A Wisconsin woman sold her home to travel the world by truck after her father’s unexpected death made her realize that “life is alive.”
Ashley Kay, 36, lost her father, Tom Kay, 57, in December 2015, according to a report by SWNS.
After her loss, friends and family shared stories about her father’s trip.
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This encouraged Kay to see more of the world for herself.
“The year after he passed away, there were many friends and family who called out and shared these amazing wild stories about my father and his trip,” she said as SWNS reported. “It pushed me out of my small town and into visiting places I’d never seen before.”
Ashley Kay stands on the Toyota Tacoma. After her father’s unexpected death, she sold the house to travel the world on a truck. (@hifromashley/swns)
Kay traveled the world for the next few years.
On a trip to Roatan, an island in Honduras, Kay met full-time travelers while scuba diving. After talking to a man who left his job in Austria and traveled the world without stepping on a plane, Kay decides he wants a similar life.
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“He hitchhiked, he got a bus, he got a couch surf and stuff,” she said.
While chatting with the traveller, Kay asked about the worst he had experienced on all his journeys.
“His answer to me was that he didn’t go early. That was my last straw.”
Kay’s greatest destination ever on her trip was Baja, Mexico. (@hifromashley/swns)
Kay sold the three-bedroom family home in March 2023 and decided to buy a $44,000 Toyota Tacoma for the trip.
She set out to Baja, Mexico with Black Lab, Porter, and has traveled to North and South America ever since.
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Her favorite place to date has been in Baja, Mexico. It’s where she said she “feels like home.”
“It has such a beautiful nature. I love the ocean and the sea of Cortes is a pure joy,” she said.
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Some of the most challenging aspects of her journey were vehicle-related, she said.
“In the Peruvian desert, when I was two and a half hours away from civilization, I had to stop and sort out the stopping issues,” she said.
World traveler Kay brought Black Lab, Porter with her. (@hifromashley/swns)
She also experienced flat tires at very high altitudes. “In Costa Rica, I was camping at 12,500 feet and had flat tires. I had to fix them myself,” recalls Kay.
“It’s a lot of work to travel like this on your own. The daily aspect of things is a lot of work that can easily turn into burnout.”
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Sadly, in August 2024, Kay’s dog passed away and forced her to travel alone.
She doesn’t know what’s coming next without her travel companions, but Kay said the difficulties she faced have pushed her outlook forward.
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“Overall, all the issues are resolved. You need to understand a little more and be patient.”
