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00:00Do you trust me? Do you trust me?
00:02And we're off.
00:04Imagine starting your life all over again.
00:06Where is Ben? I'm needed.
00:08Ben, you're needed.
00:10Leaving behind everything you know.
00:12Just a bicycle, suitcase, no money. That's all I had.
00:16For something completely different.
00:18Number nine, let me take this off. Number nine. Number nine. Number nine.
00:22I'm Ben Fogel, and over the next few weeks,
00:25I'm going to live with the incredible people who've done just that.
00:29I'm a born fighter, and that's what I do get a kick out of.
00:33For a long time, I thought I was stupid.
00:36But I'm a good salesperson, and I'm selling this mountain hard.
00:40In some of the most remote places on Earth.
00:43There is no restaurants, there is no bars, there is no nothing.
00:47You know, we didn't think that we were going to come up here
00:49and not see humans for three to four months at a time.
00:52And see what it takes to live a new life in the wild.
01:00That is a quick way to take down a tree.
01:08This week, I'm meeting Randalin.
01:10Do you love animals?
01:12Yes, my boy.
01:13An intriguing wild woman on a perpetual journey across America.
01:17I am charting unknown territories.
01:20This will be the first time on my wild adventures
01:23that I'll be walking the open road myself.
01:25Good boy.
01:27Where I'll learn how Randalin has tailor-made her bespoke nomadic life.
01:30So this is the main living quarters.
01:32And I sleep in here.
01:34Wow.
01:35While also experiencing the perils that come with it.
01:39You know, I've done some dangerous stuff.
01:42This is ridiculous.
01:50I'm venturing nearly 4,500 miles across the Atlantic Ocean
01:55to the landlocked state of Missouri.
02:00Like many of its neighbours, Missouri is a land of striking contrasts,
02:05bustling cities set against vast wilderness.
02:11It's a big state, roughly the size of England and Wales combined.
02:15But while those countries pack in around 1,000 people to every square mile,
02:20here it's closer to 90 per square mile.
02:24Leaving plenty of space to live as you like.
02:31This is the moment at which I start to get a little bit nervous
02:34because I'm just on the cusp, on the boundary of entering her world.
02:39I know very little about Randalin.
02:41All I know is that she lives a nomadic life.
02:45Over the years I've visited people that live in camper vans,
02:48cars, lorries, buses, canal boats.
02:52So I'm anticipating her to have some mode of transport.
02:57But what that is, I have no idea.
03:02Expect the unexpected.
03:04That's what I've learnt.
03:06My instructions are to follow this road
03:08and then onto a path that leads into a woodland
03:13where Randalin is parked up.
03:20This has to be her.
03:23Randalin?
03:26Hello.
03:29Wow.
03:31Hi, Randalin.
03:32I'm Ben, so nice to meet you.
03:34Nice to meet you.
03:35Who's this?
03:36This is Pandora.
03:38Hi, Pandora.
03:39She's kind of the welcome committee around here.
03:41Wow, I don't really know where to be.
03:43Who's this?
03:44So this is Roadhouse.
03:46He gets friendlier the more you touch him.
03:49Before you know it, he'll be following you around.
03:51Oh, so sweet.
03:52Can I have a little look around your camp?
03:54Yes, yes, sir.
03:55Oh, my God.
03:56Oh, my God.
03:59Oh, my God.
03:5940-year-old Randalin grew up in suburban Missouri.
04:03After college, she worked in a number of jobs
04:06while raising her three children.
04:08But when they eventually flew the nest,
04:11Randalin felt lost.
04:13Unsure of what came next,
04:15she decided to simply walk across the country
04:18with no fixed destination in mind.
04:21Five years on from that life-changing decision,
04:23she's still on the move,
04:25but with a donkey-pulled wagon.
04:27Among other things...
04:34This is quite something.
04:36So, Helen, have we got pigeons in here?
04:38Yes, there's pigeons all over, really.
04:42Friends?
04:43Uh, friends and food.
04:44Friends and food.
04:47So, you've talked me through all of this.
04:49This is amazing.
04:49So colorful.
04:50It's a little bit messy today.
04:52We've had a lot of rain this week,
04:53but I actually sleep in here.
04:56Everything goes in here while we're moving.
04:58This is kind of how I've started to give myself
05:01a little freedom away from debt
05:03and, you know, the crazy world
05:06that everybody's living in.
05:09It might be crazy out there,
05:11but right now I'm trying to make sense of this reality.
05:15Dogs, chickens, pigeons, donkeys.
05:21So, this is your main...
05:23Main living quarters, too.
05:24Oh, there's another dog in here.
05:26Yeah, I have six dogs.
05:27Six dogs.
05:28Who's guarding your bed right now?
05:30This is Blessin'.
05:30She's a little shy,
05:31but she's the wagon guardian.
05:33She was born to the wagon life.
05:35She keeps anybody out of the way.
05:37And we have another little chihuahua there.
05:39He loves everyone.
05:40That's Emilio.
