When the hum of the road calls

(First published in Issue 7, December 2022) The call of the road has always been strong, after a childhood spent traversing the Australian landscape in a 4x4 and tent. So when the time came for me to travel with my own family, I knew it had to be in a less conventional way. I wanted to replicate those feelings of nostalgia and of minimalistic travel, of doing it tough and roughing it. Perhaps it was the roadside bush mechanics I recall fondly, as I watched my dad belly up in the gravel with grease up to his elbows. Things I did not appreciate as a child myself, but somehow became etched in my fibers.

It was a lifelong dream to own a humble old Volkswagen Kombi, so on a whim one weekend six years ago, my husband Keenan and I decided to step out of the grind that we had found ourselves in with our big mortgage and young family, and tip conventionalism on its head. We bought a 1975 Kombi in the perfect shade of mellow yellow and set about to take our family on an adventure.

Since then, we have covered some 100,000 kilometers (62,137 miles) of dusty roads as we have rattled our way around Australia with our daughters and dog in tow. Our tiny yellow tin can sleeps all five of us, it is cozy, especially on those cold rainy nights, but there has not been a single night where we have opted for more luxurious comforts. We revel in the challenges it brings, of the day to day uncertainty that comes with taking a 47 year old vehicle into the harsh landscapes we find ourselves in. The journey has become our spirituality of sorts, the lessons, the growth, the hardship, and the joy. It has shaped us, and is laying good foundations for our daughters to grow.

The journey has not always been easy, just like there is never a right time when the stars align and everything fits into place to take a leap of faith. We just knew we wanted something different, we knew we needed to change our lives, and we knew nothing different would come from doing the same thing. Despite the setbacks and obstacles, the breakdowns, and the empty bank accounts, we would not have it any other way.

As a photographer, I have found incredible joy in capturing the moments, the details, and the places we explore. Each day I am in awe, not only of the opportunity we have, or for this remarkable vehicle that carries us, but mostly for the land upon which we wander. I have been deeply compelled to share this in a way that takes others on a journey too, placing them in the scene, to evoke nostalgia, and to tell a story.

It is a story of breaking free of societal norms, of challenging fears, of triumphs and defeats. It is a story of determination, of struggle, of resilience, and adaptability.

It is love of family, and of adventure, love of community and connection, love of an old Kombi van and all that it brings. It is love of freedom and the soothing hum of the road.