Do you trust me? Do you trust me?
And we're off. Woohoo!
'Imagine starting your life all over again...'
Where is Ben?
I'm needed? Ben, you're needed.
'..leaving behind everything you know...'
Just a bicycle, suitcase, no money, that's all I had.
'..for something completely different.'
Er, number nine, let me take this off.
Number nine. Number nine. Number nine.
'I'm Ben Fogle, and over the next few weeks,
'I'm going to live with the incredible people
'who have done just that...'
I'm a born fighter,
and that's what I do get a kick out of.
For a long time, I thought I was stupid.
And I'm a good salesperson, and I'm selling this mountain hard!
'..in some of the most remote places on Earth...'
There is no restaurants, there is no bars,
there is no nothing.
You know, we didn't think that we were gonna come up here
and not see humans for three to four months at a time.
'..and see what it takes to live a new life in the wild.'
Whoo!
That is a quick way to take down a tree.
'This week, I'm meeting Randilyn.'
Do you love animals? Yeah. He's my boy.
'An intriguing wild woman on a perpetual journey across America.'
I am charting unknown territories.
'This will be the first time on my wild adventures
'that I'll be walking the open road myself.'
Good boy. 'Where I'll learn how Randilyn
'has tailormade her bespoke nomadic life...'
So, this is main living quarters. And I sleep in here. Wow.
'..while also experiencing the perils that come with it.'
You know, I've done some dangerous stuff.
This is ridiculous.
HORNS HONK
SIREN BEEPS
I'm venturing nearly 4,500 miles across the Atlantic Ocean
to the landlocked state of Missouri.
Like many of its neighbours,
Missouri is a land of striking contrasts, bustling cities,
set against vast wilderness.
It's a big state, roughly the size of England and Wales combined.
But while those countries pack in around 1,000 people
to every square mile,
here it's closer to 90 per square mile.
Leaving plenty of space to live as you like.
This is the moment at which I start to get a little bit nervous
because I'm just on the cusp, on the boundary,
of entering her world.
I know very little about Randilyn.
All I know is that she lives a nomadic life.
Over the years, I've visited people that live in camper vans, cars,
lorries, buses, canal boats.
So I'm anticipating her to have some mode of transport,
but what that is, I have no idea.
Expect the unexpected. That's what I've learnt.
My instructions are to follow this road.
And then onto a path that leads into a woodland
where Randilyn is parked up.
This has to be her.
Randilyn?
Hello.
Wow.
Hi, Randilyn.
Hello. I'm Ben. So nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you. Who's this?
This is Pandora. Hi, Pandora.
She's kinda the welcome committee around here.
Wow. I don't really know where to begin. Who's this?
Can I say hi? So, this is Roadhouse.
He gets friendlier the more you touch him.
Oh, look.Before you know it, he'll be following you around.
Oh, so sweet.
Can I have a little look around your camp?Yes. Yes, sir.
40-year-old Randilyn grew up in suburban Missouri.
After college,
she worked in a number of jobs while raising her three children.
But when they eventually flew the nest, Randilyn felt lost.
Unsure of what came next,
she decided to simply walk across the country
with no fixed destination in mind.
Five years on from that life-changing decision,
she's still on the move but with a donkey-pulled wagon...
..among other things.
This is quite something.
So, hang on, have we got pigeons in here?
Yes, there's pigeons all over, really.
Friends? Food? Friends and food.
Friends and food? CHUCKLES
So talk me through all of this. This is amazing.
So colourful.This is... it's a little bit messy today,
we've had a lot of rain this week, but I actually sleep in here.
Everything goes in here while we're moving.
This is kind of how I started to give myself a little freedom
away from debt and, you know,
the crazy world that everybody's living in.
'It might be crazy out there,
'but right now, I'm trying to make sense of this reality.
'Dogs, chickens, pigeons, donkeys.'
So, this is your main... is this...? Main living quarters, here.
Oh, there's another dog in here. Yeah, I have six dogs.
Six dogs. Who's guarding your bed right now?
This is Bless, and she's a little shy,
but she's the wagon guardian.
She was born to the wagon life.
Yeah. She keeps anybody out of the way.
And we have another little chihuahua there.
He loves everyone. That's Emilo. Yeah.
Wood-burning stove. Is that where you cook, or is that for heating?
For heating, it's for cooking. I also have a grill.
