Solo Travel Adventures: Safe Travel for Women, Preparing for a Trip, Overcoming Fear, Travel Tips
Equipping Women over 50 to Safely Travel in Confidence
Is fear holding you back from traveling because you don’t have anyone to go with? Are you concerned about being a woman traveling alone? Not sure how to prepare for a solo trip? Do family and friends think you are crazy for even considering solo travel in this day and age?
In this podcast, you will become equipped to travel safely by yourself. You’ll learn things like tactical travel tips and how to prepare for a trip, and how to overcome the fear so you can discover the transformation that travel can bring. My mission is to see more women over 50, empty-nesters, discover how travel can empower them. If you want to enjoy your next travel adventure solo, then start your journey here.
Hi Sister Travelers, I’m Cheryl, solo travel advocate and coach. I spent nearly 20 years putting my family/children first and felt guilty about even considering solo travel at the time. After my divorce and transitioning to an empty nest, I began to rediscover my passion for travel, built confidence in myself, and started to explore again. I have experienced life-changing adventures through travel and I want the same for you.
If you are ready to find freedom through travel and build your confidence while safely navigating new places, then this podcast is for you!
Pack your bags, grab your plane tickets and check one more time for that passport. It’s time to explore the world!
Email: adventuresredheadrambler@gmail.com
Solo Travel Adventures: Safe Travel for Women, Preparing for a Trip, Overcoming Fear, Travel Tips
Empowering Women Through Travel and Retreats with Kimberly Long
What if exploring the world could also deepen your sense of community? Join us as we welcome Kimberly Long, a cherished listener and fellow Texan whose recent adventures have taken her through the breathtaking landscapes of Oregon and Washington on an invigorating six-day bike tour. With an e-bike to keep pace and a group of 18 enthusiastic cyclists, Kimberly paints a vivid picture of the joys and camaraderie found when exploring the Columbia River Gorge and the Willamette Valley. Her tales of winery visits and the exceptional organization by three young guides, including a thoughtful gesture from a guide named Nate, offer a glimpse into the magic that travel can unveil.
But the journey doesn't stop there. Dive into the highs and lows of personal travel experiences, from unexpected adventures in Costa Rica to the grit-testing challenge of a juice retreat. Kimberly's honest reflections on the struggle of a juice-only diet amidst others enjoying hearty meals bring to light the importance of self-care and balance in new environments. These narratives emphasize finding peace and joy in travel, even when faced with the unexpected, and the lesson that indulgence and comfort should never be sacrificed.
Our episode takes a turn towards the future with the introduction of a Christian-centered luxury retreat in Texas Hill Country, crafted especially for women. With activities ranging from pickleball to prayer, this retreat promises a safe haven for relaxation and connection. Kimberly shares her excitement about expanding this vision and her commitment to women’s wellness, offering insights into upcoming offerings for adventurous souls in 2025. Engage with this episode to explore themes of travel, community, and personal growth, and be inspired to embark on your own journeys with mindfulness and joy.
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https://christianluxuryvacations.com/
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Facebook community: Solo Travel for Women Over 50
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Hello, sister Travelers, welcome back. I love having folks that are listeners on my show, and today's guest is just that, kimberly Long. She is a lover of many things. Her favorite sports are mountain biking and paddle boarding. Favorite pastimes are gardening and cooking. She's led a singles group for six years, growing from seven people to 120 people and resulting in seven couples finding each other and marrying. She's planned events every weekend, always discovering new venues from all over the hill country in Texas. Kimberly is loving her new venture as a tour guide for Christian luxury vacations. She feels it's a fit like a glove. Kimberly's passion is photography and everything beautiful. She also loves helping women find confidence through becoming more healthy spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially, as evidenced by her book Financial Hope. She has a daughter, son-in-law and two grandbabies and although they are 13 and 18, she calls them baby doll, and they allow her. So I hope you enjoy today's conversation I have with Kimberly Long. Well, hello, kimberly. Thank you so much for being here on my podcast.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me, Cheryl. I love listening to your podcast all the time.
Speaker 1:I know. So Kimberly and I spoke a while back and she was she's a longtime listener of my podcast, which just thrills me because I love when you know listeners reach out to me and we actually get to connect.
