Boom-packer: 64-year-old grandma backpacks around Europe
<p>I’m sure there are many baby boomers out there who remember backpacking in your younger years. With a rucksack on our back and little money in the pocket, backpacking is about exploring cities in faraway places and sleeping in questionable beds. Fast-forward a few decades and it’s safe to say most of us prefer more luxurious holiday travel plans. However, backpacking has changed a lot since those days – it’s much safer and cleaner – meaning everyone, even over-60s, can (and should) do it! In fact, this is becoming a trend and one that has already been coined, “boom-packing”.</p>
<p>Just ask Over60 community member, Judi Bradshaw, 64, from Parmelia, Western Australia who found the whole experience “amazing, fun, exhausting and exhilarating”.</p>
<p>Judi and her daughter went on a whirlwind European trip for four weeks – and yes, they backpacked the whole way!</p>
<p>“Backpacking was my plan from the start as I don't like planned structured holidays,” Judi tells Over60. “I’m a bit of a wing it girl through life anyway so to me it was about the freedom to stay or move when it suited us.”</p>
<p>With only carry-on luggage in tow, the only thing the mother-daughter duo booked was flights into Paris and the first two nights’ accommodation. From Paris to Barcelona to Berlin, Judi and her daughter travelled with ease.</p>
<p>“Backpackers accommodation was fantastic but we did book private rooms where we had our own bathroom,” explains Judi. “Laundry facilities in all accommodation was always available hence the carry-on luggage.”</p>
<p>Judi wasn’t worried or even phased about not having anything booked in advance. “Computers are available for use at all accommodation to book travel and accommodation in the next country to visit,” she explains, “but we mainly used our phones to book anything, all from the comfort of our room.”</p>
<p>And what a comfortable and easy experience the trip was. “Tours were always available through reception in accommodation,” Judi says, continuing, “although in Rome we bought a 24-hour pass on a hop on hop off open top double decker bus which took us to all the sites we wanted to see like the Colosseum.”</p>
<p>It’s not to say backpacking didn’t come with challenges but Judi always saw the positive side of things.</p>
<p>“We encountered our only hiccup when our Athens to Rome flight was cancelled. We got there in the end via Bulgaria which was another country on the passport!” says Judi, continuing, “some people might not like the uncertainty of nothing planned, but if you can retain a sense of humour and can think on your feet it's a fantastic way to travel. Look for the solution not the problem.”</p>
<p>Although Judi was determined to travel light the whole trip she had to admit defeat in the beautiful Greek island of Santorini.</p>
<p>“We spent six nights in this idyllic part of the world and while this was our relaxation time we did manage to get off the sun lounges for a day for a boat ride to climb an active volcano then on to visit Ora for the sunset and overlooking the postcard buildings,” she smiles. “We conceded defeat here and bought a suitcase because the shopping was great as were the people – and the food too.”</p>
<p>After the four weeks came to a close, it was clear that Judi had a trip of a lifetime.</p>
<p>“I still look back in amazement – travelling with my daughter, the fantastic places we saw, the adventures we had, the people that we met, the laughs we had along the way, the appreciation of life and history I could share with her on our visit to the concentration camp [in Berlin],” recalls Judi.</p>
<p>“A reward in life you cannot buy, just a life experience,” she simply states.</p>
<p>For any Over60s members concerned about whether they can keep up backpacking, Judi advises not to let health worries get in the way of life’s many possibilities.</p>
<p>“I do have quite bad osteoporosis but never let it get in the way of life,” explains Judi, whose positive attitude sees the best of the backpacker lifestyle. “It’s just a condition that you have to be aware of… exercise is must so lots of walking up and down stairs at train stations was good and a lot of walking and sightseeing,” the traveller says, continuing, “Health issues, I'll worry about when I get old”.</p>
<p>If there’s one thing Judi takes away from this experience – apart from the amazing memories with her beloved daughter – it that she wants all over-60s to consider giving backpacking a go. “In our travels we only saw one other couple close to my age backpacking,” she smiles. “Backpacking was an amazing experience and would love to see more people my age out there doing this. I would do it again in a heartbeat.” </p>
