since you're already abackpacker, you should probably
you'll fare well because you'llknow how to pack at someone,
maybe in their midlife, that isconsidering a solo trip.
I really thought of these whenyou said this, because I wanted
to make sure I get this.
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
I just I really thought of these because I I
like to inspire other women todo your best.
Be your best If you have adream or a hope.
(35:35):
I know it sounds a little snowwhite or whatever the fantasy.
But it's true If you have adream or a hope, at least try
for it.
So for me, it was to get out ofmy comfort zone even if it's
just a little bit.
Just a little bit.
I mean, if you hate to fly,obviously don't fly, but take a
train.
Then Drive a car.
If you really just want totravel and meet people and see
(35:59):
things, just get out of yourcomfort zone and you'll learn
that it was not as scary onceyou do it.
Even just little steps.
I've also learned from mymistakes.
So learn from your mistakes.
If you didn't filter your waterand you drank it while you got
sick, don't do that again.
(36:19):
Just stuff, not stuff like that.
But definitely learn from yourmistakes, because it just makes
you stronger and then more bold.
You'll get more bold and you'lltry even more neat things to do.
But another thing is is thatyou know those are all for
yourself.
Those are pulling from yourstrength.
But also learn to.
(36:41):
This was a hard one for me.
Learn to trust.
Trust your loved ones like leanon them.
I didn't want to lean on my momuntil I had to.
Now I may not wait till I haveto.
I lean on her more for advice.
I didn't before.
(37:01):
I could do this on my own.
You don't always have to do iton your own.
It's great to solo travel, butit's also nice to have those
friends that you lean on.
I have friends I lean on andnot just during the bad bad
times, during some good timestoo and involve them and you can
still enjoy the solo travel andyou can enjoy time with them as
(37:23):
well.
But I've had to learn to leanon people.
I thought I could always do itby myself so, and then I was
just think just have fun.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Yes, yeah, I love the leaning on, cause I think we
often, you know, we think, ohwell, we're doing the solo, we
got to do it by ourselves, wegot to figure it out by
ourselves.
But I like that advice to leanon others and even as just not
family, like you said, lean onsomeone who's maybe had more
experience doing what you'retrying to do.
(37:57):
Right, I love that.
Yeah, not being ashamed to youknow, ask questions or you know
exactly.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
Yeah, yes, ask for help Right.
Ask for help, ask for help,it's okay and there's a lot of
people that will oblige.
They enjoy doing that.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
And if they don't want to, then move on to another
person.
We're human, we're social, welike to help each other, despite
what we see on TV and the newsand stuff we do.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
Yeah, yes, and I hear that a lot.
When people travel, travel they, we often, like you said, you
know, we experience morekindness in the world than we
maybe hear through media, butthere are a lot of kind people
out there and, like you said,willing to help and it's just it
(38:48):
really makes me smile about youknow, just humanity, and that
we, we, it's it's out there, wejust have to, you know, yeah,
sometimes look to be we, we,it's, it's out there, we just
have to.
You know, yeah, sometimes lookto be open to it.
Yeah, yeah, and then look for it.
Yes, Well, you have.
You have a blog, you haveInstagram, you have a YouTube.
(39:09):
Where can people follow you inas you kind of move forward into
some, probably some newadventures for yourself?
Speaker 2 (39:19):
hopefully.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
And so continue, you know, continue that section of
the AZT, so you know where canthey follow you Share that with
us.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
So the main hub where I'm always at is my Allie
Rambles.
So that's my blog.
It's A-L-L-I-E-R-A-M-B-L-E-S,allieramblescom, and that's
where I write and I share a lotof my story and also resources.
As I gain knowledge ofresources, I'll put them in
(39:51):
there as well, nice.
I'll put them in there as well,but if you, I have a YouTube
channel, I have an Instagrampage, also Facebook, but if you
were to, just for any of thosethat you like, some people
prefer Instagram, some peopleprefer YouTube.
You just look up Allie RamblesAllie Rambles YouTube and it'll
(40:13):
pop up in Google or whateversearch engine you're looking at,
because I think I'm one of theonly Allie Rambles out there, so
you're bound to find me if youwant to follow my story.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
That would be great, so encouraging.
Well, allison, I appreciate yousharing your story and even the
great advice you gave to otherwomen out there that might be
wanting to take that trip, thatsolo trip.
You are definitely I meandefinitely an inspiration for
(40:46):
how much confidence it took todo the RV stuff.
So, I just, I just admire you.
So thank you for sharing that,and showing that it is possible
for other women to possibly dothe same if that's something
they're interested in, so great,definitely.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
Thank you so much, Cheryl, for having me.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Absolutely Well.
I hope you were inspired byAllison's story and all the
roadblocks and detours that sheencountered.
She kept going, she changedcourse.
She even paused to stop andreevaluate.
Right now, but she's ran intowhether it was the pandemic that
(41:28):
sort of thorped her plans orwhether it was a relationship
that changed her course.
It was a relationship thatchanged her course.
She is back to looking down thatroad and looking to do another
solo trip and start over againand again.
And if that's where you're atin your life, you are ready to
(41:48):
start over.
You want to take that leap intoa solo trip.
I want you to book a call withme.
Let's have a little coffee chatand let's just see if I can
help you Well, how I can helpyou.
I want you to be moving forwardand taking that leap and
develop that confidence that youknow, as Alison shared uh, she
(42:10):
was doing things she didn't knowshe could do and she was more
confident than she realized.
She's more capable, I think wasthe word that was used, and I
want that for you.
So in the show notes there is alink where you can book a call
with me and I would love to hearfrom you and sisters get out
there and have that adventure.
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