Speaker 1:And the other cool thing about Kimberly is she lives in Texas, like I do, so you know we could potentially meet up some point, but she reached out and was sharing just not just how much she loved the podcast but some of her adventures that she's been on, and I know since the last time we talked, kimberly, you have been doing some travel, I think the summer fall time period. Tell me what you've been up to, where have you gone and what have you done.
Speaker 2:Well, I went on a bike tour which I would tell everybody they should go on. After I went with some friends, I was invited by one couple that I know from my area and ended up that there were 18 people from all over the hill country, like austin, frederick or san antonio, so I've made new friends in this area. And then there were even a few more that were from kentucky and washington. So that was, or excuse me, kentucky and california, a few couples, and so we met some new people and our group just gelled and got along awesome great men and women both, and it was the best trip. It was to Oregon, washington, to the Willamette Valley.
Speaker 2:I have to say that think about that the Columbia River Gorge it was amazing, I bet.
Speaker 1:So how many days did that take you? It was a six day tour. Six days to bike all.
Speaker 2:Six days, yes, all six days and my friend told me she's a real avid cyclist road cyclist, and I'm a mountain biker. And she said, okay, I think I'm going to get an e-bike. And I said, you know what? I think that's a great idea. And so she ended up not renting an e-bike after all. And the whole trip she kept saying I wished I would have rented an e-bike like you, because at the very end they would give you a choice Do you want to get in the van and finish for your day, or do you want to take the last mountain and go the last miles? And I always took it because it was, you know, not hard with. You can put it in turbo even if you want to. There's four settings on a e bike. I don't know if you've ever ridden?
Speaker 1:No, I haven't. But you know you are not the first person that has recommended using an e bike when doing a, you know, like a biking tour. So again, great. I mean, if I ever do a biking tour, I'm definitely going to say I mean, I love getting a good workout, but you still do, you really do.
Speaker 2:You can put it in the lowest setting, you can take the, the motorized all the way off and it's a heavy bike. So you're, you're the whole time. You're getting a workout still. So it was amazing. But you're not worried about am I going to be able to keep up with the group. That was a wonderful thing because all those folks were avid cyclists, except for, I think, me.
Speaker 1:So, it still was a good sort of tour group, even though you're not an avid cyclist like maybe the rest of them avid cyclists like maybe the rest of them. So you would highly recommend a not just a cycling uh tour, but just a tour in general, because it sounds like you made some friends and it was a wonderful time it really was.
Speaker 2:We had three young men that served us and they would load up our bikes, take them down, get them all ready, answer any questions, help us if we needed it, and every stop that we needed a break. They would be pulled off to the side with a table set up with snacks and drinks, and then at lunch we would pull up into a winery and it was on our GPS, on our bikes, that they would put. They would put those on your bike so you would know exactly which way to turn, and we'd pull up into the winery at lunchtime and they would have this most amazing spread. Oh gosh, we got to try all the wines and then have the best kind of food really healthy food too. These young men knew what they were doing. I don't know how, but they did Awesome.
Speaker 2:Let's story about one of the young men, nate. He was riding. They take turns riding and driving the van. So Nate was riding with us this day and we passed by a little flower boutique stall that was pay on your honor. And when we passed by, several girls went oh, look at that. And we didn't know he was behind us and we didn't know he heard behind us and we didn't know. He heard us ooh and an ah and when we got to our snack area, our break area, he had bought a bouquet of flowers and given us each a flower oh, that's so sweet, wow, that's so thoughtful yeah, yeah, and on the last day we were there, we all played limbo after we were eating out and an eatery and got to play in limbo and the three guys all together were going under it.
Speaker 2:They're just a hoot and a lot of fun. They were great. Very much of a servant's heart, though, and very sweet to us.
Speaker 1:That sounds amazing. It's made it special. Have you ever joined another tour, a travel tour group, before? That was my first. That was your first one. Okay, that's what I was wondering. Yeah, exactly that's what I mean. Like, you've gotten me excited, you know, because obviously I'm an advocate for solo travel and I love it. But you know, there are times when you know being with other people really makes the experience more exciting and just more memorable sometimes. So it sounds like you had such a positive experience.
Speaker 2:I had no idea what to expect.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, early, just in case I didn't know what I was getting myself into. But I went a day early, stayed by myself in Camas Washington across the river, and just had the best time hiking and being by myself in Camas Washington, across the river, and just had the best time hiking and being by myself. And then I had a room by myself. I was supposed to show up at the bike tour and so ended up being by myself in my room.