05:41Yeah.
05:42Wood-burning stove, is that where you cook?
05:44Yes.
05:44Or is that just for heating?
05:45For heating, it's for cooking.
05:47I also have a grill and things like that.
05:50A little outdoor camp.
05:51Yes, sir.
05:51So, I can see kitchen, bedroom, storage, bathroom?
05:57It kind of depends.
05:59Sometimes...
06:01Or just putting a tarp around the base of the wagon,
06:04going under there.
06:06You just got to get creative.
06:09Randallin lives with very few modern conveniences,
06:12except for a mobile phone and a solar charger
06:15that keep her connected.
06:18How would you describe this and your lifestyle?
06:22Basically, a modern-day pioneer, I'd say.
06:25Very simple living and charting unknown territories
06:28and seeing what's out there.
06:32Yeah.
06:35Wow.
06:39I have so many questions,
06:42but it's more about logistics, really,
06:46because I've never really seen this kind of set-up.
06:50It's kind of a cross between a pioneer
06:51and a gypsy lifestyle in the UK.
06:56And what I can't even begin to imagine
06:59is how she moves all of this
07:03on sometimes a daily basis.
07:10You obviously love animals.
07:12Yes, yes.
07:13He's my boy.
07:15See, I do all the work.
07:16I couldn't do it without me.
07:18I carry all this stuff.
07:19He's loving that.
07:21I know you don't ever have a particular plan,
07:23so I'm always wary of being that person
07:26who says, what are we going to do now?
07:28Well, um, so we've got to do dinner tonight.
07:31Yeah.
07:31And that involves, unfortunately, pigeons.
07:34Mm-hmm.
07:35I think I might leave you to the dispatching yourself.
07:38Oh, I understand.
07:39While I still eat meat,
07:40I think it's more ethical
07:41than just going to the grocery store.
07:44And, yeah, you never have to look at it,
07:46and you don't have to face it,
07:47but are you putting other things through a hard life
07:51so that you can feel better about something?
07:54That's where I'm at with it.
07:56So I try to make sure I'm aware of what I'm eating
07:59and how it's living, if I can.
08:03I don't eat much meat these days,
08:06but I admire how Randalline takes responsibility
08:09for the animals she consumes,
08:11while also sourcing birds that have been raised outdoors.
08:15Okay.
08:17Come on, baby.
08:18Who taught you how to dispatch of a pigeon?
08:21No one.
08:22I learned 13 years ago
08:24how to butcher a chicken from YouTube.
08:30And so I've found the fastest way
08:33is usually to just cut their heads off.
08:36It's a lot less suffering.
08:38I don't want them to suffer is my main thing.
08:42Do you remember the first time you did it?
08:45Yeah, you remember every time you do it.
08:53I would offer to help,
08:55but I think I'll be more of a hindrance.
08:56You're making fast work of these birds.
08:59Yeah, they're not too hard to process.
09:02I'm beginning to understand
09:03by dragging the little carts with your pigeons,
09:08that's your form of refrigeration,
09:10keeping them alive.
09:11Yes.
09:12And just dispatching them when you need them.
09:16Yes.
09:20It looks good.
09:22The older I get,
09:24the more squeamish I've become about killing animals.
09:27But there's an undeniably organic feel
09:30to the lifestyle Randalline has created.
09:34There you go.
09:37Pandora, can I sit on your seat for a little bit?
09:39And this looks incredible.
09:43Smell is amazing.
09:52Wow.
09:54It's really good.
09:57Is cooking something you actually enjoy?
09:59Yes, I do.
10:00I like to cook for people, especially.
10:02Honestly, when it's just me,
10:04I eat snack foods a lot.
10:06Or I cook a meal,
10:07but it lasts me like three days.
10:09Mm-hmm.
10:10As much as I'm busy,
10:11especially when I move every day,
10:14but I've tried to make a system
10:15to where I can kind of enjoy
10:16a little bit of time,
10:20because the whole point of this lifestyle
10:22is to slow down.
10:30This is definitely not what I was anticipating.
10:36She's very philosophical and thoughtful,
10:39and she is a very chilled individual
10:44that I feel really comfortable around.
10:46But I don't think anything can quite prepare you
10:49for how unusual her choice of lifestyle is.
11:06It's my first morning in the woodlands of Missouri.
11:10Morning, donkeys.
11:12Hello.
11:13I'm here with Randall Lynn,
11:15a self-professed modern-day pioneer...
11:17Good morning.
11:18..who roams the country
11:19with an assortment of wagons and animals.
11:22Hi, Randall Lynn.
11:25Hello.
11:25Oh, look at that.
11:27How many dogs have you got in there with you?
11:29Oh, the puppies.
11:30Say hi, Amelia.
11:32Would you like some coffee?
11:33I'd love some coffee.
11:34Awesome.
11:35So cool.
11:36I love this.
11:37It's kind of like from a children's book, almost.
11:41It's kind of picture...
11:42Oh, look at this.
11:43Randall Lynn, I love you.
