Wandering Footsteps: Wandering the World One Step at a Time » A travel journal following a family on their overland trip around the world.

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  • Welcome to Wandering Footsteps, the travel journal of a nomadic family on an overland trip around the world. With thirty years of travel experience, a round-the-world trip already under our belt, a newly-converted bus, and a new baby in tow, this journey is bound to be interesting! Join us in our global wanderings - we've saved an extra seat just for you!

    - Brittany, Bruno, and Phoenix

Posted in Europe,Western EuropeTags: ,

We’ve been at the airport all of fifteen minutes when baby Phoenix poops through his diaper, sleeper and onto my clothes. We have a 24-hour journey to France ahead of us that involves planes, trams, trains and cars. Was this explosive start to the trip a foreshadow of what was to come?

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  • Rcs - You’re right about the idea that when you think you’ve got things figured out with baby…something inevitably happens to create panic and the need to adapt. Learn to “go with the flow” and remain controlled gets you through most challenges.
    Good work in being as prepared as you can.ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - The expression I have chosen to permanently adopt is “this too shall pass”!ReplyCancel

  • Trina - I’ve been looking forward to this update! You survived and Phoenix seems to be adapting to all that travel 🙂 I can certainly relate (many years ago) to the blow-out poops they seem to have in transit though–I have no idea how they store that much in their systems! Bravo to all of you!ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - Hi Trina, thanks for your comment! It means a lot to know you were waiting for this update. I hope that now that we are on the road with Big Blue I might be a bit better at updating slightly more frequently? Here’s to hoping!

      And yes, blowout poops! So Phoenix isn’t the only one?!? I wondered if he expressed his anxiety in his digestive system!ReplyCancel

Posted in Location IndependentTags:

For twenty years, Totoyaya served Bruno faithfully. She was more than a vehicle. More, even, than a home. She was the manifestation of his childhood dream. The physical symbol of his freedom. She was the reason Bruno and I met. The nest where we fell in love. Where we dreamed dreams. Planned our future. She’s the very reason we now have a baby called Phoenix. And now, she has met her tragic end.

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  • Mike - Wow that is really sad that in the short time with a new owner the truck was wrecked. I’ve been dreaming about owning Totoyaya ever since first seeing your page a couple years ago. I’m a Landcruiser lover and fell in love with the truck. It had everything I would want, a small but clean and cozy living space attached to a vehicle that will last forever and go anywhere. I still to this day dream about owning the truck. I wish so much I could have bought it back when I first saw it for sale. Do you guys know of any places in the maritimes that can build cells similar to what Totoyaya had? Seeing as how owning Totoyaya is a dream that will never happen for me building my own is the next best thing.ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - Hey Mike, thanks so much for your comment. It’s so cool to know there are people out there who loved Totoyaya and would have loved to own her and take her on more adventures! Sadly, as you know, she’s now RIPing… but I definitely hope you will manage to build yourself something! Living your dreams is seriously the most fulfilling thing! I don’t know of ANYONE in the Maritimes who could do such a build – and anyone in North America would be crazy expensive anyway. Your best bet (if you can’t build it yourself) would be to head to Mexico or further south and find people to help you there. I’m sure there are forums listing addresses of these types of places. Good luck and DO IT! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Seth Strait - Bah! such a sad end to a great vehicle. Only just reading about this now after receiving a cryptic email concerning a comment probably left on the site 6 months or a year ago 🙂 .

    Sorry to hear about the end. Seems like the least they could do is send you one of the doors back.ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - Sorry about the cryptic reply – your message was only sent to my inbox a couple days ago! Anyway, thanks for your condolences regarding our Toyota. We will have to do a nice paint job to our new bus doors! 😄ReplyCancel

  • RCS - I, of course, know the story of Totoyaya…but reading it here today totally helps me understand your feelings.
    Hopefully you can take some solace in the fact its engine will be donated…allowing a part of her to carry on!ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - Thank you for your condolences.ReplyCancel

  • Alain - I’ve been following you guys for a few years now. I’m in tears for Totoyaya. Enjoy the great memories and eventually moving on to the future but with a space in you heart reserved forever for Totoyaya.ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - Thank you, Alain, for your condolences and your very lovely, heartfelt words.ReplyCancel

  • Tom Schaap - Dear Brittany and Bruno,
    We are so sorry to read about the end of Totoyaya. The first time and last time 🙁 we met was at a campsite in Nairobi in 2015, when you two arrived from a leave and where Totoyaya was stored. You two immediatly run to your car and almost hugged and kissed the vehicle. Bruno, immediatly brought her to life and serviced her. We still see this pictures in our mind.
    Since that moment we follow you two (uhh three) by reading your blog.
    We where very lucky to meet Totoyaya in real life.

    Kind regards,
    Ans and Tom (dutch couple with the red TLC)ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - I am so sorry it has taken me so long to reply. One word: BABY! 🙂

      Of COURSE we remember you! A short encounter but for some reason rather memorable. And of course you’ve been in touch since then, which is lovely!