Speaker 1:So you're with people all day and then you get to be by yourself still which is a perfect set of yes and and, and you know that we often suggest too, like, if you're going to do a tour, um, to go like you did a day or two beforehand, or stay a day or two after by yourself, so you do have some of that solo time, but you've also had that experience, maybe joining other people.
Speaker 2:so that's awesome. Hey, somebody wants to know I are we supposed to say the name of? You can say that, yeah, you can share the name yeah, it was with back roads and I would just back roads. Okay, I've heard of them. Yeah, I get their books now and, oh, I just sit there and dream about which place to go next. I truly am going to take another bike tour oh, awesome.
Speaker 1:Yes, well, that's good to know that you had a great experience. And what did you after that? Where?
Speaker 2:did you go? In September I went to Costa Rica.
Speaker 1:There. Yes, that's what I thought.
Speaker 2:Retreat and I can't say that that was as good of a trip as a bike tour, not because I went by myself. I did go a day early before the retreat and stayed in the northwest part right on the beach, actually called Playa Hermosa. That area, yeah, and I think you actually gave me, I probably did yeah with you and you referred me to that, so thank you, yes a lot of beaches along there.
Speaker 2:It was beautiful. It was a great b&b. I walked to a place that the taxi driver, uber whatever it's called referred me to to eat. Called gingers was amazing, but I didn't realize. It didn't look that far when we were in the vehicle and he pointed at it.
Speaker 2:It was a 30 minute walk there and 30 minutes home and I was getting nervous being by myself but I'm an explorer, and that's just something I I usually leap and then I think and I was looking at my phone, thinking this is a lot further than I thought as I got to walking and then a little puppy dog, a real friendly one, started walking with me and it actually made me feel more safe.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's so incredible and he walked a good ways with me and then I ate and then he he met back up with me on the way home and walked back with me part of the way. Barely made it home before dark. But I next time I need to really look at how hard it is on the walking distance.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and even you know, I ran into that in Portugal where you know GPS might say it's only what a mile and a half? Right, you know, okay, you know, but in certain areas it's like all uphill mile and a half like, so it's not gonna take the normal snow barefoot well, yeah, so it's not your typical like oh, it's only gonna take 20-30 minutes, you know, to walk this distance.
Speaker 1:It takes longer because you know it's just more hilly and it's like you're going all around the place. Yeah, it's not a straight shot is what I'm getting at. So yeah, I've run into that too, but I did ask. I've asked the driver.
Speaker 2:I said hey, is've run into that too, but I did ask.
Speaker 2:I've asked the driver. I said, hey, is it, is it safe here? And then I asked the BNB, both of, oh yes, very, very safe. But then you start getting out there and I thought, oh, I forgot to bring my bear spray. Oh, I forgot, you know, I don't have anything on me, just in case. So, um, you know, it's it, it was safe and people were very friendly, but it's just a kind of an uncomfortable feeling as you're out there alone as a woman.
Speaker 1:Yes, well, I'm glad you got back safe.
Speaker 2:So tell me a little bit about this retreat that you participated in no-transcript in sugar or anything, and so she didn't want you to get too much sugar, even from vegetables and and from fruits, if you're going through this juice retreat.
Speaker 2:And I paid a lot of money in my mind. For some reason, I thought I was going to get to juice and the food that was presented I thought I was going to eat and I got there and they go. Oh no, you just signed up for the juice retreat, so juice for five days? Did you get really hungry? Yeah, I did get hungry, but they constantly are giving you malic acid to drink.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay.
Speaker 2:Electrolytes you have to drink so much per day which fills you up. I mean, it was just a constant taking something in, okay. So I did get real hungry, but my mouth got hungry to chew, so I did get real hungry, but my mouth got hungry to chew.
Speaker 1:I would love to do one of those, but I think that's also I don't know. I don't mind the whole detoxing. I love the idea, I'm on board with that, but I feel like I need food and some protein.
Speaker 2:And they eat around us. You would sit at the same table and they'd say, are you okay? I'm like, yeah, I'm okay, oh God. And they would be eating that good food right there in front of us. And here I am on the ocean and craving seafood, which I love, and not getting to eat until that last day. And then they told us the last day. They said, okay, just slowly take, you know things back into the system. And I know that makes sense. I've got a stomach of steel. So I went into town on my own and I just I gorged a little.