Yeah. A little outdoor camp. Yes, sir.
So, I can see kitchen, bedroom, storage.
Bathroom? It kinda depends. Sometimes...
Or just putting the tarp around the base of the wagon,
going under there.
You just gotta get creative.
'Randilyn lives with very few modern conveniences,
'except for a mobile phone
'and a solar charger that keep her connected.'
How would you describe this and your lifestyle?
Basically, the modern-day pioneer, I'd say.
Very simple living and charting unknown territories
and seeing what's out there.
Wow.
I... I have so many questions,
but it's more about logistics, really,
because I've never really seen this kind of set up.
It's kind of a cross between a pioneer
and a Gypsy lifestyle in the UK.
And what I can't even begin to imagine
is how she moves all of this... on sometimes a daily basis.
You obviously love animals. Yes. Yes. He's my boy.
"See, I do all the work. Mum couldn't do it without me.
"I carry all this stuff." He is loving that.
I know you don't ever have a particular plan,
so I'm always wary of being that person who says,
"What are we gonna do now?"
Well, so we've gotta do dinner tonight. Yep.
And that involves, unfortunately, pigeons.
Hm-mm. I think I might leave you to the dispatching yourself.
Oh, I understand. While I still eat meat,
I think it's more ethical than just going to the grocery store and...
Yeah, you never have to look at it and you don't have to face it,
but are you putting other things through a hard life
so that you can feel better about something?
That's where I'm at with it.
So I try to make sure I'm aware of what I'm eating
and how it's living, if I can.
'I don't eat much meat these days
'but I admire how Randilyn takes responsibility
'for the animals she consumes,
'while also sourcing birds that have been raised outdoors.'
OK. Come on, baby.
Who taught you how to dispatch of a pigeon?
No-one. I learned 13 years ago how to butcher a chicken from YouTube.
And so, I found the fastest way is usually just cut their heads off.
It's a lot less suffering.
I don't want them to suffer is my main thing.
Do you remember the first time you did it?Yeah.
You remember every time you do it.
I would offer to help, but I think I'll be more of a hinderance.
You're making fast work of these birds.
Yeah, they're not too hard to process.
I'm beginning to understand, by...
..dragging the little carts with your pigeons,
that's your form of refrigeration, keeping them alive.
Yes. And just dispatching them when you need them.
Yes.
Looks good. Thank you.
'The older I get, the more squeamish I've become about killing animals.
'But there's an undeniably organic feel
'to the lifestyle Randilyn has created.'
There you go.
Pandora, can I sit on your seat for a little bit?
This looks incredible. Smell is amazing.
Wow.
It's really good. Thank you.
Is cooking something you actually enjoy?
Yes, I do. I like to cook for people, especially.
Honestly, when it's just me, I eat snack foods a lot.
Hm-mm.Or I cook a meal, but it lasts me, like, three days.
Hm-mm.As much as I'm busy, especially when I love every day,
but I've tried to make a system
to where I can kinda enjoy a little bit of time,
cos the whole point of this lifestyle is to slow down.
This is definitely not what I was anticipating.
She's very philosophical and thoughtful,
and she is a very chilled individual
that I feel really comfortable around.
But I don't think anything can quite prepare you
for how unusual her choice of lifestyle is.
EPIC MUSIC
BEN: It's my first morning in the woodlands of Missouri.
Morning, donkeys. Hello.
'I'm here with Randilyn,
a self-professed modern-day pioneer.'
Good morning.
'Who roams the country with an assortment of wagons and animals.'
BARKING
Hi, Randilyn.
Hello. Oh, my God.
How many dogs have you got in there with you?
Oh, the puppies. Say hi, Emilio. Would you like some coffee?
I would love some coffee. Awesome.
Ah. So cool. I love this.
It's kinda like from a children's book, almost.
It's kinda picture... Oh, look at this. Randilyn.
I love you. This is amazing.
'We're packing up and moving on today,
'but before any of that, it's feeding time.'
They say they're ready to eat, too. Yeah, everyone's ready to eat.
Chickens, I'm not sure that that is your food.
This is for the puppies.
Hello. PANDORA BARKS
Hello. Good morning. Come and have that over there.
There you go.In the morning, it's pretty much a ruckus.
PIGEONS COOING
This is one of your big expenses, is it?Yeah.
My biggest expenses are feed and phone.
