Meet Kathryn from Wandering Bird
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We’re back with another interview, this time with Kathryn from Wandering Bird!
Kathryn Bird quit her job as an air traffic controller to tour Europe in a motorhome (that’s adulting… right?) She travels around the UK and Europe in a motorhome with her husband and their over-excitable cocker spaniel, Mac. Mostly, it’s awesome. Other times, she wonders what the heck she was thinking…
They’ve been travelling on an almost full-time basis since 2018- with no plans to stop yet. She loves to inspire and encourage other people to live outside the box: you don’t need a big house and more stuff; you need more time to enjoy life!
If you’d like to follow their adventures or get road trip tips and inspiration, you can find them on their blog, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram!
How long have you been blogging for? Why’d you decide to start a travel blog?
I quit my job in 2018 when we started touring Europe in our motorhome. I used to be an air traffic controller, and my brain was always ‘go go go.’
After about 4 weeks of not working, my brain needed something to do. So I started an online travel diary- which grew into this blog. I had no idea you could make money travel blogging: I’d have done it so much better otherwise!!
Do you have any tips for new travel bloggers/aspiring travel bloggers?
Do some research beforehand. Maybe buy a course. I made so many mistakes at the beginning that I’ve had to go back and fix them.
Also, it WILL take over your life. Completely. If you still love it 6 months in, you’ll love it forever. I’m 2 years in now, and I still do it every day. It’s the best job ever.
What’s one thing you wish you knew before you started traveling?
That long-term travel is exhausting!! Seriously- being on the road all the time is so tiring. We’ve had to learn to slow down and not cram so much in; allow days just to chill and read a book (or work on the blog!)
Why do you love to travel?
I have ALWAYS loved to travel. Even as a kid, my parents would pack the car up, and I’d go to sleep and wake up somewhere new. It was awesome.
I just love seeing new places, meeting new people, and learning more about the world we live in. I feel so privileged and grateful to get the opportunity to explore.
What’s your best and worst travel experience?
Best… the people we meet on the road. It’s wonderful meeting and learning about them- they’re always great fun and have had some awesome adventures.
Worst… losing our brakes coming down a mountain in Switzerland. It was terrifying.
Do you prefer solo travel or traveling with other people? Why?
Definitely travelling with other people. I went solo travelling in Australia for about a week. Hated it. I love being able to share our adventures with my husband.
What’s your favorite place you’ve ever been to? Why?
Ever!??!! Oh my goodness. Possibly the Dolomites- they were spectacular. Scotland is incredible too. Norway we want to go back to, but it was amazing. Croatia is another place we want to return to… And that’s even counting the countries outside of Europe.
We got married at the top of Victoria Falls in Zambia (yep, right at the top of the waterfall. That was incredible. Yeah, I can’t choose…
What’s your biggest travel tip?
Have an emergency fund. Twice now, we’ve needed to fly home in an emergency (once I was on my own when my Husband was taken into hospital in the UK.) I’m grateful we had a little money put aside so I could grab a flight without too much worry.
Is there one specific thing you like to do, see, or buy in every place that you visit?
We also end up at a marina to look at the boats! We lived on boats for 15 years, and we still love looking at them. We also buy a sticker for the back of the motorhome!
Is there one particular food that you’ve tried while traveling that you loved? What food was it and why do you love it so much?
Poffertjes in Holland are delicious! They’re like mini fluffy pancakes, served warm with butter and icing sugar. Totally addictive.
Quick Questions
Plane or train? Train
Hotel or hostel? Hotel (but motorhome wins every time!! Although a hotel with room service is magical… 🙂 )
City or nature? Nature
Popular site or off the beaten path? Off the beaten path
Suitcase or backpack? Suitcase
Fast travel or slow travel? Depends where I’m going. I’d rather fly across the Atlantic than sail, but then I love to road trip and explore.
Professional camera or iPhone photography? iPhone. My dream is to understand my DSLR…
Warm or cold weather? Warm, but not too warm. Having said that, I’ve just taken up snowboarding… so I guess I need cold!
All photos used throughout this post are courtesy of Kathryn.