11:45This is amazing.
11:48We're packing up and moving on today,
11:50but before any of that,
11:52it's feeding time.
11:55They say they're ready to eat, too.
11:57Yeah, everyone's ready to eat.
11:58Mm-hmm.
12:01Chickens, I'm not sure that that is your food.
12:05This is for the puppies.
12:07Hello.
12:08Hello.
12:09Good morning.
12:10Come and have that over there.
12:11There you go.
12:11In the morning, it's pretty much a ruckus.
12:16This is one of your big expenses, is it?
12:19Yeah, my biggest expenses are feed and phone.
12:22Probably $60 to $70 a month for dog food
12:27and maybe $40 for the chicken food and pigeon food.
12:31Randall Lynn pays for this and any other costs
12:34by making leather goods, which she sells on her travels.
12:38Do you enjoy the responsibility of looking after so many animals?
12:42Most of the time.
12:43When does it get on top of you?
12:44Um, in the winter, I worry a little more, you know,
12:48with weather and temperatures.
12:49Even people in houses lose animals, you know.
12:52It often drops well below freezing in this part of America.
12:55Three contented donkeys.
12:57So it's easy to see how caring for the animals
12:59she relies on for company and sustenance
13:01could weigh on Randall Lynn's mind.
13:05It makes me curious about why she chose
13:07to live like this in the first place.
13:11So have you ever had a kind of conventional job?
13:15Yeah.
13:16I spent my early years as a house person.
13:24I've been a veterinary technician,
13:26machine operator and an aircraft mechanic.
13:29So when you say veterinary technician,
13:30I see that.
13:32You love animals.
13:33Yeah.
13:34But an aircraft technician,
13:37highly sophisticated, complex work?
13:40Yes.
13:41I find that hard to see you in that environment.
13:45It was a different life.
13:47And in the aircraft industry,
13:49it was mainly, I was always skilled with my hands
13:51in figuring things out.
13:53So it was a stark contrast.
13:55But I've used that lifestyle a lot
13:58to help make this lifestyle possible.
14:01It's what gave me the ability
14:02to like build wagons, for instance.
14:04But despite the fact that I was excelling in my job,
14:07I struggled a lot with the pressures of,
14:10you know, providing for children,
14:12not being home as much as I'd been
14:15when they were really little.
14:16And just not feeling like I was giving, you know,
14:21my children and my farm adequate time.
14:24And I decided in late 2014,
14:28I just didn't want to keep chasing the rat race.
14:32My son had moved out.
14:34He had come to age and wanted to go out and be a man.
14:37And you have to kind of step back
14:40and let them do that as a parent.
14:42As much as I wasn't really fond of it,
14:45you know, you can't hold them back.
14:47So empty nest syndrome kind of got me.
14:51I'm not quite there yet,
14:53but my kids are just a few years away
14:54and I'm already dreading it.
14:57Yeah, it's hard.
14:59That's kind of part of what sent me into traveling.
15:03You know, when your kids come of age
15:05and your entire world's been kind of centered on them
15:08and trying to make a life for them.
15:11And then you're like, wait, who am I?
15:14What have I been doing for the last 20 years?
15:16Do I even know anymore?
15:18And I woke up one morning
15:22and I just, I couldn't handle it anymore.
15:26So that's kind of the day that I decided
15:29I was going to do this.
15:31I didn't really have a plan at all.
15:33And I got dropped off in a Walmart parking lot
15:38about 30 miles from where I was
15:40with my dogs and a garden cart.
15:43I didn't even have a tent,
15:45just a couple of tarps and a sleeping bag.
15:48And the world was an open place
15:50and I had nothing left behind me.
15:54And you kind of just look forward to what can happen.
15:57How far did you make it on that first day?
16:00Two, maybe three miles.
16:02And where did you stay?
16:04In a ditch, between the highway and a sawmill.
16:08Literally in a ditch?
16:10Yeah.
16:11You know, when my family was trying to figure out
16:13what are you doing,
16:15one of my aunts just asked, you know,
16:17when was the last time you did something for yourself?
16:19And I was like, when I was six, in my stick fort.
16:25This camp, this is your stick fort.
16:29This is my stick fort.
16:33She's such a complex individual.
16:38So kind of thoughtful and philosophical
16:41and full of surprises.
16:43I always try not to judge a book by its cover,
16:46but she surprised me that she worked as an aircraft mechanic.
16:52The empty nest syndrome was obviously huge,
16:55but I think it's all about how you cope
16:58with the pressures of modern life
17:00that distinguish us one from the other.
17:03And I've met a number of people
17:05who have tried to kind of cure
17:09or treat a period of confusion
17:14with nomadism.
17:15And she was able to embrace this extraordinary lifestyle.
17:19Oh, good boy.
17:24Randalin visits her three adult children whenever she can.
17:28But with winter fast approaching,
17:30she's eager to head south.
17:33It's a bit different to packing up the car
17:36with my children and dogs and things.
17:38Everything must slot into these wagons.