      Thank you so much for your kind words. We know that only other overlanders can understand the connection one makes with one’s vehicle. After 20 years, it was really difficult to see her go this way… Alas… what to say?

      We hope you are well! Will you be on the road again anytime soon?ReplyCancel

Posted in North America,The AmericasTags:

A first road trip, a new province. A fresh passport, a first flight, a new country. And then… we hit the road! Baby Phoenix has been gearing up these past few weeks for our grand departure, and it has finally arrived! Read on to hear about our travel plans for the remainder of 2018.

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  • Freya Gnerre - Dear Brittany, Bruno and Phoenix,
    So happy to see all the pictures. Phoenix is gorgeous. I’m hoping to see you all when you are in the New York area. I leave on a cruise out of Toronto on June 23rd. Touring the Great Lakes. Safe travels where ever you are. Much love, FreyaReplyCancel

  • Louise Jones-Takata - Nice, very nice photos. the last one of Phoenix has him saying ” Have I got plans for you. Wait and see!”ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - It’s hsrd to know who has more plans for whom, ha ha!!ReplyCancel

  • Trina (TJ) Wood - These photos of Phoenix are the best!! Best of luck on the travels. He will adapt 🙂ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - Thanks for the encouragement, Trina! And you’re right – we are in France right now (in our fourth house and bedroom in a month) and Phoenix is adapting like a champ! I’m so impressed (and relieved!!)ReplyCancel

Posted in North AmericaTags:

Life at Wandering Footsteps is often a whirlwind of travel, discovery, and adventure. These past ten weeks have been a whirlwind of a different sort – the whirlwind of being new parents. Whoever said (ahem, Bruno!) that having a baby doesn’t change your life or take up space was wrong! Will we truly be able to travel in a bus with a baby???

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  • Gail - You will be able to travel with a baby, 45 years ago we travelled Europe with our one year old in a split windscreen VW. No mod cons. We are now retired and shipping our motorhome to Halifax in August to start a years roaming in North America. You have years ahead of you.ReplyCancel

  • Brittany - Everyone has been saying that!!! Thanks Molly, can’t wait until he fits into his petit prince onesie!!ReplyCancel

  • Molly McCarron - So cute guys! He is a mini-Bruno I think!ReplyCancel

  • Louise Jones-Takata - Brittany, This blog is not only interesting but it is for me very poignant. Love it. Keep it up!ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - Thank you, Louise. I appreciate the encouragement for my honesty.ReplyCancel

  • Freya Gnerre - Phoenix is so handsome. And, he’s really growing! Can’t wait to meet him! You both are doing a great job. Much love, FreyaReplyCancel

    • Brittany - Thank you, Freya!!! We’re pretty in love! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Molly McCarron - So cute guys!ReplyCancel

  • Sharon Socia - A great blog so truthful and raw Hang in there you two Its all gonna get better and you will be pros for the next one Thanks for the pictures He is so preciousReplyCancel

    • Brittany - Thanks, Sharon. At least he’s a cutie pie! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Alex - Hey Brit,

    Loved your post. You’re a great writer. Very eloquent despite the baby brain you just be experiencing. I especially enjoyed how open and unpretentious you were about what it’s like in terms of emotion to have a baby. I think your experience will help me better prepare for my moment! It’s cool to know that as new parents you experience a whole spectrum of emotions. I’m sure that with time you will be able to re-gain your exploratory lives with little Phoenix in whatever way shape or form they come in! Be brave and be flexible my bestie boo. Hoping to come meet Phoenix soon! Get him ready for Auntie Lex ok? Love love to you and Bruno.ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - Love you Alex, and thank you SOOO much for the wonderful words. Can’t wait for you two to meet- you’re gonna be besties!ReplyCancel

  • Elizabeth S - Love it! I think you accurately covered your experiences as new parents thus far. You will continue to adapt and to quote the title of a Dr. Seuss book, referring to Phoenix: “Oh the Places You Will Go”.ReplyCancel

    • Brittany - We need to get a copy of that book!! 🙂ReplyCancel

Posted in North America,The AmericasTags:

You can’t consider yourself a world traveler until you’ve experienced a Canadian winter. This was the challenge posed to Bruno by a friendly neighbor. It’s mid-March – according to the calendar, winter is almost over. Have we survived? What has winter been like? Can we now consider ourselves true world travelers?

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  • Elizabeth S - Such fun to read! I chuckled seeing Bruno all bundled-up, enjoyed seeing winter through the eyes of someone who is experiencing it for the first time, and wondered whether we should let Nicole judge whether or not it has been a true winter.ReplyCancel

  • Freya Gnerre - Brittany, A great blog, but I’m looking for more pictures of Phoenix! After reading your blog, I do not feel so bad about our winter down here – just tired of paying for snow removal! Stay well, much love, FreyaReplyCancel

  • Jean Paul Monnin - SVP me desabonner. Courriel ci haut ou roughstuff.jeanpaul@gmail.com. merciReplyCancel