Speaker 1:I didn't get sick, but I was just so hungry, so famished, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:And that kind of you know. I came back and I ate more than usual. I think I felt so deprived and that's why I don't ever go on diets, because I don't ever want to feel deprived, I just want my way of life of eating, yeah.
Speaker 1:A good you know eating lifestyle, yeah, yeah, healthy lifestyle of eating, yeah, that's probably better than the feeling phaloric deficient, because then your body, you know kind of like you it sounds like for you and me like it feels like it needs to catch up Right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I was like. I felt like I was starving. I knew it wasn't. Oh well, it was in the atmosphere. You know, I know we haven't introduced yet tourism groups that I'm bringing to the Hill Country, but so important to have a safe atmosphere. And I went to this place and it was not. I didn't feel a peace around me like in my own home and think people that I'm around usually it was not that way. It was in matter of fact. Even one of the ladies kind of attacked me verbally, not physically but verbally at one point and I thought it was just as sweet as can be to her and didn't understand. And I began to realize that not everybody has peace in their life or craves that. And there was all the Buddhist statues everywhere, all the Buddhist statues everywhere, and it was just a different belief system, a different atmosphere and just an atmosphere. I didn't think it was that important, but it really is important.
Speaker 1:Yeah, interesting that I've read from other people that have gone to retreats and some I've had awesome experiences and you know, but it is, it's just like our everyday life. This you know. You run into people that you know. You just don't know what they're going through and where that, what their background is, and you know it definitely. You know you're coming together in this small space, this retreat center that you were at, and bringing all kinds of different you know backgrounds and beliefs and experiences and you just don't know what you're getting when you get there.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, what I had just done with the bike tour around people that were just so kind and sweet and thoughtful, and there was 18 of us and never had a problem in six days, and so it's possible. When everybody has a heart to give and love and serve, and they all, everybody likes peace in their life, it does make a big difference.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. Well, I'm sorry that it didn't turn out as you planned and I've been on plenty of trips like that, where they didn't.
Speaker 2:But you talk about being in hostels. I cannot imagine with some of the younger generation that like to stay up late and party and it was definitely.
Speaker 1:Well, you know, I learned that about myself, that I mean as much of a budget traveler I am, and the certain situations are. It just depends Like. One hostel was amazing in that my floor was all people that were my age and we all had really respect for one another. We even shared a washer and dryer together. I mean like, and we ate together some of the big group of us, and then there were others.
Speaker 1:Like you said, there's just kind of a lack of respect for other people and you know different cultures. You know you're talking about people from different cultures. So things are. You know, in the US I think we have a certain you know idea of what you know. Respect is as far as, like, a respectful time to go to bed, right, or like, you know that kind of thing. Or the one thing that bothered me was people watching or listening to something without headphones at night in bed. You know, right, right above me. You know like, and I think you know certain cultures, they don't see that as disrespectful, like, and I think you know certain cultures, they don't see that as disrespectful, maybe, and then, or different age groups don't see that as just you know. So so, yeah, there's just all kinds of different variables, you know, when you're dealing with hostels, and it sounds like you came across a little bit of that in your retreat.
Speaker 2:So yes, yes, exactly. Live and learn right. Live and learn right. Yeah, and two, not everything is like it shows on line. That's very true. The thing is, though, I read the reviews and everybody had good things to say, but they didn't do just the juicing, they did the food also. Oh okay, this was a non-busy time. This is the rainy season that I went, so there was only about five of us there, not many. And so I think it would be better if you had more people to depend on, to connect with.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, and now you know, maybe do the food, the healthy food choice next time next time.
Speaker 2:I mean, the place was so beautiful. Another thing I think that I am so glad I went a day before, because if I wouldn't have, I wouldn't have gotten out and explored the beaches and just saw the area. Instead, I get at this retreat and you're kind of confined and in the evenings they would bus us over about 10 minutes to different beaches every evening. Okay, and then we did take a hike once, but it wasn't like where you're going out and taking a car to different places around that area and exploring which I am an explorer, and so I did, yeah, restricted, yeah, yes. So I'd say, think about that before you go, if you're going to be stuck in one place and have that like you said that, buffer.
