| Read the "Waltzing Matilda" TRAVEL BLOG (Hosted by Travelblog.org) |
A year-long sabbatical for Shelly Randall and her
husband Jeff enabled a memorable 10-month road
trip around North America in 2006.
Not wanting to wait until retirement to take the
time to travel, they quit their jobs, rented out their
house, and hit the road.
Their home-away-from-home was a Volkswagen
Westfalia camper-van they named "Matilda," after
the Australian term (and song) "Waltzing Matilda"--
meaning to sling your provisions in a bag over
your shoulder and take off across the country.
Across 41 states and six provinces, Shelly
collected stories about the people and places they
encountered. Ever 2-3 weeks she shared these in
her popular 2006 Travel Blog.
husband Jeff enabled a memorable 10-month road
trip around North America in 2006.
Not wanting to wait until retirement to take the
time to travel, they quit their jobs, rented out their
house, and hit the road.
Their home-away-from-home was a Volkswagen
Westfalia camper-van they named "Matilda," after
the Australian term (and song) "Waltzing Matilda"--
meaning to sling your provisions in a bag over
your shoulder and take off across the country.
Across 41 states and six provinces, Shelly
collected stories about the people and places they
encountered. Ever 2-3 weeks she shared these in
her popular 2006 Travel Blog.
| Check out Roger Clarke's comprehensive website on "Waltzing Matilda"! |
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| FOOTNOTE: And who was the famous Matilda? Not a woman, but a stand- in: "A matilda is a swag [previously defined as a bedroll or knapsack], and one 'waltzes' it by carrying it in front, not over the shoulder." —William Safire, "On Language," New York Times Magazine, Dec. 11, 2005 |
| The 2006 Travel Blog was avidly followed by 240 subscribers and averaged 350 page views per entry. Readers were able to post comments, like this memorable one from an Australian fan: I have been following your journey for some time (being attracted by the Waltzing Matilda title). No, I am not some crazed Aussie stalker, just a mum whose first son is at present travelling the world for 4 months. He set up a blog and had such good intentions to keep the old folks at home up to date. Unfortunately, studying Actuarial Studies at University in Canberra for 5 years did little to increase his communications skills, or his ability to give us a little glimpse of the places he visits, therefore I find myself heading straight to Waltzing Matilda. I do hope that you are not offended that a stranger on the other side of the world is eagerly logging on to your site and very much enjoying the detailed journal of your amazing adventure. —A.H., Aug. 31, 2006 |
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2006 SABBATICAL : waltzing
matilda around North america
matilda around North america
ROUTE MAP: 26,000+ miles to & from Port Townsend, Wash.
Map outline (c) iStockphoto.com / Eugene Ilchenko
Read the local newspaper article about the Randalls' departure. (Sept. 21, 2005) |
Read the local newspaper article about the Randalls' return. (Jan. 31, 2007) |
| Travel Writing Sample at ShellyRandall.com Read Shelly's account of the sister city relationships forged in Bay St. Louis, Miss. Page 1 Page 2 Color, two-page spread published in the Peninsula Daily News (June 11, 2006) |
| Travel Writing Sample at ShellyRandall.com Read Shelly's essay about how her travels around the continent were informed by her college maritime studies program. Read essay >> Four-page feature article published in The Gam, the alumni magazine of Williams-Mystic (Spring 2007) |
| View 754 travel photos on Shelly's Travel Blog |
| All copy and photos contained within this web site (c) Shelly Randall 2005-10 unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. |
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