17:40Just set it right here on top of that.
17:42I've got puppies there.
17:43I'm sure I've got all the kitchen beds.
17:45Somehow.
17:46You can get the puppies.
17:51And can you go inside?
17:52Oh, will you come out?
17:58So we've got one donkey at the front.
18:01Uh-huh.
18:02Where are the other two donkeys at the side?
18:03The next donkey's going to go here.
18:04Yeah.
18:05And the next donkey's going to go back here.
18:07Yeah.
18:08And we're going to have a dog back here.
18:11Wow.
18:12And then the other dog runs loose.
18:14Runs loose?
18:15And then the little ones all go inside.
18:17Goodness, you're giving me heart palpitations.
18:20What about the rocking chair?
18:21Should I bring it over?
18:22Yes.
18:22Yes.
18:24We're going to slip these two under here.
18:26Like that?
18:27Yeah.
18:28Yes.
18:29There we go.
18:29You don't sit on this, do you?
18:30No.
18:33All the animals are in place.
18:36And suddenly, it clicks.
18:40It's an impressive setup.
18:42But there's still one piece of the jigsaw missing.
18:45That looks like everything but the pigeon coop.
18:49Yes.
18:50I'm going to have to have you probably help me with that one.
18:53Okay.
18:54It's a new addition and going down a steep hill.
18:56Am I being a donkey?
18:57Yeah.
18:59Everybody works around here.
19:01I'm very happy to do it.
19:02But if I wasn't with you, what would you do?
19:04I'd wait until somebody come to help me.
19:05Oh, would you?
19:06Really?
19:06Yeah.
19:06You just got to humble yourself sometimes.
19:08I haven't seen many people passing through here.
19:10That could be a long wait.
19:11Yeah.
19:12It could.
19:13I might call somebody I know in the area.
19:15I meet people.
19:16You'd be surprised.
19:18There are lots of people in the UK that dislike donkeys being used for any sort of manual work.
19:25Yeah.
19:27Everybody's different.
19:28Not say all donkeys like to work.
19:29But this particular donkey likes his job.
19:32And I know what signs to look for when something's too much.
19:36I wouldn't want to put him through anything I wouldn't want to go through.
19:40Are we about ready?
19:42Okay.
19:43Wagons loaded.
19:45Animals attached.
19:46All right.
19:47Pigeon coo puller in place.
19:49Forward.
19:49Let's roll.
19:51It's time to hit the open road.
19:55Good boy.
20:00Good.
20:01Dunk, dunk, dunk, dunk, dunk.
20:06Easy forward.
20:09Come on.
20:10Try it, try it.
20:12Come on.
20:14Come on.
20:15You got this, bud.
20:16Come on.
20:24It's quite something.
20:26Cars coming past.
20:28Slightly incredulous.
20:30They know quite what has hit them.
20:33I think I've seen a vision of my next few days pulling pigeons.
20:40Who'd have thought that, eh?
20:43But Randalin's kind of reading the road.
20:46And it feels like we're kind of getting into a bit of a zone.
20:55We'll be off these back roads soon, buddy.
20:59It's like crossing Antarctica, but with pigeons.
21:09The longer we walk, the more I settle into the rhythm.
21:14I've always found walking meditative.
21:18I've just never done it quite like this before.
21:28We've been walking along quiet back roads for about two hours.
21:32Easy.
21:33But the traffic is starting to pick up.
21:37So many things going through my mind right now.
21:39One of which is that I didn't have pulling a cast of pigeons on my bingo card today.
21:46Good boy, Rody.
21:47I don't really like eating pigeons.
21:49I don't like petting pigeons.
21:51I don't like killing pigeons.
21:55And yet I'm dragging them up a US highway behind a little caravan of donkeys and dogs.
22:05Wow.
22:07Don't do this at home, boys and girls.
22:11But just when I thought nothing could surprise me...
22:14Thanks.
22:15Randalin turns to go onto the actual highway.
22:20I can't stop the convoy in the middle of the road to question the route.
22:22So I'm just following and trusting Randalin.
22:28So this is the slipway onto the highway.
22:32Cars behind us, trucks going.
22:36Just when I thought I'd seen it all.
22:40We're going to go until I find somewhere wide enough to pull off.
22:43Okay.
22:44Forward.
22:46Fanny, back up.
22:47Come here.
22:47Mom needs you.
22:50Randalin.
22:52Randalin!
22:53One of the dogs is off.
22:55Whoa!
22:57Hey, whoa, Stan.
22:58Hey, Rana.
22:59Rana, come.
23:01I see.
23:02Yeah, her clip broke.
23:03You take this and I'll go get it.
23:06Okay.
23:08So we're on a slipway.
23:13There's a big truck coming.
23:16All right.
23:17You good?
23:18Yeah.
23:19Big truck coming.
23:19Yep.
23:27I can't quite believe how calm Randalin and animals are.
23:31Rana, come on.
23:33I have a friend who was struck and nearly killed on the side of an American highway.