Speaker 1:you know I like the idea before too, so you can really get an idea of the area before you get stuck in the retreat center. Yes, well, anything else after that it sounds like you may have. No, it was just those two big trips you did no.
Speaker 2:I had a trip to Canada that got canceled and then just recently a trip to Big Ben that got canceled, and both each had a sickness in their family and couldn't go.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay. Well, you've been to Big Ben though before. Yes or no?
Speaker 2:Well, I haven't done it yet. No, you haven't done it yet. Okay, it's remarkable. So yeah, it's remarkable, I've been there. No, no.
Speaker 1:I loved Big Ben and I don't know why I waited so long to go, but definitely want to go back.
Speaker 2:Well, it is a distance for us. You know, Texas is like a country to drive across.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, it's even further for me than for you. Exactly yeah.
Speaker 2:Like eight hours, 900 miles from side to side.
Speaker 1:Yes, exactly yes. Well, you have started something new, a new business for yourself that combines this whole, and I imagine you're going on. That retreat may have been a little research kind of oriented as well. You know getting a feel for what other people offer, but you've started something on your own here in Texas in the Hill Country. Can you share a little bit about that and you know what you offer and what you envision for this?
Speaker 2:It was before the juice retreat that I oh, okay for this. It was before the juice retreat that I it just made it more real about what I'm offering to all over the world.
Speaker 2:I'm offering a safe place for women. You know what you're going to get when you come. It's a Christian based, christ centered type of retreat, but it's I think it's more genuine. I call it authentic luxury because you can you get a spot any day, anytime, anywhere. And I'm not doing that kind of luxury, I'm doing more like. When they come here, they get picked up by my personal driver from the airport. They will have a chauffeur to take them to all the venues and in the events that we go to, they will every morning have a homemade breakfast at their b&b and they can choose to have their own room. These rooms are very roomy and nice. They can have a queen or king bed, or they can stay in a bunkhouse if they want to save money, or it's a bunk room I four. There's four beds in it. If they're extroverts, they'll want the bunk, yeah, yes, right, exactly.
Speaker 2:Or if you're coming with you know another friend or two, right Then maybe yes, yes, Exactly Well, the, you know the king or queen bed cause you could share a room too, so you could, and I don't do the. What is it when they do they? They kind of penalized you for being solo and make you pay an upcharge.
Speaker 1:The supplement yes. So no solo supplement.
Speaker 2:No, not at all Good and there's a pickleball court on the premises. Those 24 beautiful hill country acres and peacocks come up at night on this property because there's a pond and I think they come up to drink from it. And there's cows on the property and I'm going to leave cow candy in packages when they arrive. So they're going to have a pickleball court, they're going to have a charcuterie board with champagne and I'm going to have a DVD to learn how to line dance. So that'll be their camaraderie to learn that together. Okay, Are going to go, take them dancing. We've got some really cool places just two minutes from the BNB and I've got some men friends that said they're going to teach them how to dance two step dance if they want to learn, Okay. So I know a lot of women love that kind of thing and they can learn with safe men how to dance and, you know, just be able to dance all evening and then they'll have their line dance, hopefully down before they go, and so I just want to just spoil them.
Speaker 2:I'm going to have three different kinds of packages, though for different kinds of, you know, options Like there's going to be a Lux deluxe for more pampered time, and then there's going to be um adventure seekers. That's going to be your not as active but not as pampered, and so you might want to. We're going to go to waterfalls to take photographs and you'll have to step down into that area and to Table is right out there. That eatery is right out there beside those waterfalls, and then there's a sports and more package which will be paddleboarding. You can choose mountain biking or you can choose to just trail bike along the river.
Speaker 2:In Kerrville we have beautiful trails along our river and so they'll have options, you know from three different things to choose from. And we start March. We have a package in March, april and May this next year and it's going to be our first opening packages. So I'm going to offer 10% discount. And if they want to go to Christian luxury vacationscom and they want to put in I think the discount code is first booking, yeah, okay, if they put that in there, then it'll give them a 10%.
Speaker 1:And we'll, I'll make sure I include that in the show notes, for sure, and your and your website, so they can just click on it and have all that information there, right, because maybe you're listening while you're driving, right, that's right.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And another thing is I'll offer is if they I don't know about. I think I've heard you talk about this minimalist packing. I used to be the girl that had two huge suitcases if I went somewhere for a week, and in the carry on also, and I don't know how I pulled those things through the airport. It was ridiculous. And finally have gotten to where I don't check luggage in, I just have I stuff completely as much as you possibly can to get it up in that bin. And sometimes the men will feel sorry for me and say can I lift up for?