Probably $60 to $70 a month for dog food
and maybe 40 for the chicken food and pigeon food.
'Randilyn pays for this and any other costs
'by making leather goods, which she sells on her travels.'
Do you enjoy the responsibility of looking after so many animals?
Most of the time.
When does it get on top of you?
Erm, in the winter, I worry a little more,
you know, with weather and temperatures.
Even people in houses lose their animals, you know.
'It often drops well below freezing in this part of America.'
Three contented donkeys.
'So it's easy to see how caring for the animals she relies on
'for company and sustenance can weigh on Randilyn's mind.'
Does your camp always look the same...?
'It makes me curious about why she chose to live like this
'in the first place.'
So, have you ever had a kind of conventional job?
Yeah. I spent my early years as...
..a house person.
CHUCKLES
I've been a veterinary technician,
machine operator and an aircraft mechanic.
Wow.
So when you say veterinary technician, I see that.
You love animals.Yeah. But an aircraft technician?
Highly sophisticated, complex work. Yes. I can't...
I find that hard to see you in that environment.
It was a different life.
And in the aircraft industry, it was mainly...
I was always skilled with my hands and figuring things out.
So it was a stark contrast, but I've used that lifestyle a lot
to help make this lifestyle possible.
It's what gave me the ability to, like, build wagons, for instance.
But despite the fact that I was excelling in my job,
I struggled a lot with the pressures of, you know,
providing for children.
Not being home as much as I'd been when they were really little.
And just not feeling like I was giving,
you know, my children and my farm adequate time.
And I decided in late 2014, I just...
didn't want to keep chasing the rat race.
My son had moved out.
He'd come to age and wanted to go out and be a man.
And you have to kinda step back and let them do that as a parent.
As much as I wasn't really fond of it,
you know, you can't hold them back, so...
..empty nest syndrome kinda got me.
I'm not quite there yet, but my kids are just a few years away
and I'm already dreading it.
Yeah. It's hard. It's kinda...
part of what set me to travelling.
You know, when your kids come of age
and your entire world's been kind of centred on them
and trying to make a life for them,
and then you're like, "Wait, who am I?
"What have I been doing for the last 20 years?
"Do I even know any more?"
And I woke up one morning...
..and I just couldn't handle it any more.
So that's kinda the day that I decided I was going to do this.
I didn't really have a plan at all.
And got dropped off at a Walmart parking lot,
about 30 miles from where I was, with my dogs, a garden cart.
I didn't even have a tent, just a couple of tarps and a sleeping bag.
And the world was an open place, and I had nothing left behind me.
And you kinda just look forward to what can happen.
How far did you make it on that first day?
Two, maybe three miles. And where did you stay?
In a ditch between the highway and a saw mill.
Literally in a ditch? Yeah.
You know, when my family was trying to figure out what are you doing,
one of my aunt's just asked, you know,
"When was the last time you did something for yourself?"
And I was like, "When I was six in my stick fort."
This camp, this is your stick fort. This is my stick fort.
She's such a complex individual.
So kind of thoughtful and philosophical and full of surprises.
I always try not to judge a book by its cover,
but she's surprised me that she worked as an aircraft mechanic.
The empty nest syndrome was obviously huge.
But I think it's all about
how you cope with the pressures of modern life
that distinguish us one from the other.
And I've met a number of people who have tried to kinda cure
or treat a period of confusion with nomadism.
And she was able to embrace this extraordinary lifestyle.
Good boy.
'Randilyn visits her three adult children whenever she can.
'But with winter fast approaching, she's eager to head south.'
Bit different to packing up the car
with my children and dogs and things.
'Everything must slot into these wagons.'
Just set it right here on top of that bit feed there.
Make sure I got all the kitchen food.
'Somehow.' You can get the puppies.
Here you go.
And can you go inside? Oh, you've come out. Come on.
So we've got one donkey at the front.Huh-huh.
Where...? The other two at the side. Next donkey's gonna go here. Yep.
And the next donkey's gonna go back here. Yep. And the dogs?
And then we're gonna have a dog back here.
Wow.And then the other dog runs loose.
Runs loose?And then the little ones all go inside.
Goodness, you're giving me heart palpitations.
What about the rocking chair? Shall I bring it over?
Yes. Yes. Thank you.
Which way?We're gonna sit these two under here.
Like that? Yep. Yes. There we are.
You don't sit on this, do you? No.
