Widow goes on life-changing trip after husband and mum tragically die
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A courageous widow took a £10k solo backpacking adventure to find solace after a trio of personal tragedies. Judy Condie, 63, faced the heartache of losing her husband Richard, with whom she spent 44 years, to cancer following an 8-year-long fight, just months after her mum Mary's death – experiences that left her feeling "empty".
To add to her sorrow, her beloved eight year old dog Jet also passed away, and with the bleak prospect of enduring her first lonely winter in England, she tapped into her savings for a five-month escape to Australia and New Zealand as a way to process her loss.
Crafting her travel plans while confronting the terminal nature of Richard's illness, Judy was adamant she "couldn't just wait for him to pass away and wonder what to do after". With nothing but a light 6lb backpack, she hung up her work hat, caught a flight to Australia in August 2023 to be with her daughter, and embarked on a six-month trek across the west coast of Australia and New Zealand.
Her journey, filled with encounters and tale-telling, served to celebrate Richard's memory. Exploring idyllic locations like Rottnest Island's sandy stretches, the lively streets of Adelaide, Melbourne's urban buzz, Surfers Paradise's leisure spots, the vibrant culture of Byron Bay, and the artistic milieu of Tasmania's museums, Judy found solace and inspiration. During her travels, she chronicled her journey through grief in a diary, leading her to author a book reflecting her poignant narrative.
Judy, from Surrey, a retired welfare manager at a nursing home, shared her heartrending experience: "The plan, it was a very rough idea, but I couldn't just wait for him to pass away and wonder what to do with myself — I had to do something to get away and grieve.
