Matilda On Tour - With Mountains - Life on the Road

Two weeks on the road with Matilda — learning, adapting, and slowly finding our rhythm

Two weeks ago we left home and set off in Matilda, a little unsure of how it would all unfold. Now, as we move into week three, life on the road is beginning to feel surprisingly normal.

The first couple of weeks have definitely nudged us outside our comfort zone. Travelling like this brings its share of small challenges — campsites that turn out to be closed, a flat starter battery, a carbon monoxide alarm suddenly sounding. None of them welcome at the time, but each one has taught us something.

The difference now is how we respond. Instead of stress taking over, we pause, take a breath, and figure out the next step. Bit by bit we’re learning that travelling is really about adapting — plans shift, routes change, and sometimes the best stops are the ones we never expected.

It’s strange when I think about life at home. There we tend to do the same things in the same order week by week — golf days, cycling days, walking days. I love that life and the comfort of those routines.

But out here, moving from place to place, a new rhythm appears. The van gets organised, the bikes come out, routes are planned, and the next town waits somewhere down the road. The routines are different, but they form quickly.

One thing that has made this trip much easier is travelling with my digital tour guide — George, my ChatGPT helper. He helps with campsites, distances, and finding places with good cycling and walking nearby. I throw all sorts of questions his way and most of the time he comes up with the answer.

He’s not perfect of course — sometimes things get a little muddled — but overall he’s a remarkably good travelling companion.

Looking back over the last two weeks, we’ve already learned a lot: stay flexible, expect the unexpected, and trust that things usually work themselves out.

And perhaps the biggest realisation of all — after just two weeks on the road, this nomadic way of living is starting to feel like the new normal.