'All the animals are in place. And suddenly, it clicks.
'It's an impressive set up,
'but there's still one piece of the jigsaw missing.'
That looks like everything but the pigeon coop.
Yes. I'm gonna have to have you probably help me with that one.
OK.It's a new addition, and going down a steep hill...
Am I being a donkey? Yeah.
LAUGHS
I'm very happy to do it, but if I wasn't with you, what would you do?
I'd wait till somebody come to help me. Oh, would you?
Yeah. You've just got to humble yourself sometimes.
I haven't seen many people passing through here.
That could be a long wait. Yeah. It could.
I might call somebody I know in the area.
I meet people. You'd be surprised.
There are lots of people in the UK that dislike donkeys
being used for any sort of manual work.
Yeah. Everybody's different.
Not say all donkeys like to work,
but this particular donkey likes this job.
And I know what signs to look for when something's too much.
I wouldn't wanna put him through anything
I wouldn't wanna go through. HE HUFFS
We about ready? OK.
'Wagons loaded, animals attached,
'pigeon-coop-puller in place...'
Forward. Let's roll.
SHE CLICKS TONGUE '..it's time to hit the open road.'
DOG BARKS
Good donk, donk, donk, donk, donk.
Easy forward.
Come on.
Cha-cha. Come on.
Come on. You got this, buddy. Come on.
HORN HONKS
This is quite something.
Cars coming past, slightly incredulous.
Don't think they know quite what has hit them.
I think I've seen a vison of my next few days, pulling pigeons.
CHUCKLES
Who'd have thought that, eh?
But Randilyn's kind of reading the road.
And it feels like we're kinda getting into a bit of a zone.
We'll be off these backroads soon, buddy.
It's like crossing Antarctica, but with pigeons.
Good job. You got it. You got it.
'The longer we walk, the more I settle into the rhythm.
'I've always found walking meditative.
'I've just never done it quite like this before.
'We've been walking along quiet backroads for about two hours.'
Easy.
'But the traffic is starting to pick up.'
So many things going through my mind right now,
one of which is that I didn't have pulling a cart of pigeons
on my bingo card today.
Good boy, Roadie.
I don't really like eating pigeons.
I don't like petting pigeons. I don't like killing pigeons.
And yet I'm dragging them up a US highway...
Good boy.
..behind a little caravan with donkeys and dogs.
HORN HONKS
Good boy. Forward. Wow.
Don't do this at home, boys and girls.
Come on, Ben.
'But just when I thought nothing could surprise me...'
Thanks.
'..Randilyn turns to go onto the actual highway.'
'I can't stop the convoy in the middle of the road
'to question the route,
'so I'm just following and trusting Randilyn.'
So, this is the slipway onto the highway.
Cars behind us. Trucks going.
Just when I thought I'd seen it all.
We're gonna go until I find somewhere wide enough to pull off.
OK. Forward.
Panny, back up. Come here. Mom needs you.
Er, Randilyn.
YELLS: Randilyn!
One of the dogs is off. Whoa.
Hey. Whoa. Stand. Hey. Come.
I see. Yeah, her clip broke.
You take this, and I'll go get it.
OK.
So, we're on a slipway.
PASSING CAR HORN BLARES
There's a big truck coming.
All right.
You good? Yeah. Big truck coming.
'I can't quite believe how calm Randilyn and the animals are.'
Panny. Come on.
'I have a friend who was struck and nearly killed
'on the side of an American highway.'
Come on.
'So, for me, the danger just feels uncomfortably close.'
You know, I've done some dangerous stuff.
This is... ridiculous.
Along a highway.
I... I'm really torn
cos I really admire what she's doing...
..but this just seems ridiculous.
And then I suppose the thing about Randilyn is
that she's trying to live in the past.
But we're in the future.
And, er... Wow.
For one of the first times in my life,
it feels a bit too much, really.
Ben. Closing in fast.
I'm just gonna try to pull over here soon, in this next exit.
OK.
'The next exit is about half a mile away.
'But before we can even reach it...
'..we're stopped.'
Stand.
EPIC MUSIC TRAIN HORN
Not your typical early morning camping view.
I've just spent the night in a tent outside a gas station in Missouri.
Last night was nuts.
Walking along the highway, rush hour,
trucks whooshing past just feet from us.
And then a police car came along.
I thought that was it. I was gonna end up in a cell.
