This happened years ago, back when I was living in Australia. At the time, I had a couple of weeks off from working as a cowboy, so I decided to set out on a road trip with no real destination in mind—just me, my car, and the open road.
One afternoon, I pulled into a rest stop, the kind you find scattered along the highways, where travelers pause for fuel, food, or simply to stretch their legs. It was there that I noticed a hitchhiker, a young woman standing with her backpack by her side. She asked me where I was headed. For some reason, instead of answering, I turned the question back to her and asked where she wanted to go. Looking back, that small moment of spontaneity was the beginning of an unexpected adventure.
We ended up traveling together for about a week, making our way across parts of Australia. She carried a tent and preferred to camp out under the stars, while I slept in the back of my car. It wasn’t glamorous, but it felt free—two strangers sharing the road, bound more by curiosity and circumstance than by plans or obligations.
Along the way, we saw incredible wildlife—kangaroos bounding across the fields, birds I had never seen before, and stretches of land so vast and untouched they seemed endless. The days blurred into one another, filled with simple joys: campfire conversations, long drives through empty roads, and the quiet comfort of having someone to share it all with.
It wasn’t a grand romance or a life-changing journey, but it was something rare and beautiful in its simplicity. Just a week of freedom, connection, and adventure. To this day, I think of it fondly. I don’t know where she is now or what paths her life has taken, but I truly hope she’s doing well. Sometimes the most memorable experiences come not from what was planned, but from the people we meet along the way—brief encounters that stay with us long after the road has ended.
