Richard sold all his possessions and quit his job to devote himself to his passion for travel. The only thing Richard kept, accompanying him throughout the journey was his pet cat Willow.
Join Richard and his cat Willow on their 50,000km journey around Australia.
The journey began in 2014, when East quit his IT job to go on a long trip.
“I have been with the company for nearly 10 years, my career is stable and there are many opportunities for advancement. However, in that environment, I feel lost and unable to satisfy my passion. Therefore, I decided to quit my job to start my journey of travel,” East shared.
He decided to convert a Volkswagen van into a mobile home for the duration of his journey.
"We've done so much together and seen some amazing places. I can't imagine a solo trip without Willow. We've kayaked the Great Barrier Reef, camped in the mountains and travelled thousands of kilometres from Bourketown in Queensland to the Northern Territory on gravel roads."
In the van, they roamed from one grassland to another.
Richard shares that while some people may think travelling with a cat is a bit strange, Willow is a special cat, she is a real companion, a friend on every journey of mine. “Willow wears a tracking collar so I always know where she is. She is rarely on a leash and loves to explore around the campsite. So having the tracking collar gives me peace of mind that if she wants to go for a walk, I will always find her.”
For Richard, not only traveling but also sharing stories along the way makes him extremely excited.
“It feels so good to share our adventures with people. I couldn’t be happier when someone texts me and says they feel inspired after seeing our photos. It keeps me motivated to continue.”
Richard enjoys lunch with his "luxurious" cat
Richard and Willow have become so attached to the road that it has become an irreplaceable part of their lives. As they pass through forests and beaches, their memories grow with each passing day.