Speaker 1:you.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much. It is very heavy and my backpack is sticking out a mile behind me, but I've just got my two carry-ons. And so there you go, minimalist packing list. And they can go to my website, go to the contact form and put in the message free packing list and I'll send that to. Oh, ok, awesome, yeah, yeah, because, hey, if anybody is high maintenance, it was me, if anybody can, if I can do it, anybody can. So there you go, that's a testimony for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so this has been it's, I think, when we spoke earlier this year. This has been kind of a dream of yours for a while. So how does it feel to finally see it come to life and actually like it's happening? Well, how do you feel about that?
Speaker 2:Yeah's a little scary, you know, to start this new is you're talking about the business, not yeah, the business, the retreat, yeah, your business, yes, yes, okay yeah, it is.
Speaker 2:It's scary because I just want to do the very best. I want everybody to have the best time, I want women to come and connect and just really I want them to be restored. I know when I went on that retreat you know that juice retreat I was looking to be restored. I know when I went on that retreat you know that juice retreat I was looking to be restored in more than just my physical. I wanted to be refreshed. I've worked so hard and so many hours that I just I needed to come back different and so I want women to come back.
Speaker 2:You know, come from this retreat to come, come away different, revived, refreshed. And if they're like me, I think most everybody has adventure inside of them and they like to just explore and go see waterfalls, sit by a rapid at the river, just go to places. There's a place called Hat Bar in Fredericksburg and if you're from Texas you know everybody goes shopping in Fredericksburg, it's the place to go.
Speaker 1:Yes, it is.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've been there there's a hat bar and you can sit and get a cowboy hat and then make. They have feathers and jewels and they have the bands and all the things and you can write on it, Um, and you can make your own hat. Oh fun, Go back a Texan.
Speaker 1:I'm going to. I'm going to have to. I haven't been to Fredericksburg since I think I was there in 2021. That's the last time I was there, so I didn't get to the hat bar.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I just discovered it recently myself. Okay, there are so many amazing things in the Hill Country. I was the leader of a singles group for six years, until COVID, and the reason I started the singles group is because I was lonely on a holiday and, crying about it, my daughter said Mom, you have to be proactive, you have to make plans. I'm like, you're right. And so from then on I started doing things. My first thing was a float down the river with seven people. They loved it and I said OK. They said let's do it again. So we said Okay, next month we'll do it again, but invite other friends.
Speaker 2:Yeah yeah, 11 people the next time. And I started thinking, oh well, these guys and these girls, maybe I can match make them too.
Speaker 1:So I was always trying to get people together that way, because singles have a hard time knowing where to meet somebody yes, no, I love, I love that idea and of course, that makes sense of why you have created this retreat center as part of sort of a space, like you said, um, not just a safe place for women, which I love because, um that, that in itself, your statement in itself, because, like we just talked about your retreat experience, like not knowing what you were getting into but that is your vision, your mission for your retreat center and how that will. Obviously people are going to be drawn to that, because that is important and especially, like you said, if women are coming to get renewed, refreshed or restored in some way during your retreat, there needs to be that safe place in order to do that.
Speaker 2:So and it might not be for everybody, because it will be um christian based and we're going to go up every time, every retreat, retreat, no matter which package it is, we'll go up on what? If there's a cross on the hill, very popular in, actually known worldwide, but there's a huge cross, 77 foot cross up there and we're going to have a worship band that we will have a time of worship. We'll have prayer rocks we can ride, ride on. There's a thousands of prayer rocks already there. There's a bronze sculpture of jesus holding a baby with a woman sitting beside him, and you can sit down beside that um and just let the lord, you know, restore and maybe go through some healing a lot of women have done that, sitting there at that bronze statue.
Speaker 2:And so I mean I know of all these little hidden gems in the hill country from doing the single, because at first it was okay, what are we going to do next month? Then it was what are we going to do next weekend? And so this was for six years. It went from seven people to 150 people from all over the country. Oh wow it was an amazing group of people, and out of that group there were seven couples that found each other and got married and are still married.
