It’s been over 800 days and 50,000 km since their unimaginable journey began once more in May of 2015. That’s the excellent story of an individual and his rescue cat who collectively traveled Australia of their camper van. Meet the dynamic duo of Rich East and his trusty sidekick Willow.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Rich earlier this week and requested if he would ever take into consideration one different journey like this as soon as extra, he replied “It on no account ended, I’m scripting this from my van in South Australia with a sleepy little journey cat asleep on my legs!”
Let’s return to the beginning…in May of 2015, Rich East, then 32 had a break up and decided to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey by himself. Initially from Hobart, Tasmania, he chosen to go away his ‘extraordinary’ life behind to hit the freeway. After selling all his possessions, collectively together with his dwelling, Rich merely couldn’t bear to say goodbye to his furry buddy Willow (then 4 years earlier), so he decided to ship her with him.
OK, now we’re feline an precise journey coming!
Willow, who’s now six, has since completed a loop of Australia after visiting all eight states and territories, and shared quite a few recollections with Rich, from breathtaking sunsets to floods to mountain treks. “I made a promise to maintain her as soon as I adopted her and I wasn’t going once more on it, just because I was looking for one factor else in life.” Correctly said Rich!
Rich fondly refers to Willow as his ‘soul mate’ and he or she merely is more likely to be the first cat to have completed this iconic loop of Australia.
This was pretty an daring expedition even for a seasoned journey cat nevertheless apparently Willow is so chilled out and simple going that the pair have been purrfect companions all via. Rich shares: “We’ve achieved fairly loads collectively and have shared some excellent sights. We’ve sailed the Good Barrier Reef, cherished the summer season on the Dorrigo Plateau Mountain Fluctuate and travelled a 1,000 km gravel freeway from Bourketown in Queensland, all the easiest way as a lot as Northern Territory. I can’t take into consideration being on this journey with out her by my facet.”
When the two biggest pals aren’t chillin’ inside the van, they’re greater than possible exploring the Australian wilderness. A typical day consists of sightseeing, napping, consuming and a short drive on the open freeway. Most days they journey a minimum of 60 km and inside the evenings they uncover a camp, put together dinner some dinner then go for his or her daily uncover.
Rich says: “She’s a extremely curious cat and is cautious when in a model new place until she feels cosy. I’ve a leash for walks we do collectively and radio frequency collar fitted to her too. So even when Willow decides she wishes some alone time, I can always uncover her.”
Usually though, he says it’s unusual for Willow to wander larger than 100 meters from the van. “We’ve acquired an unspoken settlement, she is conscious of I’ll on no account go away with out her and I do know she’s going to always return.”
Usually Willow joins Rich on his daily stroll and follows him rigorously however when she’s not inside the mood you’re certain to look out her nestled comfortably asleep atop the van.
Rich believes that cats make paw-some journey companions and he didn’t should make many modifications to his camper van to accommodate Willow. When driving, Willow has to expertise inside the once more in a selected cat service. Loads as Rich wants she could expertise up the doorway with him it’s merely not protected. Basic she’s a purrfect journey companion with no cat-titude and is generally relaxed and simple going, nevertheless in response to Rich she’s going to get barely cranky when she’s hungry. Don’t all of us! >^..^<
We quizzed Rich to share a few of his many explicit recollections…
Q: What’s considered one of many harder treks you encountered?
In March of 2017, Rich wrote: This cat couldn’t ever rule the world nevertheless she’s going to always be queen of this junkyard. We took these photos a few days previously as we’ve been half method alongside the 1,660 km Eyre Freeway between WA and SA. The sad actuality is that not everyone makes the grueling journey all through and the sides of the freeway are affected by wrecks that stand testament to that actuality. We stayed the night near an earlier quarry that had flip right into a car graveyard. Willow cherished exploring and made herself correct at dwelling.
Oh…did we level out that among the many roads will probably be mighty sturdy on tires! Yikes!
Q: Any fascinating adventures off the freeway?
In July of 2015, Rich wrote: See this little black cat correct proper right here? She has merely spent 3 days cruising the Good Barrier Reef aboard the SV Watermusic like a champion. So happy with this little kitty.
Q: What’s considered one of many funniest points that occurred to you?
In July of 2017, Rich wrote: Okay so identify me a fool nevertheless I did it as soon as extra last night. We had merely settled into one among our favourite camps inside the mangroves and accomplished our dinner when it was time to go for barely stroll. I open the sliding door nevertheless I’m confronted with the freeway beneath a foot of water! I’m parked on a small rise in solely 4″ inches of water, Willow was good adequate to not bounce out this time. I check the tides and we’re nearly on the extreme stage nevertheless I get the torch out and see the water stays to be flowing in pretty fast. I make a snap willpower and decide that for our private comfort and safety that as an alternative of prepared for it to recede, it was time to get the flash out of there. I pull the sun shades down, get behind the wheel and creep onto the freeway. It being darkish, it’s solely at this stage that I realise that I’ve about 400 metres of freeway/river to get through to safety. Regret sinks in and I put it into reverse to return to our humble spot on the rise nevertheless the wheels spin and I’m not going wherever. I take my footwear off, roll up my PJ’s, get outside to grasp that I’m devoted to going forwards. I kick some mud out from in entrance of the tyres and with moist ft get once more behind the wheel. I put it into low gear and push forwards, with a wave of water following us. The mud freeway is silty and I’m slipping and fish tailing everywhere. The one saving grace on this state of affairs is that although steering was near unattainable, the van would hug the wheel tracks/ruts on the freeway. After basically probably the most intense three minutes I’ve had in an prolonged whereas I made it out to extreme ground and situated a loads safer spot once more near the jetty to abandon our evening stroll and proceed our evening TV watching and evening potato crisp consuming. It’s a {photograph} of Willow surveying our gracious and devoted vessel this morning as I eradicated among the many seaweed caught beneath it from my foolish misadventure. Now even after I’ve camped in a spot for weeks before now I hope that I’ve realized to on no account as soon as extra camp with my once more to sea!