23:39Come on.
23:39So for me, the danger just feels uncomfortably close.
23:48You know, I've done some dangerous stuff.
23:51Rana, come on.
23:52This is ridiculous.
23:54Along a highway.
23:58I'm really torn because I really admire what she's doing.
24:02But this just seems ridiculous.
24:07And then I suppose the thing about Randalin is that she's trying to live in the past or in the
24:16future.
24:18And, uh, wow.
24:26For one of the first times in my life, it feels a bit too much, really.
24:33Ben, it's closing in fast.
24:36I'm just going to try to pull over here soon.
24:38To this next exit.
24:40Okay.
24:41The next exit is about half a mile away.
24:47But before we can even reach it, we're stopped.
24:54Stand!
25:13Not your typical, uh, early morning camping view.
25:18I've just spent the night in a tent outside a gas station in Missouri.
25:27Last night was nuts.
25:29Walking along the highway.
25:31Rush hour.
25:33Trucks whooshing past.
25:35Just feet from us.
25:37And then a police car came along.
25:40I thought that was it.
25:41I was going to end up in a cell.
25:43And a big cheery face went,
25:45Is everything okay?
25:47Can I help?
25:48Do you need anything?
25:49And he basically just offered just to keep an eye on us
25:53just while we walked that final distance
25:55till we got off the highway.
25:57It's just bizarre.
25:59That's the only way to describe this life.
26:01Because yesterday I saw the very wild side of, uh, Randalyn's life
26:07in that slightly idyllic setting.
26:10Now I am in a drainage ditch
26:13not probably dissimilar to where she spent her first night.
26:18I thought I'd seen it all till last night.
26:19That's for sure.
26:23Morning, Randalyn.
26:25Knock, knock.
26:26Good morning.
26:27Hey, how are you doing?
26:28I'm doing all right.
26:29Is it nice and warm in there?
26:30Yeah.
26:32Yeah.
26:34I'm fascinated by our interaction with the police
26:38because I'm not going to lie, I saw a police cell.
26:41No, I've never been arrested.
26:43I've been doing this five years.
26:45So that's, no, typically they're there to help.
26:47So what's your legal right with, uh...
26:49Well, so the U.S. Constitution, um,
26:51kind of protects the right for equine travels.
26:54That's kind of how this country was founded.
26:56But you go 15 miles that way,
26:59there's quite a heavy Amish population.
27:02So generally people kind of know
27:04how to drive around wagons in this area.
27:07It felt quite vulnerable out there.
27:10Well, if you're not used to it, you know,
27:12sometimes perspective is just something
27:15that's different for different people.
27:18To me, vehicles aren't all that safe of an answer either.
27:22But I'm kind of going two miles an hour
27:25in something that people don't see every day.
27:28So they're a little more aware of me on the road
27:30because not only is it a wagon,
27:32but this is a very bright one.
27:34So what's the plan today? More highway?
27:36Yeah, we're going to be just going down a stretch of highway,
27:39probably find somewhere to park off the side of it.
27:41Let's get going.
27:43Yeah, it'll help us warm up.
27:44Yeah.
27:47There's a lot less to pack up this morning,
27:49and it isn't long before we're back on the road.
27:55Today, we're doing about nine miles along here.
27:59It's not quite the rush hour of yesterday,
28:03but it's noisy.
28:06Bits of gravel get flicked up,
28:09and we've got cars and trucks
28:11travelling at the national speed limit out here.
28:16I don't think I'll ever shake the inherent danger
28:19of travelling like this.
28:21But the longer we keep going,
28:23the more a kind of pace and momentum settles in.
28:27As Randall Lynn said,
28:29maybe I just need to get used to it.
28:35And yet, it doesn't take long
28:37before I'm brought sharply back to earth with a bump.
28:43We've now got a car on the hard shoulder just ahead of us.
28:46I don't know what Randall Lynn's going to do,
28:47whether she's just going to edge out into the road
28:52or try to get the car to move.
28:55These are the really, really dangerous moments.
29:02The car is abandoned,
29:04so we've no choice.
29:06We have to go into the road and around it.
29:09Ready?
29:10Let's roll!
29:15Oh, my God.
29:17My heart is racing.
29:22Wow.
29:23It's dangerous.
29:26Incredibly foolhardy.
29:28But this is what Randall Lynn does.
29:32We stop for a break
29:34and a moment for me to settle myself.
29:38Is this a typical day?
29:40Yeah, pretty much.
29:42You don't get scared?
29:43No.
29:45I find it quite nerve-wracking,
29:47but I'm trusting you.
29:48I don't trust the drivers, though.
29:51I do get in.
29:52I do?
29:53It's a good point.
29:54It is a good point.
29:55I think it's just the place to see you.
29:57Randall Lynn, you are challenging me
30:00and testing me today.
30:03We carry on,
30:06shoveling roadkill out of the way as we go
30:09until we finally reach a stretch
30:11with enough space for all the animals
30:13and wagons to pull aside.
