Feature: Yasha from Dare 2 Go
“We’re not lost because there is nowhere we have to be.”
Budva Beach, Montenegro, 2019
Hi, I'm Yasha, I'm Australian, I'm 65 years old and I've always been a traveller. My husband, Juergen, and I are overlanding full-time in our self-built camper, carried by Bertita.
Our first overlanding experience together was 2006-09. We sold our home, and most other things we owned, and bought a pickup truck and slide-in camper in the USA. Our plan was to travel for as long as we wanted or until we had seen all we wanted to see. This journey took us from the Arctic Circle in Canada to Ushuaia in Argentina. Although we had only scratched the surface of the huge continent of South America, we returned to Australia in 2009 – mostly because we were affected by the 2008 financial crisis.
When we arrived home, we discovered that living in Australia was so much more expensive than overlanding, and that we missed the life on the road – a lot. We spent the next 3 years working out how to leave again. In 2013, we went to Germany (Juergen's country of birth) and spent a year building our camper from an empty box.
Then we put our tiny home on a Mercedes 1019 4x4, and shipped 'Berta' to South America. We spent 2014-2018 exploring that continent thoroughly. In March 2018, we returned to Europe and said goodbye to big Berta and hello to smaller Bertita – a Mercedes Vario – and began our travels here. We are currently in Turkey.
Paso Jama at 4500 m (Chile)
Who or what inspired you to choose independent vehicle travel as your mode of transportation?
I met Juergen in 1993, when he was overlanding in Australia. When living in Germany, he had almost always had a vehicle that he could at least sleep in and make a meal for himself. We got married, he migrated, and we settled down to 'normal' life for a few years. But when we decided we wanted to see South America before we got too old, the obvious choice was to get a vehicle we could live in, and drive it.
Ischigualasto Provincial Park, Argentina, 2015
Everyone always asks a traveller what their favorite country is. Do you have a favorite country? If not, what is a place that is special to you?
After our first trip through the Americas, we were clearly decided that Colombia was our favourite country we had ever spent time in. This had most to do with the people we met. We had been warned by so many people not to travel there – and the Colombians were all so pleased that we had come.
When we revisited South America, we spent a lot of time in most countries on the continent. But our time in 2016 in Brazil stands out. It was a difficult time for me because my aged parents died during this time – within 6 weeks of each other. The people we met, who invited us into their homes and took us into their hearts, made this time one of the most precious of my life. We started to say that Brazil might have just nudged Colombia out of top spot!
A year and a half later we made our way back to Colombia. It was still the amazing country we had so loved back in 2008.
The truth is that we don't really have favourites; those two countries are just very special to us.
Brazil, 2016
Travelling has taught me…
...to live in the present. 'Normal' life seems to be so full with what we need to do and what we've done. The travelling life gives me the freedom and encouragement to experience the NOW!
It has also taught me that time is relative. Making so many and varied memories actually makes life feel longer. Since taking up this nomadic lifestyle, I don't hear myself saying, “Wow! Hasn't this year flown by?”. Instead, it seems so much longer since the beginning of last year than it ought to. It's all the places I've been, the sights I have seen, and the people I have met that become the memories that make my life better and longer.
Overlanding sucks sometimes because…
Sometimes I feel so alone. When you haven't spoken English with anyone but each other for a lengthy period; haven't spotted any other overlanders along the road; when you're feeling low because you have a flu or a wonky stomach...
You just want your Mum or your sister or your best friend – and they are far away.
But then you turn a corner and see a never-ending view of the magnificent Andes, or stand gob-smacked in front of Iguazu Falls, or your sister or your best friend comes to visit and share the road with you for a bit, and it's all ok.
I am a badass woman because…
I don't really consider myself a 'badass woman' – not even sure what it means. But I am a woman, who is grateful to have found a life I love, and to have the courage to live it.
Tombstone Park Overlook, Yukon, Canada
What is your favorite quote?
'We're not lost because there is nowhere we have to be.' (Yasha Langford)
This is my favourite because it epitomises the life we lead. One day, when Juergen was worried we'd driven in the wrong direction – “I think we're lost” – it just came out of my mouth. Since then it has often been repeated...
Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
One of the most common questions we get is about finances. Do you have any tips, tricks or advice on this topic?
Live frugally. We have learnt that if we shop where the locals shop, mostly cook our own meals, and travel slowly, we can live quite cheaply. In fact, what we live on per month wouldn't pay our rent/mortgage in Australia. Diesel is our most expensive item. If we are spending too much, then we are driving too far.
How has this experience changed you?
It's made me more myself. Most of the time there are no expectations around what I should do, how I should act, what I should say, how I should dress... I am totally free to be me.
What do you think is the biggest challenge for women overlanders?
The biggest challenge for many is to actually believe they can do it.
I met an English woman in Mexico in 2007. At that time she was 67 years old. She was travelling in her own overland vehicle and had come north from South America, through Central America. She was exuberant about her experiences. She didn't travel alone, but usually with one or more other vehicles. When she was widowed, she had made up her mind that life was still worth living; she could and she would follow her dreams. Maureen remains an inspiration to me, to this day.
Since we began overlanding in Europe, we have spent time in the UK twice. Both times we have visited this remarkable woman, who celebrated her 80th birthday last year. She is still full of excitement for the overland life and loves to tell her stories.
What are your favorite overland resources (blogs, books, FB pages, etc.)?
When we started overlanding in 2006, there were very few English language websites about travelling overland – there were certainly more in German. At that time our favourite resources were the people we met along the way.
But times change.
We use Facebook and the internet and navigation apps – but still like to have guide books and paper maps as well.
On Facebook we belong to the Overlanding Association community and many of their related groups. For the Americas we were very active on PanAmerican Travelers Association.
For Europe we are great fans of the DK Eyewitness Travel guidebooks.
Lago Ranco, Chile
What advice would you give to someone with a dream to travel overland?
Never think you're too young – or too old – to follow your dreams.
My mother in her early 70s: “I always wanted to go to England but now I'm too old.” - so sad!
Juergen's aunt in her late 80s: “Never say I'll do that someday because, when someday comes, you'll be too old.” - wise advice!
Just do it: Dare 2 Go
If anyone has questions for me personally, you can PM me on Facebook Messenger. I'll be happy to answer you.
Ollantaytambo Ruins, Peru
Morocco, 2019
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