Speaker 1:Oh see, that's even, that's even more exciting, yeah, so I love to connect people.
Speaker 2:I love to show them the beauty because I just know where all the places are. I know we're to paddleboard to the waterfalls, I know where to paddleboard to the rapids and we're going to have picnics and wine when we stop halfway paddleboarding. So we're going to do some really special stuff for the women.
Speaker 1:That sounds beautiful, beautiful, yes, yeah, well, amazing Again. I'll make sure I include that in the show notes for them to click and check it out. So it starts March. You said March, april, may. You have three right now planned and you probably will have more later for 2025.
Speaker 2:I'm sure. Right, I'll start hiring other tour guides to help me, because I'll want to be such a part of it at the beginning.
Speaker 1:Yes, it sounds like it? Yeah, cause it's, it's part of you, it's it's your heart, it's your desire. So definitely, I'm the same way. You know you have this dream and vision for something. You want to keep your hand in it in some way.
Speaker 2:I have wonderful women around me that said, oh, I'd love to do that too. And some are retired, Some are my age and and they just have a heart for Wimpen and I'm like, okay, when it gets going, I'm hiring you.
Speaker 1:Yes, that's awesome. Oh well, that's. I just love that Cause. I mean, I would love to have a retreat center too. So I'm just, I just might have to come to yours, right.
Speaker 2:Come to mine, yeah, maybe you can come come work at mine yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, have to come to yours. Right, come to mine. Yeah, maybe you can come, come work at mine. Yeah, yeah, it's not that, I mean not that far I could. You know what like about a three hour, three and a half hour drive, maybe something like that, or port worth dallas or dallas. It's about four yeah, okay, I think it's closer to four countries worth it. You need to come. Oh, I know, I know I need to get back to Fredericksburg, so definitely make a hat.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, yes we do we need to occur in it at the chocolatier? I mean, oh gosh, there are many cool things there.
Speaker 1:Well, let's definitely offline. Let's plan something. Okay, let's do. Yes, sounds good. Well, kimberly, I love your heart for women and creating a safe space for them, and having this opportunity to share that in your retreat center is amazing. I thank you for sharing your travels and kind of telling us you know the lowdown on that tour group yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So I mean, as we say it's, it's okay to join tour groups and it's a way for solo travelers to not feel alone, but yet they get there, maybe alone, and they meet people right, and they get to share that experience with other people. So that's kind of that's the hope when they join a tour group and, you know, my hope is that they also have a good experience in their tour group, like your bike thing. So thank you for sharing that as well and any other. How about you share a golden tip or a nugget of truth that you would share with other solo traveling women?
Speaker 2:I would say I went over a fence I shouldn't have and almost got shot in Costa Rica. So I would say, if you're adventurous, just remember when you're in another country or when you're in another place that you really need to be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of that you're not with a group, that you're alone yeah, you're alone, not that you're not with a group, that you're, you're, you're alone.
Speaker 1:You're alone.
Speaker 2:Safe your precautions, because I, I, I am a leap first.
Speaker 1:Then I was saying think, think before you jump right Maybe.
Speaker 2:Yes, don't just go crazy Like, yeah, that's true, that's true Cause.
Speaker 1:When you're alone, you really have to almost think twice. Yeah, yeah, yeah, and I know.
Speaker 2:God's with me and he protects me, but I'm sometimes he. He's sitting there, thinking, shaking his head, saying oh, my God your angels are so busy. Oh, that's funny.
Speaker 1:All you adventurous people.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:No, that was oh gosh. Yeah, my mom used to say that about me because I would leap before thinking, and so I've tempered that quite a bit, you know, because, like you said, I travel solo, so I have to. You know, awesome, kimberly, I'm so happy that we got we got connected and I was able to get you on the show here, and thank you so much for sharing all of your lovely trips this past year and what you're offering women coming up in 2025, so I appreciate it was a pleasure being on the show with you, especially since I listened to you all the time.
Speaker 2:I'm excited.
Speaker 1:I am too. Thank you so much, hey sister travelers. Did this podcast inspire and encourage you or move you to get out there and travel? Wonderful. There are three ways you can thank me. First one is leave a written review for the show on Apple podcast to share the show with your sister travelers, your friends, your family and three subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode. And thank you again for listening to the show. Sisters, be fearless, take the leap and get out there and have an adventure.
