I am really pleased to present today’s travel interview guests because they’re very dear friends to me. Chris and Cherie I’ve known virtually for some time, but we had the opportunity spend a great deal of time together at a conference in Austin Texas earlier in the year, and I was so inspired by their radical lifestyle that I have really tried to incorporate a lot of what they are doing into my own life. So I’m just as excited as you to hear what they have to say about some of the questions I’ve given them. Read on…
Could you introduce yourselves?
We are Chris Dunphy and Cherie Ve Ard, both Gen-X technomads.
Chris gave up his apartment and Silicon Valley career, departing from San Francisco in April 2006 to travel full time in a tiny solar powered travel trailer. A few months later, we actually first met online on a Toyota Prius forum where Chris had posted a photo-essay farewell to his former Prius that he had traded for a Jeep. Cherie at the time was living in Florida running her location flexible software business, and was already splitting her time in California.
Once we met in person it became clear that our life paths were perfectly aligned to merge, so Cherie put her beachside home up for sale and hit the road. Since May 2007, we’ve been on the road full time without anywhere else to call ‘home’, and we’ve since added our cat Kiki to the adventure.
We continue to run Cherie’s software business, and take on a unique blend of work contracts in the technology realm doing strategy development. We’re also developing our own line of mobile software applications, including our recently released “State Lines” for iPhone/iPad that helps travelers in the USA keep on top of ever changing rules and regulations that affect them.
What is the typical day living life on four wheels? What are the ups? What are the downs?
Well, actually – we live on 6 wheels
(four for the tow vehicle and two for the trailer, or are you counting spares?).
Part of the reason we adopted this lifestyle was to avoid having anything be described as ‘typical’. Our days vary widely, from time spent exploring backroads as we transition locations, visiting with loved ones, hiking National Parks, attending cool festivals, or even working long hours – but often with an awesome “office view” while we soak up cellular internet.
There are many ups to our lifestyle. We love the variety we’re afforded and the amazingly low cost of living as compared to our previous stationary lives. We’ve been able to integrate in quality time with loves ones into our travels and really be there when we need to. Such as right now, we’re in Florida with Cherie’s family – as her dad just had a major surgery. It’s awesome to be able to park for several weeks and assist in anyway we can without it being out of the ordinary from our lives.
However, while we’re able to spend extended quality time with loved ones – we’re also frequently saying good-byes. Or as we prefer – ‘Until next time’. Our sense of community is very widespread, and we’ve had to adapt to being fully present when we’re around people we want to spend time with – for tomorrow we may drive on down the road and not be around for a while. It can be bittersweet at times, but for now – it’s working for us. Being able to keep connected online helps a lot too.
What advice would you give people who are looking for more mobile lifestyles and aren’t sure where to start?
Finding where to start is always the difficult piece. And it’s incredibly easy to allow doubt, fear and logistics to overrule if you let them. In both of our cases, we started by circling a target departure date on the calendar. Chris actually gave notice on his apartment before he even had found a trailer or tow vehicle – really forcing him to work hard towards a deadline.
Once there is a target, we forced ourselves to get started and get everything in order, and not get boggle down with overwhelm about everything that needed to happen. It worked in both our cases, and amazingly enough once you’re in motion all the pieces seem to have a way of falling into place.
The hardest thing is getting started.
Andy: As with most things in life, right? Scary foreign destinations often feel so far and distance until you actually get on that plane, and once you arrive all of a sudden things don’t feel all that strange. For the most part, anyway
One of you is from California and the other from Florida – it explains your sunny dispositions 
Any insider tips for visiting these places?
Cherie: For Florida – I highly recommend getting away from the typical tourist places. Sure, Disney is an attraction that bring many to the area – however, it’ll break the bank. There’s so much beauty in Florida to explore outside of the attractions. Don’t visit in the summer, and come out to the coast and enjoy the beaches. The gulf coast offers white sand beaches (well, perhaps not as much anymore with the oil accident), and the Atlantic coast offers beautiful beaches with great surf. In Florida, there’s not allowed to be ‘private beaches’, and public access walkways are required anytime there is commercial building. One of my favorite things to do is explore coastal living by driving A1A along the entire length of Florida’s Atlantic Coast. It’s a beautiful drive, offering many opportunities to stop and explore historic places, lighthouses and visit some amazing beaches.
Chris: For California – California is a HUGE and incredibly diverse state – with scenic wonders ranging from the Big Sur coast (a must drive!) to the towering Sierra’s and the incredible Yosemite valley, to the sparse desert and places like Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Park. LA and San Francisco are both fabulous cities to explore – but I am especially fond of how easy it is to explore San Francisco on foot, bike, and via public transit. Put up with the throngs of tourists and ride a cable car from Market Street to Fisherman’s Wharf, then rent a bike, ride along the waterfront and across the Golden Gate Bridge, and take a ferry back – cruising past Alcatraz. A stroll through Golden Gate Park and an evening bonfire on Ocean Beach will complete a fabulous day of SF adventure. Also be sure to check out the ruins of the Sutro Baths – where I took Cherie on our very first date!
Andy: Awesome tips!!
What’s been your most inspirational travel experience?
Without a doubt – all of the amazing people we get to meet, and hearing their stories of inspiration. From meeting readers of our blog, reconnecting with friends who we wouldn’t otherwise get to see often, and all the wonderful serendipitous meetings that happen along the way.
What – you wanted a single experience? We don’t have a “favorite place”, or a single most memorable experience. We love the variety of “all of the above” – life isn’t a multiple choice test where you need to pick a single favorite.
Andy: I know what you mean. I continue to have experiences that represent such diverse areas of the “spectrum” of life. And the common theme is people: it seems to be the only thing that trumps a true travel experience. (In this instance, I count Mother Nature as a person too… ).
What’s next on your road-based adventure?
Our plans forward are currently undetermined. We’ll stick around Florida until Cherie’s father is on his path to healing. We have intentions of making it to Burning Man at the end of the summer, where we host a theme camp for other nomads like ourselves. Other than that, we’ll do as we normally do – and just follow serendipity to where we are meant to be. Follow us online at www.technomadia.com to see what we’re up to next.
Andy: And cheers to your serendipity! Thank you so much for joining us. Hope to meet up with you on the road soon.
All images copyright Technomadia.
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