Let me start by telling you a story.
About a year and a half ago, something happened in my life that turned my world upside down. It made me reconsider everything I know and sent me to the darkest place I’ve ever been.
Amidst this, I rang my best friend James, hoping for some comfort. Over the next few weeks, we spoke regularly, just as friends who went to nursery together.
In an attempt to cheer me up, James asked: “If you could do one trip right now, one big adventure of a lifetime, what would it be?”
I didn’t have to think long.
“The Pan American Highway,” I said. “I’ve always wanted to buy a camper van and drive from the tip of Alaska, 20,000 miles through the Americas to the bottom of Argentina.”
Of course, around this time the pandemic hit and life ground to a halt. Many people’s dreams and aspirations ceased to exist and it looked like world travel would fall into that category.
But we didn’t want to give up. We had a goal and it meant everything to us to pursue it. So, we set out a plan. In fifteen months time, September 2021, we wanted to leave the UK and not look back.
We got to work. We moved back home or to the cheapest accommodation possible. We started saving wherever we could. We worked as gardeners, barmen, builders, kitchen porters, waiters, freelance writers, and restaurant managers.
Aside from Walk Wild related hiking trips, we didn’t leave the country or go on holiday. We stopped buying material items and tried to reduce what we owned to a single backpack.
We spent time with friends and family, knowing these were precious moments that would soon be behind us. Yet no one knew about our intentions and we kept all our plans close to the chest.
Throughout this whole period, everyone around us was moving on with their lives. New jobs, new apartments, new relationships.
We were filled with doubts. Were we making the right decision? Could we pull this off? Were we wasting our lives? Could we ever leave due to COVID?
Despite these worries, one thing was steady in my mind. Life happens at the edge of your comfort zone. The real moments that you remember happen when you take risks.
James and I don’t know what the future holds, but we do know that what we were doing was leading us nowhere. We have a dream and it’s time for us to get out there and make it a reality.
At last, it is with immense happiness that I’m able to announce that on the 14th of September, we are flying from London Heathrow to Vancouver, Canada.
From there we will begin the next 1 to 1.5 year adventure of driving the Pan American Highway in its entirety.
We wanted to start in Alaska and buy a van there, but COVID-related complications are still in play. The journey is unlikely to be a smooth one and the only thing we can do is roll with the punches and do everything in our power to keep the adventure moving.
Adversity is likely to greet us at every turn. However, we aren’t deterred by this. Challenges are the making of an adventure, and it’s safe to say this is going to be one hell of an adventure.
Throughout the journey, we are focused on documenting our experiences. Predominantly our outdoor activities and adventures, but also the people we meet, the food we sample, the history we learn, and the cultures we will encounter along the way.
There are a few main projects that will take up our time. I am going to be writing a book about our travels. I will also be working as a freelance journalist, writing articles for newspapers and magazines as I go.
James is an artist by trade and will likely be producing a portfolio of work through sketches, paintings, and any variety of disciplines that interest him throughout the journey.
We will both be working on a documentary and video series that will be posted on my YouTube channel Matt Walk Wild. Of course, I will also be writing travel guides for Walk Wild and making all sorts of entertaining and informative content for my website and social media as per usual.
There’s a lot to do and it’s going to be the trip of a lifetime.
To make sure you don’t miss out, be sure to follow along wherever possible. Here are the best places to do so:
- Website: mattwalkwild.com (here!)
- Blogs and travel guides.
- YouTube: Matt Walk Wild
- Adventure films and documentary-style videos.
- Instagram: Walk_Wild_
- Travel stories and expedition photos.
- Twitter: Matt Walk Wild
- Quick updates and travel/outdoor community engagement.
- Newsletter
- Monthly updates and the best content related to the Walk Wild adventures.
If you want to support this trip in any way, there are a few ways you can do so below:
- Support me on Patreon
- Monthly donations for bonus content, clips, and updates whilst on the trip.
- Buy me a beer
- While I’m away, I won’t be able to share a beer with anyone back home. So instead you can donate through this platform and buy one (virtually) for me!
- One off donations
- Through my PayPal, you can donate to Walk Wild. I use this money to improve the way I embark on adventures and document my journey. Donations may go towards a new camera lens, hiking backpack, website updates, etc.
- Follow along by commenting, liking, and engaging
- This is probably the most important one of all. I wouldn’t do all this if it wasn’t for the support and interest I get from everyone who follows Walk Wild.
Thank you for everything.
Here’s to my next adventure.
Matt – Walk Wild
