There are thousands of adventure travel stories out there. However, only few can compare to the one I have in store for you. Let’s face it, not everyone is a dog person, sometimes man and cat can be the best of companions. But whoever thought a cat would make the perfect travel companion? Just think of it, you and your furry friend all alone taking that trip of a lifetime. Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Well, Rich, a corporate worker who quit his job to travel with his cat, will make you change your mind. Rich’s story is quite an interesting one and unique in every way. Read on to find out what it’s all about. Who knows, there might be an important life lesson to learn from it.
Rich always had the dream of going on a lifetime adventure with his furry friend Willow. Not even his corporate job would stand in the way of his dream. In fact, he called it quits after working for 10 years. Sounds different? Well, that’s who Rich was. The reason behind quitting his job was to fulfill his quest for adventure. As if quitting his job wasn’t enough, Rich went ahead to sell his possessions, including the house. That means one thing, he wasn’t gonna look back again. Lifetime trip with Willow! Well, that seemed to be the only thing on his mind.
Credit: @Rich & Willow
But hey, before I go on, who really is this Willow cat? Willow was an adopted kitty who once lived with Rich’s ex-girlfriend. With time, Willow took a liking to Rich. One thing led to another and before long, the two were best of companions. In fact, she followed him everywhere like a shadow. I think you now understand why Rich couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her behind. She was a true friend, even during the toughest of times. That’s not to mention being affectionate and cuddly.
Credit: @Rich & Willow
The two packed up and embarked on this lifetime adventure. In fact, what Rich was looking forward to was a series of adventure – one that will see them traveling for years together. Well, the two left their hometown of Hobart, Tasmania back in May 2015. By February 217, they’d finally made it to South Australia. This is an adventure that saw them visiting not just one, but all the 6 states and 2 territories of Australia! Well, I call that an adventure so amazing and one of a kind.
Credit: @Rich & Willow
Talk about an adventure, Rich and Willow have seen their fair share. From sailing the Great Barrier Reef, camping the mountains, to hitting thousands of gravel roads, these two have done it all. This is an adventure that saw them travel from Bourketown in Queensland to the Northern Territory. All this adventure tour of Australia saw them travel over 50,000km.
Credit: @Rich & Willow
All this time, Rich took the trouble of keeping track of Willow. After all, who would want to lose such a friend? He had her wear a tracking collar making it easier to locate her. This gave Willow the freedom of going for a hike and exploring the around the camp. On his part, Rich had peace of mind having ensured that his best friend wouldn’t get lost in the woods. In short, theirs is an adventure that kept them inspired every day of the year. They have a calendar and receive motivational messages from around the world. To Richard, such messages play a huge part in brightening their day.
Credit: @Rich & Willow
Rich and his best friend Willow have now tied themselves to the life of travel. Spending days visiting parks, hiking through forests and soaking up the sun has become part of their lives. They’ve adapted to traveling life and managed to make it their own despite the many challenges and tough times they’ve faced together. This is a full time “job” and it makes them happy. So how about you? What makes you happy?
Credit: @Rich & Willow
Well, if there’s anything I’ve learned from this is that we should always go for the things that make us happy in life. Forget the challenges and tough times you might face, for, in the end, it’s all worth the trouble. I feel encouraged by Rich and so proud of Willow for being a true friend. Theirs is more than just a story on adventure travel. In fact, there are valuable life lessons to learn from it.