And a big cheery face went, "Is everything OK?
"Can I help?" Do you need anything?"
And he basically just offered just to keep an eye on us
just while we walked that final distance
till we got off the highway.
It's just bizarre.
That's the only way to describe this life
because yesterdaym I saw the very wild side of Randilyn's life
in that slightly idyllic setting.
Now I am in a drainage ditch,
not probably dissimilar to where she spent her first night.
I thought I'd seen it all till last night, that's for sure.
Morning, Randilyn.
Knock, knock. Good morning.
Hey. How are you doing?
I'm doing all right. Is it nice and warm in there?
Yeah.
I'm... I'm fascinated by our interaction with the police,
cos I'm not gonna lie, I saw a police cell.
No. I've never been arrested. I've been doing this five years.
So that's... No, typically, they're there to help.
So what's your legal right with...?
So, the US Constitution kind of protects the right
for equine travel
cos that's kind of how this country was founded.
But you go 15 miles that way,
there's quite a heavy Amish population.
So, generally, people kinda know how to drive around wagons in this area.
It felt quite vulnerable out there.
Well, if you're not used to it, you know.
Sometimes, perspective is just something
that's different for different people.
To me, vehicles aren't all that safe of an answer, either.
But I'm kinda going two miles an hour
in something that people don't see every day.
So they're a little more aware of me on the road... OK.
..because not only is it a wagon, but this is a very bright one.
So what's the plan today? More highway?Yeah.
We're gonna be just going down a stretch of highway,
probably find somewhere to park off the side of it.
Let's get going.
Yeah. It'll help us warm up. Yeah.
RANDILYN LAUGHS
'There's a lot less to pack up this morning,
'and it isn't long before we're back on the road.'
Today, we're doing about nine miles along here.
It's not quite the rush hour of yesterday.
But it's noisy,
bits of gravel get flicked up.
And we've got cars and trucks
travelling at the national speed limit out here.
'I don't think I'll ever shake the inherent danger
'of travelling like this.
'But the longer we keep going,
'the more a kind of pace and momentum settles in.'
As Randilyn said, maybe I just need to get used to it.
'And yet, it doesn't take long
'before I'm brought sharply back to earth with a bump.'
We've now got a car on the hard shoulder just ahead of us.
I don't know what Randilyn's gonna do,
whether she's just gonna edge out into the road
or try to get the car to move.
These are the really, really dangerous moments.
'The car is abandoned, so we've no choice.
'We have to go into the road and around it.'
Ready? CALLS:Let's roll!
Oh, my God.
My heart is racing.
Wow. It's dangerous.
Already been foolhardy.
But this is what Randilyn does.
'We stop for a break, and a moment for me to settle myself.'
Just a typical... typical day? Yeah, pretty much.
You don't get scared? No.
RANDILYN LAUGHS
I find it quite nerve-wracking, but I'm trusting you.
I don't trust the drivers, though.
I do. It's a good point.
It is a good point. Yes, you are...
Randilyn, you are...
you're challenging me and testing me today.
'We carry on...
'..shovelling road kill out of the way as we go,
'until we finally reach a stretch with enough space
'for all the animals and wagons to pull aside.
'The process of unpacking and feeding starts all over again.
'But, thankfully, Randilyn seems happy
'to stay put here for the next couple of days.'
What percentage of your movement is on highways like this?
This season, it's gonna be a lot
because we're trying to get south and we're trying to get there quick.
I still find it difficult to find enjoyment
as big trucks and lorries are going past.
Yeah. I've gotten to where I kinda zone out all this.
It's kinda like when you live in the city
and you gotta get used to all the noise.
This is the only city I live in. SHE LAUGHS
'Randilyn has compared this way of life to the Amish, who live nearby.'
But while they're part of a community,
she's doing this entirely on her own.
Having spent a little bit of time walking with you,
it feels like this would be easier with someone else.
It would definitely be easier with someone else.
It's a lot of work by myself.
Do you enjoy the company of others? I do.
When I originally got started, I was much more of an introvert.
Why is it, do you think, that you felt introverted or shy?
I had had some things happen in my childhood.
And it was, you know,
something that had happened while I was in child care,
one of those things, you know,
that we all wish never to happen to our children.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry that happened to you. Do...?
Do you talk about it? Have you talked about it?
You know, I've talked to quite a few people about it over the years,
but when I travel, it's...