30:16The process of unpacking and feeding
30:18starts all over again.
30:20But thankfully,
30:21Randall Lynn seems happy to stay put here
30:23for the next couple of days.
30:25What percentage of your movement
30:27is on highways like this?
30:29For this season,
30:31it's going to be a lot
30:31because we're trying to get south
30:33and we're trying to get there quick.
30:35I still find it
30:38difficult to find enjoyment
30:39as big trucks and lorries
30:41are going past.
30:43Yeah.
30:44I've gotten to where I kind of zone out
30:46all this.
30:48It's kind of like when you live in the city
30:50and you've got to get used to all the noise.
30:52This is the only city I live in.
30:55Randall Lynn has compared this way of life
30:57to the Amish who live nearby.
31:00But while they're part of a community,
31:02she's doing this entirely on her own.
31:06Having spent a little bit of time
31:08walking with you,
31:09it feels like this would be easier
31:11with someone else.
31:12It would definitely be easier
31:14with someone else.
31:15It's a lot of work by myself.
31:18Do you enjoy the company of others?
31:20I do.
31:21When I originally got started,
31:23I was much more of an introvert.
31:27Why is it, do you think,
31:28that you felt introverted or shy?
31:33I had had some things happen in my childhood.
31:39And it was, you know,
31:42something that had happened
31:43while I was in childcare,
31:45one of those things, you know,
31:46that we all wished never to happen
31:49to our children.
31:52I'm sorry.
31:55I'm sorry that happened to you.
31:57Do you talk about it?
32:00Have you talked about it?
32:01You know, I've talked to quite a few people
32:03about it over the years,
32:04but when I travel,
32:05it's, you know,
32:06I'm sometimes kind of a therapy for people.
32:10They'll tell me things
32:11they don't tell other people, you know.
32:18I'm sorry.
32:19Don't worry.
32:20Why, is that the emotion, the emotion?
32:22The emotion attached
32:23with another person being hurt
32:24almost hurts me more sometimes
32:26thinking about the things people go through.
32:29Does that make it worth it for you
32:30knowing that they can open up to you?
32:33Well, and a lot of people
32:34really feel
32:36they can open up
32:37and so it gives them
32:38a shoulder to cry on.
32:41A big part of my journey
32:42has become
32:44being there for a lot of people.
32:46I'm just there to give them a hug
32:48and have somebody to listen to them.
32:50I try not to give too much advice.
32:53Mm-hmm.
32:54Do I get a roadside hug?
32:56Yes.
33:01Perpetual movement
33:02is one of the great healers.
33:05Not many people are talking about it
33:07because it's quite a complicated way
33:10to choose to live.
33:12Most of us need bricks and mortar.
33:15We need stability in our lives.
33:17But there are plenty of people
33:19here in the United States
33:20and all around the world
33:22who have been able to escape,
33:25break the manacles
33:26of an unhappy life
33:28and find happiness.
33:33I think what's really beautiful
33:34about Randallin's story
33:36is that what started as necessity
33:38has now become pure lifestyle.
33:44I've got a pretty good idea.
33:46There might be some over here
33:47looking at some of these trees.
33:50These things?
33:51Yeah.
33:52Yeah, actually, that's exactly what it is.
33:54So these are hickory nuts here.
33:56And these are a really sweet nut
33:57that have a lot of different uses.
34:00Somewhat like a walnut.
34:02Is foraging a big part of your life?
34:05I'd say over the years
34:07I've gotten maybe a little more wild
34:08or some people say feral.
34:10It's hard to go back
34:12to some societal norms
34:13when you've spent this much time
34:15just kind of living
34:18in your own authenticity.
34:19I'd say you are pretty wild.
34:21Is there another level to go, though?
34:23Definitely.
34:24I'd like to see this go
34:25more primitive a little bit.
34:27That's the optimal goal.
34:38They're small pieces,
34:39but they're really tasty
34:41and it doesn't take much
34:42to add to many meals.
34:44Yeah.
34:45Do you like thinking back
34:46to how people once
34:47lived and did stuff?
34:49I really do
34:50because I think
34:52it's important to, like,
34:54who we are as humans
34:55to go back sometimes
34:56because
34:57with so much convenience
34:59we forget how to use our brains
35:00and do things.
35:02You know,
35:03this, like,
35:04teaches me how to go slower,
35:06to slow down,
35:08to not just
35:09bust through everything,
35:10you know,
35:11and just focus.
35:14People do a lot of things
35:15and they're just reactionary.
35:18They're not really
35:19paying attention,
35:21taking it all in.
35:24I'm wondering about
35:25your lifestyle, though,
35:26generally.
35:27Are you a prisoner
35:29to this lifestyle now
35:30in the...
35:30Is there any way back?
35:32Well,
35:33I could sell all these things
35:34and probably buy
35:35a really nice car.
35:37Maybe get into an apartment.
35:40But...
35:42I don't see that happening
35:44anytime soon.
35:45Could you stop traveling
35:46and talking to people
35:48that easily?
