We had been following Tim and Marisa on social media for almost a year before we finally met up with them in Northern Peru in October. There was an instant connection that went beyond the common ground of motorcycle travel. Since then we have crossed paths multiple times, and each reunion brings so much more to talk about. During our days on the road, and nights at camp, it is nice to have some close friends who share an understanding in the frustrations, challenges, and joys of this journey. It is without question that we will know these two for years and years to come. These are our new old friends, and we are excited to introduce them to you.

Where are you from?
Marisa and I are both from just south of Chicago Illinois. We went to high school together, and were indeed high school sweethearts.

How long have you been travelling?
To this point, we have been on the road for one year and three months. We are hoping to travel for a total of 3 years before we have to figure out the next stage of our lives.

What inspired you to start travelling?
Marisa has traveled the world extensively, I on the other hand had barely traveled past the city I was born in. Marisa’s stories of the world, and living vicariously through other motorcycle travelers inspired me to travel the world.

What does a typical day of travel look like for you?
We never really know exactly where we will be, nor where we will be staying at. We have a general plan, as well as a couple alternative plans in case there is an unexpected twist (and there usually is). We only like to travel for 5 or so hours, making it a 6 or 7-hour day with breaks and lunch. We like to take our time, not rush, and not to be pressured to timelines or commitments. It takes some of the stress out of the equation when there are no deadlines or places we must be at.

How do you make it work financially? (ie. did you save for the trip, 
are you working? living on a budget,etc?)
Marisa and I saved up for 5 years in hopes that we would be able to travel for 3. We know we will eventually run out of funds, and may have to take a break and work for an extended amount of time in order to continue traveling. We don’t really keep track of a budget as we already try to live as cheap as possible. When we need gas, we get it, when we need food, we try to find somewhere cheap, when we stay at hotels we take an average of 3 to know what the going rate actually is. Some countries are more expensive than others, but we always keep in mind that we no longer have an income.

What is your favourite place you have travelled to and why?
South America is my favorite continent so far, and we have only made it halfway through Peru. Colombia’s natural beauty and friendly people make it a destination I hope to return to many times over. Peru’s natural beauty outweighs Colombia with its snowcapped mountains and overwhelming scenery around every corner, but the people are not nearly as friendly. It has been my favorite country to ride through, but there seems to be a disconnect with the people.

What do you think the biggest misconception is about travelling?
Coming from the states, there was a lot of talk and warnings about how “country x” is not safe. It seems the worst travel information comes from those who have not traveled. In every country to date, we have met friendly smiling people who are just as excited that we are there as we are to be there.

If you could recommend one book to a friend, what would it be?
My book: Maiden Voyage… lol… I hope it would inspire others to take the plunge and see the world, no matter how far they can go. There is a lot to see in everyone’s own country. Get out there and explore it!

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to 
travel, what would it be?
My advice is that there is no wrong way to do it. Any bike, with a motor or not, any car, van, or bus will be the perfect vehicle to launch you around the world. It has been done on 90cc scooters, VW bugs, small, medium and large motorcycles. If it has tires that spin, it will work. There are a lot of hecklers online that will leave their 2 cents, but YOU are the one in charge, you are the one doing it, you are in control of your own destiny, and you are the one who has taken the steps to step into the unknown. Once the final leap of faith has been made, you will realize that you made the right choice and will have ups and downs, good times as well as bad, but you are out exploring the world and learning from every experience you have.

If you’d like to continue to follow Tim and Marisa as they travel around the world by motorcycle, you can find them here:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube

I also highly recommend checking out Tim’s Book, Maiden Voyage: The Prequel to The Adventure of a Lifetime. It is a beautifully descriptive and funny story about how their dream became a reality. Tim’s descriptions and unique metaphors really pulled me into the story and the places they went. Adventure, humor, inspiration and romance. What more could you want? As we currently are living out our own dream, his story reminded me of how far we have come, and made me feel nostalgic for those days spent dreaming.

You can purchase it on Amazon but I recommend buying it straight from their website.