Q: What’s one among your most memorable days?
In August of 2016, Rich wrote: Some days are for working, some for travelling, nevertheless not proper now. Proper this second is for parking on the seashore and watching the waves. See them break over the reef whereas the afternoon photo voltaic fills the van with warmth as barely black journey cat purrs contentedly. The photo voltaic will set merely in time for us to briefly see Venus and Mercury sooner than they too hit the horizon. And the sunshine of the entire moon will contact the breakers as we see every crash properly into the night whereas we watch from beneath the blankets.
Q: What’s considered one of many scariest points that occurred?
In July of 2016, Rich wrote: We’re in a position to see our dwelling from proper right here! ~ As shortly as we stopped the van we every knew it wanted to be climbed. Solely barely hill nevertheless in a land so flat every hill is a mountain and every mountain feels sacred. So we start climbing, barely black cat wanting once more expectantly as I stumble over the free rocks. No leash, no tether, solely a perception that after we get to the very best we may have each other. And we did. Every issue seems tiny on prime. Our dwelling, the freeway trains on the freeway, and the entire day’s worries. To sit for less than a second, with the ultimate of the photo voltaic’s rays in your eyes and suppose, “The whole thing is okay”.
That’s such a excellent story of the bond between these two lifelong companions and their unimaginable journey collectively. We merely couldn’t resist sharing some further eye candy photos.
OK…we moreover wanted to sneak in a kangaroo shot…in any case, this story takes place in that the magical land down beneath!
Seems to be like like Willow is admiring one different magnificent Australian sunset.
Willow even picked up a joke or two alongside the easiest way and wished to share this one with us in honor of the big banana (beneath):
Q: Why do bananas ought to placed on sunscreen?
A: Because of they peel.
This journey has made Willow a seasoned freeway warrior, nevertheless she nonetheless enjoys the comfort of a fragile cushion whereas Rich softly strums lullabies for her sooner than mattress.
On no account being one to indicate down a model new journey, Willow enjoys a fragile swing whereas pondering their subsequent thrilling trek. This little black journey cat has achieved what some dwelling cats could solely dream of.
Having completed their loop of Australia, there’s no sign of these two halting their travels anytime shortly. Rich says: “I doc our freeway journey on my Instagram internet web page and we’ve had basically probably the most excellent messages from of us. I actually like listening to that our travels brighten up any individual’s day.”
Rich went on to say: “It’s humorous how properly cats adapt to travelling, they solely do their very personal issue which has meant we’ve been able to share so many experiences, however have alone time. We’ve appreciated it loads, we’re even contemplating of doing a second lap as a fashion of encouraging others to journey with their furry mates.”
Rich said: “What life boils all the best way all the way down to is to do what makes you content material” and he has no regrets about his choices and biggest summed it up in a present IG put up from July of 2017 the place he states:
“In summer season the dash could possibly be too scorching to the contact till I put the sun shades up, nevertheless in winter it’s an exquisite place to catch some rays when it’s chilly outside. Willow is conscious of that points are always altering and that the place the photo voltaic as quickly as shone couldn’t be. Nevertheless that doesn’t seem to part her – warmth like happiness is fleeting, ever altering, and transient – one factor that should always be pursued.”
[clickToTweet tweet=”Man Quits Job to Embark on Remarkable Journey Across Australia With His Cat” quote=”Man Quits Job to Embark on Remarkable Journey Across Australia With His Cat”]
TIMELINE OF WILLOW’S TRAVELS
May 2015 – Left dwelling metropolis Hobart, Tasmania
July 2015 – Visited the Good Barrier Reef on board a crusing boat for 3 days
Spent summer season months travelling New South Wales
March 2016 – Started heading North as soon as extra as a result of the local weather cooled down, chasing the photo voltaic
May 2016 – Celebrated 1 yr on the freeway at Longreach, Qld
June 2016 – Travelled from Bourketown, Qld to Mataranka, NT via 1,000 km of gravel freeway
July – Visited mates in Darwin, NT
August – Travelled All the best way all the way down to Broome, WA
September – Margret River, WA
Oct – Jan – Perth, WA
Feb 2017 – South West WA
March 2017 – Entered South Australia – almost 50,000 kms travelled collectively
April – July 2017 – Slowed correct down and spending time exploring the attractive seashores and mangroves of the Spencer Gulf, South Australia
Check out this nice video on these two inspirational travelling soul mates:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT2HR_zfstQ
{Photograph} credit score: All pics kindly equipped by Richard East with prime quality administration completed by Willow
Please be sure you adjust to Willow and Rich’s ongoing cat-venture on:
Website: Van Cat Meow
Instagram: @vancatmeow
Fb: @VanCatMeow
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BONUS
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