WE’RE IN A WEIRD PLACE (+what’s next & boat update)
We have never been more untethered than we are right now. We don’t have any major possessions. No home, no boat, no van, not even a sleeping bag. And it’s WEIRD!
Granted, this is just a phase. A long layover, or a short story, in-between the chapters. It’s a phase I call limbo and I don’t like it. Never have.
One would think that this wouldn’t be a big deal after a decade of being nomadic. Change is our only constant. But we’ve always had a place to call home, a place to lay our heads at night and now we don’t. We’re experiencing a strange sense of aimlessness like we’re suspended in zero gravity and our bodies and minds need time to adjust.
So, we’re on a road trip around the South Island of New Zealand learning to embrace the aimlessness.
If you’ve missed some episodes and didn’t know we sold our boat and have a new hybrid electric under construction, you can catch up here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG5YKEqC5FqvZgiKn7tIcfK67af6Ls0da
Our South Island Interactive Road Trip Route
Our South Island Road Trip Route
What’s With The MAP?
This is a free website and app from Roadtrippers. It’s been our go-to app for discovering weird roadside attractions (hello Cano’s Castle) and wild places to camp (Trona Pinnacles). The free version is fantastic and packed with all the essential features. But, we have the Plus account because it’s better for an extended trip (like this one). Plus unlocks features like live traffic, notes for each stop, collaborating with friends, and offline maps (handy during the trip since the internet is intermittent).
- Roadtrippers (free): https://roadtrippers.com/?via=thewynns
- Roadtrippers Plus: https://roadtrippers.com/plus/?via=thewynns
- Use promo code THEWYNNS for $5 off
🦈SURFSHARK VPN💻
- surfshark.deals/wynns
- 83%0ff +3 Months Free
🎥 CAMERA GEAR USED TO FILM THIS VIDEO
🎶 MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO:
- Source – Artlist, Get 2 Months for FREE: https://bit.ly/artlist-GWTW
- Artists – Ardie Son, Balloon Planet, Alex Makemusic
🙏 THANK YOU!
Ups, downs, and all around, we share it all. If you like what you see, there are lots of ways you can show your support.
Mary
Such an exiting AND expensive lifestyle. I wish I could afford it. I wonder how you support yourselves.
Curious Minion
Well it doesn’t have to be that expensive. A lot depends on your choices: do you go to the 5 star restaurant every night and stay in marinas, or do you anchor out, go to the local farmer’s market and eat in? https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/boat-life-expenses
As for how they support themselves, there’s a whole section on the blog devoted to how the Wynns and other nomads make money while traveling: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/make-money-travel
Hope that helps!
Curious Minion
C Bruce
The following snippets of lyrics which accompany the music occasionally heard in the Wynns’ soundtracks could be Nikki & Jason’s anthem:
“Any place we wander to, Any season we go through, I’ll be fine as long as I’m with you . . . Running ’round the world with you, When you smile I smile too, How I ever made it without you Heaven knows . . . I feel the weather changing, Better get out soon, Don’t let go of my hand, No matter what you do, Well I’m here for you, Through the thick and thin, We’re on a winding road, That never ends . . .”
If you’re curious for more, search for Heaven Knows by The Hunts in your favorite search engine and on YouTube.
Eloda White
I have never posted but I am also responding to Russell… I started watching this young couple at least 8 years ago as I wanted to RV… i have never posted or said anything over the years… only watched and learned and traveled… and I feel like Jason and Nikki are part of my family❤️ Their content is worthy of documentaries that could be on travel channels/learning channels!! When they take breaks I sadly miss them and I worry about them when they may be in harms way!! I appreciate all they bring to me and others and I only hope that I will be blessed with more adventures with these two lovely humans.. whether it be on land or sea ❤️ Thank you Jason and Nikki 💕
Hank
An amazing life you have chosen keep enjoying it, you never know what happens in this life. I can wait to see then phase of the adventure.
Mike
I don’t know when I first subscribed, but I’ve enjoyed following your adventures. You’re untethered to a desk and a time clock and you’ve managed to thrive when many just try to survive. Most, I enjoy your sense of discovery and sometimes querky sense of humor. Looking forward to my vicarious living of your next adventure from Kenosha, WI.
Pat
Great to see you are both doing well and glad you are enjoying your life….
Alan Solomon
Thanks Wynns, very much. Another Awesome Video to check out. I am sure there will be many more Awesome videos to come as usual.
