Donkeys have a pleasant walking pace, love the work and can easily live off the grass that grows on the sides of the road without having to carry extra feed. They make great companions and are tough and hardy. They need a special pack saddle because a horse saddle doesn't fit them properly and can hurt their backs. She outlines how to make a donkey pack saddle in her book ('Rowans guide to packing with donkeys', available online from http://www.lulu.com/
“Isn't it dangerous”, I ask her, and she replies that you have to be careful and she would prefer to travel with someone else, but she hasn't been able to convince anyone to give up their televisions and come with her. As long as you are aware of your environment and the people around you, and don't do anything stupid, you should be fine, mentioning offhand that she has had a couple of small scares over the years.
It is a great and cheap lifestyle, no bills, showering, reading a newspaper and surfing the net whenever you come to a town to get supplies, but having to wash in a bucket at other times. She says that she really doesn't miss out on much and the peace and being outdoors fully makes up for any lack of modern comforts.
She is about to give up this lifestyle though, she mentions, to do some other things with her life. It has been good but she would like to try something else with her life. She plans to open a t-shirt and gift printing shop in a small town.
Rowan can be contacted at 45 Russell st, Casterton, Vic, 3311, Australia. Her donkey packing book (and a few more of her books) is available at www.lulu.com/
