About Us
About Us: On the Road with Red
The Trio Behind the Adventures
Meet Rob, Christy, and Kaia – the spirited trio behind “On the Road With Red.” While Christy (that’s me!) crafts most of the narrative you’ll devour here, our storytelling is a collective endeavor. Rob’s the techie wizard (questionable some days) of the trio, and Kaia, our fiery redhead, is the driving force, urging us to explore more, experience more, each day.
Where Our Paths Began
Our life stories were penned across varying geographies. I grew up in rural Missouri, US: with cows, pigs, chickens, basically every animal imaginable, and unsupervised adventures through the forest. My first international adventure to Germany at the age of 10 had me hooked. It was a serendipitous voyage, given our family now boasts a German Daughter-in-law and a beautiful German granddaughter. On the other hand, Rob’s childhood was a nomadic journey along the East Coast of the United States, making a giant leap across the globe to South Korea by age 20. Our universes collided in our 30s, each bearing a suitcase filled with adventures and notably, a knack for cruising through the realms of parenthood and travel.
Our Shared Odyssey
We were seasoned travelers long before our journey together started. Our expeditions encompass very long-distance car rides with children of all ages, air voyages with the dogs and cats of our crew, and yes, even a relocation escapade with a 75lb tortoise!
Flashforward to the inception of “On the Road With Red.” Fate, with a touch of humor, led us to each other nearly a decade ago through a sheriff’s deputy – who happened to be Rob’s brother-in-law. Unfortunately, there is no exciting story about the back of a police car. What sparked off was not just love at first sight, but an endless adventure that continues to unfurl.
Something about this family and the police. She literally ran from the cops after this. There is video. Hang around and you will hear about it!
Growing Our Family
Before we knew it along came our spirited redhead, joining the brigade of SEVEN children from our blended family. Despite the bustling household, the allure of the unknown beckoned. After a stint in Missouri and an enchanting chapter in Savannah, Georgia, the winds of change carried us and our four children, accompanied by two cats and a dog, to the pristine shores of Hawaii. A daring leap, given neither of us had ever set foot on this tropical paradise! Some would call it impulsive; some would call it adventure.
Navigating Through 2020
The narrative dramatically turned as Rob hung his military boots and I transitioned from a Registered Nurse to a full-time homeschooling mom. The year 2020 threw a curveball, halting our international travel plans. As the globe grappled with a crisis, we found a bit of solace in the healing aura of Hawaii, witnessing the rejuvenation of nature in the absence of bustling tourism. Despite being travel aficionados, sustainable travel is at the heart of our expeditions. We champion the cause of responsible tourism, ensuring our explorations leave a positive imprint on the lands we traverse.
Embracing the Nomadic Lifestyle
The journey was nothing short of an epic saga, selling almost all our belongings within four months to embrace a life of boundless explorations. It was a blend of exhilarating and heart-wrenching moments, saying goodbye to our oceanfront haven in Oahu, but the promise of unchartered territories kept our spirits soaring.
“Some priceless advice from On the Road with Red. “Always check for rain before a hike, always be ready to run, when a parent takes a picture for you just let their child join your picture, be silly, even tortoises like a soft toy, and sometimes when you are on a 5000-mile trip with kids, car seats, and luggage just drink the hotel wine.”
The Birth of ‘On the Road With Red’
Our saga morphed into a blog almost organically. It started off as a Facebook page to share snippets of our adventures with friends and family. However, the innate perfectionists in us craved a structured canvas to paint our stories. And voila! After endless hours of research, and unearthing a treasure trove of travel essentials, this site was born. It’s a platform, not just to chronicle our wanderlust-infused journey. We use this platform to share the gems of wisdom we’ve garnered about homeschooling on the go, sustainable living, and the quintessential travel gear that has made our journey smoother. And of course, to share everything we did wrong. Learn from our mistakes.
Our Travel Philosophies
Language immersion is a big part of our travels. It’s not just about the places we see, but the conversations we have along the way. They open doors to deeper cultural understanding.
A Note about photography
We’re upfront, we aren’t professional photographers. We’ve admired countless travel blogs, their stunning photos inspiring many of our own adventures. We do aspire to reach that level of photographic expertise one day. However, the reality at the moment is quite simple. Our photos are as real as it gets, captured on our cell phones in the fleeting moments we find amidst chasing after a child, a pet, or each other. We’ve invested in a few entry-level cameras over the years, but with our busy schedules as full-time workers and parents, they ended up in the hands of our children. One positive outcome is that one of our children now runs a photography business, although she doesn’t travel with us. Improving our photography skills is on our ever-growing bucket list. For now, we’re content sharing our perfectly imperfect glimpses of our journey. We capture the essence of “On the Road with Red” through each simple snapshot.
The Journey Continues…
Our narrative is a work in progress, much like our ever-evolving selves. We continue to pen down tales of our ongoing adventures, the lessons learned, and the myriad experiences that make our lives a riveting narrative. Transitioning to this lifestyle was a leap into a new world. It’s filled with learning, both from successes and missteps. The local customs we learn about, the landscapes we explore, and the people we meet, enrich our family’s story. We love seeing new destinations, but the ability to meet people all over the world and hear their stories is so important to us. We invite you to be a part of our journey, to explore the world through our lens, and to celebrate the essence of life – a boundless adventure waiting to be experienced!