Life is ongoing, change is inevitable and can be adventurous. The coming change/adventure. Growing legs for a few months. 👍
Happy to see your smiling faces again. Excited as always for you and I. Intrigued by what’s to come. 😊
Happy traveling,
OjaiLynda
I love coming along for the ride, wherever you take us! Keep on rollin’!
Pat
I’m like Y, I’ve NEVER posted a reply but felt the need to. I started following you as I was getting into RVing. You were just transitioning to sailing and although I have no desire to sail, I still followed you. What I learned is it doesn’t matter how you travel, where you travel, or even that you travel. What I enjoy following is YOU and your ability to tell fabulous stories about the world and people around you. I’m sure I’m not alone. You’re both amazing people. I look forward to your videos the next 9 months and however long you continue to bless us with the stories of your lives.
Michael
Well said!
Steve Gibbons
Hey folks, Just enjoy your new form of freedom. So few get the opportunity to shine so brightly. keeping feeding your wonder lust, hug your family & enjoy the ride.
Nikki Wynn
Will do! 🤗
Mary Van
Are the penguins coming next week? You gave us a little tease…
Enjoy your last few weeks in New Zealand! It looks amazing! I binge-watched so many episodes when those little icons popped up in my upper right screen. There were so many I had not seen!!
Linda S.
Stunning photography and scenery. I was so anxious for y’all while you were climbing along that cliff, and with camera equipment, too! You’re in such a rare and privileged position to be living an incredible adventure that most of the rest of us can only dream of. I’ve been with you since the day y’all were shopping for your first motor home. I feel blessed and fortunate that, through your generosity, I am able to follow along with you, wherever you go and whatever you do. Thank you so very much. Be careful, be safe, be well, enjoy every moment. I’m excited to see every upcoming video y’all post.
Nikki Wynn
Thank you Linda. 🤗 🥰
Tev
I missed you these past two weeks. Happy to see your smiling faces again. I’m hoping you might rent an RV while in the States and take us along on your journeys when visiting family and such. After all that’s how it all started. Looking forward to future posts. God has blessed you richly and I hope you will ponder on that once in awhile. Be prepared when you head back to Texas, we are hot, hot, hot.
Mary Van
I hope so too, TEV! Mom
Michael
It is always good to stop and take a moment (or two) to enjoy where one is at, and to be watching for what God might have planned for us next. The next bend in the road may bring us to a new, wonderful vista just made for us. Just look at the awe-inspiring vistas you’ve shared with us so far. Thank you.
Mike Fry
I sent you the wrong link for the Christchurch battery company. The correct link is https://evsenhanced.com/ They are battery experts. Ask them about battery safety for your new boat.
Ed Grant
For being “homeless”, you kids are doing pretty good! Being able to use this time to better yourself and get home for a family visit should be at the top of your list. That nephew is going to have a hard enough time getting to know who the heck you are as it is! I was surprised to hear the the new boat is being built in the Phillipines!(sp) And not until June/23 is indeed such a long time to wait! If you can do and see just half of what you talked about will be a challenge, but as a regular subscriber and devote Fan, I know you will do just fine.
My wife is getting excite for you now, knowing how much I am for you, and That is saying something!
Roy E Hardcastle
Even nowhere is somewhere, however is somewhere anywhere?
RoyH
Jeanette Brennan
I’m so sorry that one of your followers doubts that you’ll have followers in 9 months. Please know I will be watching everything you post — and thank you for sharing your travels with us. I could never do the traveling you do and am thrilled to travel vicariously through you guys. Thank you for continuing to share!! Stay curious, safe and happy!! Keep posting!! 💖💫🙌🌄💕
Peter
Hey guys, What a beautiful place! My dad told me he was there during WW2 and wanted to go back. He never was able to make it. But I will soon. Thanks for the wonderful nature video. Reminds me of a David Attenborough film.
Mike Fry
I hope you can visit EVs & Beyond in Christchurch. https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/ They are world experts on lithium ion batteries.
Since I last wrote to you, I saw your video on electric runabouts. That seems like a great place to mount the bulk of your batteries. You need batteries there when you are using it, and when (not “if”) a battery fire occurs, you can eject the runabout.
I understand your anxiety about being homeless and possessionless. Many years ago, I sold my car and ordered a new van. The van arrived 4 months later. I still look back at that time as a wonderfully free period. Like you, I always have a list of repairs and chores to do.