You know, I'm sometimes kind of a therapy for people.
They'll tell me things they don't tell other people, you know?
Sorry. Don't worry.
Why...? Is that the emotion...?
No, it's the emotion attached with another person being hurt
almost hurts me more sometimes,
thinking about the things people go through.
Does that make it worth it for you,
knowing that they can open up to you?
Well, a lot of people really feel they can open up,
and so it gives them a shoulder to cry on.
Big part of my journey has become being there for a lot of people.
I'm just there to give them a hug and have somebody to listen to them.
I try not to give too much advice. Mm-hm.
Do I get a roadside hug? LAUGHING:Yes.
Perpetual movement is one of the great healers.
Not many people are talking about it
because it's quite a complicated way to choose to live.
Most of us need bricks and mortar.
We need stability in our lives.
But there are plenty of people here in the United States
and all around the world who have been able to escape,
break the manacles of an unhappy life and find happiness.
I think what's really beautiful about Randilyn's story
is that what started as necessity has now become pure lifestyle.
I've got a pretty good idea there might be some over here,
looking at some of these trees.
These things? Yeah.
Yeah, actually. That's exactly what...
So, these are hickory nuts here. Nice. Mm-hm.
And these are a really sweet nut that have a lot of different uses,
somewhat like a walnut.
Is foraging a big part of your life?
I'd say over the years,
I've gotten, maybe, a little more wild,
or as some people say, feral.
It's hard to go back to some societal norms
when you've spent this much time
just kind of living in your own authenticity.
I'd say you are pretty wild.
Is there another level to go, though?
Definitely. I'd like to see this go more primitive a little bit.
That's the optimal goal.
They're small pieces, but they're really tasty.
And it doesn't take much to add to many meals. Yeah.
Do you like thinking back to how people once lived and did stuff?
I really do because I think it's important to, like,
who we are as humans to go back sometimes
because with so much convenience,
we forget how to use our brains and do things, you know?
This, like, teaches me how to go slower,
to slow down, to not just bust through everything,
you know, and just focus.
People do a lot of things, and they're just reactionary.
They're not really paying attention...
..taking it all in.
I'm wondering about your lifestyle, though, generally.
Are you a prisoner to this lifestyle now,
in that is there any way back?
Well, I could sell all these things and probably buy a really nice car,
maybe get into an apartment, but...
..I don't see that happening any time soon.
Could you stop travelling and talking to people that easily?
It would be really hard to just go home and sit in an office,
wouldn't it?
It's a very good point. LAUGHING:You'd be, like, "Nah."
So, do you think maybe you're kind of starting
to get an understanding of why I choose to do this?
Randilyn, I get almost every aspect of your lifestyle.
I think the thing I still find quite hard is
that almost everything you do is like the dream lifestyle in my book.
The only thing...
..that I'm still struggling with is this,
that we're on the side of a highway, but what I do understand
is that it's a means to an end, that if you want to live this lifestyle
and be able to find land to graze your animals,
you're limited to the land on which you are permitted.
It's public or unpermitted.
So I do get it, but I still...
I'm still gonna worry about you. Sorry.
I've got a lot of moms all over the country,
a lot of little old ladies worried about me.
Well, you can now add a 52-year-old Brit on the worry list.
We'll all be back at our homes worrying about you.
But maybe the karma of all that worry will keep you safe.
EPIC MUSIC
I'm in Missouri, learning how Randilyn does everyday tasks...
..while parked up on the side of a highway.
I've put the water on the boil, like you asked.
What are we cooking this time? We're not cooking.
You kinda look like you need to wash up, honestly.
Huh? Well, this is bentonite clay.
Yeah?I don't use shampoo or any of those things.
They're bad for the environment and people.
You use clay? Yes. It's a powderised clay.
So, you're just gonna dust this in your hair while it's dry. Yeah.
And then you're just gonna simply rinse it out. And that's all.
This is how, like, native and indigenous tribes
have been doing it for thousands of years.
They take clay, wash their hair. Mm-hm.
It's a normal thing.
I imagine they weren't doing it on the side of a highway
with tons of cars streaming past?
You've gotta get the experience. Yeah, this is...
So, if you actually have to wash,
would you say that's one of the hardest things
about being on the road? Um... Yes and no.
Honestly, there's a lot of a friendly people,
and, you know, if I just say I don't wanna be a dirty person,
most people are happy to have me not smell, I think, so...