35:49It'd be really hard
35:50to just go home
35:51and sit in an office,
35:52wouldn't it?
35:54It's a very...
35:55You'd be like,
35:56nah.
36:04So, do you think
36:05maybe you're kind of
36:06starting to get
36:07an understanding
36:07of why I choose
36:09to do this?
36:10Randolin,
36:11I guess almost
36:12every aspect
36:13of your lifestyle.
36:15I think
36:17the thing I still find
36:18quite hard
36:19is that almost
36:19everything you do
36:20is, like,
36:22dream life style
36:23in my book.
36:24The only thing
36:27that I am still
36:28struggling with
36:29is this,
36:29that we're on the side
36:30of a highway.
36:31But what I do understand
36:33is that it's a means
36:34to an end,
36:35that if you want
36:35to live this lifestyle
36:36and be able to find land
36:37to graze your animals,
36:39you're limited to
36:41the land on which
36:42you are permitted.
36:44Public or unpermitted.
36:45So I do get it,
36:47but I still...
36:49I'm still gonna worry
36:50about you.
36:51Sorry.
36:52I've got a lot of moms
36:53all over the country.
36:54A lot of little old ladies
36:55worried about me.
36:57Well, you can now
36:58add a 52-year-old Brit
37:00on the worry list.
37:02We'll all be back
37:03at our homes
37:04worrying about you,
37:05but maybe the karma
37:06of all that worry
37:07will keep you safe.
37:19I'm in Missouri,
37:21learning how Randolin
37:22Ben does everyday tasks
37:25while parked up
37:26on the side
37:27of a highway.
37:29I put the water
37:30on the boil
37:30like you asked.
37:32What are we cooking
37:33this time?
37:33We're not cooking.
37:35You kind of look like
37:36you need to wash up,
37:37honestly.
37:38Yeah?
37:38Well, this is
37:39bentonite clay.
37:40Yeah?
37:41I don't use shampoo
37:42or any of those things.
37:43They're bad for the environment
37:44and people, so...
37:45You use clay?
37:46Yes.
37:46It's a powderized clay.
37:48So you're just going to dust
37:50this in your hair
37:51while it's dry.
37:51Yeah.
37:52And then you're just going
37:53to simply rinse it out
37:54and that's all.
37:55This is how, like,
37:56Native and Indigenous tribes
37:58have been doing it
37:58for thousands of years.
37:59They take clay,
38:00wash their hair.
38:01Mm-hmm.
38:01It's a normal thing.
38:03I imagine they weren't
38:04doing it on the side
38:05of a highway
38:06with tons of cars
38:07streaming past.
38:08You've got to get
38:08the experience.
38:09Yeah, this is...
38:11So, Willie,
38:11if you have to actually wash,
38:13would you say that's
38:14one of the hardest things
38:15about being on the road?
38:16Yes and no.
38:17Honestly, there's a lot
38:18of friendly people
38:19and, you know,
38:21if I just say
38:21I don't want to be
38:22a dirty person,
38:23most people are happy
38:24to have me not smell,
38:25I think, so...
38:26Are you saying people
38:27will invite you
38:28to use their bathrooms,
38:29their showers?
38:30Yes, I've actually...
38:31I've been in thousands
38:31of bathrooms
38:32across the country.
38:33That really shows
38:34the generosity of people.
38:36Yeah.
38:38I've found Randalline
38:39to be very softly
38:40spoken at times.
38:41Are you going to do
38:42the honours?
38:42Yes, sir.
38:43But being welcomed
38:44into so many people's homes
38:46tells me she's
38:47a lot more outgoing
38:48than her reserved nature
38:49might suggest.
38:51So, that's clay.
38:52Ooh, there's loads of it.
38:54Powder, it's not really a lot.
38:55That was less than a teaspoon.
38:57It's just very, very fine.
38:59Yeah, and you'll just
39:00rinse your hair off.
39:01Just rinse it off?
39:02Mm-hmm.
39:04Just rinse it out.
39:05Is the clay not going to
39:05set in my hair?
39:06No, that's why
39:07you're going to rinse it.
39:09It's a little too cold
39:11to strip off for a full wash.
39:12Not that I'd want to
39:14in a place this exposed.
39:22Even making leather pouches
39:24to sell is something
39:25Randalin has to do
39:26under the gaze
39:27of passing drivers.
39:29I carry some of these
39:30dyes and things to...
39:32That's what I made
39:32the little flower with here.
39:34That's clever.
39:34So, you just push that
39:35onto the leather.
39:36You take it
39:36and you'll just...
39:38That's clever.
39:38Hammer it.
39:39And you've got to make sure
39:40you hammer it real good around
39:41because this kind of wiggles.
39:43With so much of her life
39:44on show,
39:45I can't help wondering
39:46what her family think
39:47of all this.
39:49I'm curious to know
39:50a little bit more
39:51about your...
39:52your children.
39:54What do they make
39:55of your lifestyle?
