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Travel and Life Experiences of a Corporate American Runaway

I’m Sherry. I’ve been traveling around the world and writing about it on Ottsworld since 2006. Yes, that makes me one of the first travel bloggers! I started out as a novice middle-aged traveler and have transformed into a world explorer and travel industry expert! I share my adventures, tips, and advice on how to conquer your fear of traveling or traveling alone so that you, too, can have epic adventures to intriguing places!

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Where I’ve traveled…

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10 Travel moments I’m most proud of

1

Traveling with each of my six nieces as part of the Niece Project

2

Living in Vietnam for a year solo

3

Finishing the 9,000-mile Mongol Rally

4

Having no home and being nomadic for 11 years

5

Taking my Dad to Antarctica

6

Completing the Camino de Santiago solo

7

Driving a rickshaw 2,000 miles across India and raising money for charity:water

8

Taking over my Father’s Capitol Quest and cycling from Capitol to Capitol in the US

9

Launching my first small group tours

10

Getting my first passport when I was 30

The one thing they all have in common is overcoming fear and trusting in the world to take care of you.

Travel Series

I’ve done a number of long-term travel ‘projects’ (I might call them Epic Trips) that I’ve written about. These are best read like a book with chapters. Some of these have taken place over weeks (like the Mongol Rally or Camino de Santiago), some over months (the Motorbike Diaries), and some over years (like the Niece Project).

  • Niece Project Travels

    The Niece Project

    2012 begins a project for me that has been in the making for a long time. But first, let me back up a few years…
  • camino de santiago questions

    Camino de Santiago: 23 of the Most Frequently Asked Questions

    You have made the decision to hike the Camino de Santiago, Camino Frances – what next? I bet you have a bunch of questions you need…
  • Nepal Annapurna Circuit

    The Beginnings of a Nepal Trekking Plan – Annapurna Circuit

    Tiger Balm Tales Volume 1 Why? Such a simple question, yet it resonated in my head many, many times on my most recent trip to…
  • Mongol Rally

    It’s Real Now – Starting the Mongol Rally

    Have you ever worked so long and hard on something that you forgot what you were doing or why you were doing it? The idea…

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All Blog Articles

The View From My Rickshaw

Only one team member can drive at a time during the Rickshaw Run, so that means half of the time you are a passenger. As a…

Rickshaw Run FAQs

Thinking about doing the Rickshaw Run after following our experience in April 2014? You’ve read through all the adventurous marketing hype, and you are ready…

The Niece Project Version 3.0

Summer is about here – and it means kids will be on summer vacation – AND it means that another Niece Project is in motion!…

Solving Market Mysteries

“What is it about photographing markets that you like?” Charlie asked. We were both leaving the early morning fish market on a bit of a…

Sleeping on a Private Island

“You know what I just realized? We are on a private island of our own!” Sherry cocks her head ever so slightly to consider this….

A Soft Landing in Jaipur

The plane wheels hit the ground with a jolt, and our seats rocked slightly as the plane moved. A few seconds later came the applause…

My Kauai Base Camp

I walked into base camp covered in mud and sweat, carrying my camera and backpack. I must have looked exhausted to those around me as…

Napali Coast by Air and Sea

How do you get to see the most beautiful coastline in the United States when there are no roads to get there? You’ve got 3…

Rickshaw Run Update From the Road #5

I’m traveling 2,000 miles through India by motorized rickshaw, raising $15,000 for charity: water. While I’m sweating buckets, becoming one with my horn, avoiding cows,…

The Maltese Cross

Easter will be celebrated in many parts of the world this weekend. I am finishing up the Rickshaw Run in India this weekend and will…

Rickshaw Run Update From the Road #4

I’m traveling 2,000 miles through India by motorized rickshaw, raising $15,000 for charity: water. While I’m sweating buckets, becoming one with my horn, avoiding cows,…