Are you saying people will invite you to use their...
their bathrooms, their showers? Yes.
Yes, I've actually been in thousands of bathrooms across the country.
Have you? So that really shows the generosity of people.
Yeah.
'I've found Randilyn to be very softly spoken at times.'
Are you gonna do the honours? Yes, sir.
'But being welcomed into so many people's homes
'tells me she's a lot more outgoing
'than her reserved nature might suggest.'
So, that's clay. Ooh, there's loads of it!
Powder... It's not really a lot. That was less than a teaspoon.
It's just very, very fine.
I think that's OK. Yeah.
And you'll just rinse your hair off. Just rinse it off? Mm-hm.
Just rinse it out. Is the clay not gonna set in my hair?
No. That's why you're gonna rinse it.
'It's a little too cold to strip off for a full wash,
'not that I'd want to in a place this exposed.'
Thank you.
Even making leather pouches to sell is something Randilyn has to do
under the gaze of passing drivers.
OK. Some of these dyes and things to...
That's what I made the little flower with here.
So you just push that onto the leather?
You take it, and you'll just... That's clever.
..hammer it, and you gotta make sure you hammer it real good around
cos this kinda wiggles.
'With so much of her life on show,
'I can't help wondering what her family think of all this.'
I'm curious to know a little bit more about your... your children.
What do they make of... of your lifestyle?
Well, "Mom is eccentric," they'd probably say.
What's your relationship with them now?
I'm pretty close with them.
What did the kids think when you first moved away five years ago?
Were they resentful?
They weren't really too upset
because any time they wanted me to come back, I'd come back.
They know they can call on me.
They come to me with the things they can't tell everyone else, you know?
Could you ever imagine a time when any of your kids
might embrace a lifestyle like yours now?
Um, well, not too long ago,
my youngest daughter actually asked me
how much a tiny home would cost to build.
And then my middle daughter has been more cautious
of what she's eating and what she's taking in.
So I'd say they've definitely had a lot of good things come from it.
It's just in the day and age we live in,
things like that are kind of ostracised
and people don't understand it.
And so it's just taken a while for everybody to see
that I wasn't gonna kill myself, I wasn't gonna...
You know, they... they imagined me being eaten in the woods by a bear
or, you know, when I first started travelling the highway.
I didn't come from a farm background.
I was a girl from the suburbs,
so when I first said I was getting driving horses
and donkeys and different things, they were, like...
.."What are you doing?"
But I've not had any big incidents.
Whether or not people agree with the risks Randilyn takes,
I do know there are very few who could continually do what she does,
myself included.
Verdict? They're all a bit wonky, but I've done that on purpose.
It looks great. Yeah?
'And I've no doubt
'that there's still a lot more to discover about my nomadic friend.
'After all,
'I've only walked a few miles on the highway of her remarkable life.'
This is a one-off,
and it's an extraordinary world to spend a bit of time in
because everything's going on around us,
but for these few days, I've been in Randilyn's world.
It's all about the journey. There is no destination.
She's just trying to make the most of every single step
that she and her animals take.
And there's something really admirable about that.
This is not for everyone.
But there are other people who may have experienced
some of the same things that Randilyn has experienced.
Maybe other people have experienced the empty nest syndrome,
who are feeling that their lives are a little bit empty.
I might not recommend you take to the motorways,
but maybe you just want to shake up your life a little bit
like Randilyn.
'Randilyn is calling in a friend
'to help haul the spare wagon until her other donkey's trained up...'
Goodbye, my loves. Look after yourselves. Stay safe.
'..which means, for now,
'my days of dragging pigeons across Missouri have come to an end.'
Oh, Pandora. Goodbye. Look after yourself.
Randilyn.
So nice to meet you, Ben.
I'm not gonna be forgetting this in a rush.
Yeah, I don't imagine so.
This has been an unforgettable experience.
Look after yourself.
I don't need to say that, and I hope that doesn't sound condescending.
And keep doing what you're doing. You are an inspiring individual.
Thank you.
Maybe I'll bump into you on some highway in the future.
Yeah? I'll look out for the legendary Randilyn.
Would be nice. I'd like to see you again someday.
Something tells me this is not the last time we'll meet.
There's Emilio there. Yes.
CALLS:Emilio. Bye, Emilio. Keep an eye on her.
Take care. Bye.