39:58Well,
39:59mom is eccentric,
40:01they'd probably say.
40:02What's your relationship
40:04with them now?
40:05I'm pretty close with them.
40:07What did the kids think
40:09when you first moved away
40:11five years ago?
40:12Were they resentful?
40:14They weren't really
40:15too upset because
40:16anytime they've wanted
40:17me to come back,
40:18I come back.
40:19They know they can
40:20call on me.
40:21They come to me
40:22with their things
40:23they can't tell
40:23everyone else,
40:24you know?
40:25Could you ever imagine
40:27a time when any
40:28of your kids
40:29might embrace
40:29a lifestyle
40:30like yours now?
40:33Well,
40:33not too long ago,
40:34my youngest daughter
40:35actually asked me
40:36how much a tiny home
40:37would cost to build.
40:38And then my middle daughter
40:40has been more cautious
40:41of what she's eating
40:43and what she's taking in.
40:45And so I'd say
40:46they've definitely
40:47had a lot of good things
40:48come from it.
40:49It's just,
40:50in the day and age
40:51we live in,
40:52things like that
40:52are kind of ostracized
40:54and people don't
40:55understand it.
40:57And so it's just
40:59taken a while
40:59for everybody to see
41:02that I wasn't
41:03going to kill myself.
41:04I wasn't going to,
41:05you know,
41:05they imagined me
41:07being eaten in the woods
41:07by a bear
41:08or, you know,
41:10when I first started
41:10traveling the highway.
41:12I didn't come
41:13from a farm background.
41:14I was a girl
41:16from the suburbs.
41:18So when I first said
41:19I was getting
41:20driving horses
41:21and donkeys
41:22and different things,
41:23they were like,
41:26what are you doing?
41:28But I've not
41:30had any big incidents.
41:32Whether or not
41:33people agree
41:34with the risks
41:34Randalyn takes,
41:36I do know
41:37there are very few
41:38who could continually
41:39do what she does.
41:42Myself included.
41:44Verdicts?
41:45They're all a bit wonky
41:46but I've done that
41:46on purpose.
41:47It looks great.
41:48Yeah?
41:51And I've no doubt
41:52that there's still
41:53a lot more to discover
41:54about my nomadic friend.
41:57After all,
41:58I've only walked
41:59a few miles
42:00on the highway
42:01of her remarkable life.
42:05This is a one-off
42:07and it's an extraordinary
42:10world to spend
42:11a bit of time in
42:12because everything's
42:12going on around us
42:14but for these few days
42:16I've been in
42:17Randalyn's world.
42:20It's all about the journey.
42:22There is no destination.
42:24She's just trying
42:25to make the most
42:26of every single step
42:28that she and her
42:30animals take
42:32and there's something
42:34really admirable
42:36about that.
42:37This is not for everyone
42:39but there are other people
42:41who may have experienced
42:42some of the same things
42:45that Randalyn has experienced.
42:47Maybe other people
42:48that have experienced
42:49the emptiness syndrome
42:50who are feeling
42:52that their lives
42:53are a little bit empty.
42:56I might not recommend
42:58you take to the motorways
43:01but maybe you just want
43:02to shake up your life
43:03a little bit
43:04like Randalyn.
43:08Randalyn's calling in
43:09a friend
43:10to help haul the spare wagon
43:11until her other donkey's
43:13trained up.
43:14Goodbye, my loves.
43:15Look after yourselves.
43:17Stay safe.
43:18Which means, for now,
43:20my days of dragging pigeons
43:22across Missouri
43:23have come to an end.
43:25Oh, Pandora.
43:27Goodbye.
43:28Look after yourself.
43:30Randalyn.
43:32So nice to meet you, then.
43:34I'm not going to be
43:34forgetting this in a rush.
43:36Yeah, I don't imagine so.
43:38This has been
43:39an unforgettable experience.
43:41Look after yourself.
43:42I don't need to say that
43:43and I hope that doesn't
43:44sound condescending.
43:45And keep doing
43:46what you're doing.
43:47You are an inspiring individual.
43:51Maybe I'll bump into you
43:52on some highway
43:52in the future.
43:53Yeah?
43:54I'll look out
43:54for the legendary Randalyn.
43:56It'd be nice.
43:57I'd like to see you again someday.
43:59Something tells me
44:00this is not the last time
44:01we'll meet.
44:02Is Emilio there?
44:03Yes.
44:04Emilio!
44:05Bye, Emilio.
44:06Keep an eye on her.
44:10Take care.
44:11Bye.
44:20A place of pilgrimage
44:22for nomads
44:22on this side of the pond
44:24is Stonehenge
44:25and we've Secrets
44:26of the New Stone
44:27brand new
44:28next Tuesday at 9.
44:29And there's more
44:30off-grid adventures
44:31from all over the planet.
44:33Pick anywhere on a map
44:34and stream Ben Fogel
44:35New Lives in the Wild
44:36now on 5.
44:37Drama next
44:38as the curfew continues.
44:40News.
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