Some years later, we sold our home before we could move into our next home. The next home was a conservancy sale and the sale had to go through the courts. The seller’s attorney made so many errors that the judge voided the sale and we had to start over. We were homeless for 3 months. I remember the anxiety, but I remember the freedom more.
Mike Fry
Poway, CA.
Y Knowles
Wow! I usually don’t post responses but I feel the need to reply to Russell’s mean and rude one. Please note that I’m sure most of your followers don’t feel like he does. I know I sure don’t! Please post whatever you want. I’ll be watching, enjoying, and being thankful you are willing to share your lives and adventures with us all! Safe travels!
Lucy Lee
We met you in Dunedin in the “Steepest Street” and I have become a fan of yours. Looks like we took the reverse route to yours (although not sure as there are 2 Maps as your itinersry), and went back to Nelson via Christchurch. We loved every inch of New Zealand. Enjoy the west coast. We will have to do that part on our next trip. We are back in Canada now 🤗
Diane Sanderbeck
Also, just FYI, the YHA hostels all over NZ are fabulous places to lay your heads. I used them all over both islands. Save your hotel budget for the new HH! 👍
BRASH Life
Well my wife and I will definitely stay tuned in on your adventures. We enjoy everything you guys post. I’m so excited for you two to get your new HH44 but I can wait with anticipation. I’m sure just like you two are. I know you all probably hear this a lot, but I want to thank you for sharing your sailing adventures. It has been a dream of mine for quite sometime. Now my wife and I are signed up to take a seven day live aboard sailing course here in the next few months. You two have definitely inspired us to at least take this step. Again Thank You!
Nikki Wynn
Wow, fantastic to hear about the sailing course! Enjoy it!
Diane Sanderbeck
I LOVE your travel adventures whether by sea or land! In fact, your land based travels in your first motor home is how I found you in the first place so many years ago. The journey IS the destination so just keep on filming. Gone With The Wynns is always my go-to Sunday morning activity. Travel on, Wynns!! 💙
Paul Gagne
Great update. Thank you so much and we will be watching.
Russell Noble
As much as I’ve enjoyed watching your videos for the past 2 years, I’m a bit concerned that while you’re not at sea, the content of what you’re going to post for the next 9 months or so will be “filler” material of little interest.
I hope you still have a following when you eventually get back on the water.
Sadly, by then, I’m afraid the followers of “Gone with the Wynns” will be GONE.
Curious Minion
Well they gained over 150,000 new subscribers last time they were on land, so I think maybe it’ll be okay.
They will be posting travel adventures from the USA, build progress on the new boat, and some other awesome tech stuff that I can’t tell you about yet. So stay tuned!
Curious Minion
Todd
And we have been following their adventures for over seven years now. We have enjoyed watching multiple transitions from Land to Sea… I am confident that the content the Wynns will be able to produce is going to be as spectacular as usual. In particular, I’m looking forward to the boat build updates. These long-term followers will happily be enjoying the adventure as they transition to a new boat
Todd Brunsvold
As a long-term follower of at least 8 years, I have no doubt the content Niki and Jason produce will be great. I have been enjoying their adventures when they traveled by land in 2 RVs before they transitioned to sea. I’m excited to see the content coming up as it pertains to the boat build, the multitude of decisions they have to make, and how that process unfolds.
Thanks for generously sharing your journey with us! I cannot wait for more, and I will continue to be a Patreon member as well!!!
Mary Van
Are you a naysayer? Keep watching, I think you’ll be eating these words.
TheTumbleLees
The Wynn’s are so incredibly CREATIVE!!! I’m excited about their next 9 months. BTW, we live in Myrtle Beach and it looks like you may be coming here. If need a free place to bunk, we have a nice guest suite! We’d be so honored and EXCITED to meet you in person. You were instrumental in helping us buy our motor home – and helped us as we sold everything and traveled full time for just over 5 years. We are so sorry we didn’t start when we were younger….
We’re not that old but just our age and family circumstances took us off the road….
Pam Mc.
Why would you even come on to say this. Unsubscribe if you must but most of the Wynn followers are true blue and will stick by them. For some reason they have an “it” that comes across in their adventures and their still times. This is in reply to Russell.
Pam Mc.
PS to Russell. What you think of as filler is a part of life to me. I’m here for the Wynns on land and sea.