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Swinging over a rice paddy in Bali, tearing over the snow in Finland in a sled pulled by huskies, snorkelling on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, riding camels in Egypt...
It’s the kind of travel many of us will never experience in our lifetime – even less so if we’re celebrating 80 years on Earth.
Yet these two octogenarians, who’ve both had knee replacements, thought it the best way to celebrate their 80th birthdays – and they don’t have a single regret.
Sandy Hazelip and Ellie Hamby from Texas in the US had greater ambitions than a sedentary vacation befitting two pensioners for their milestone celebration. They wanted an adventure – and that’s exactly what they got.
The pair, inspired by the Jules Verne classic Around the World in 80 Days, embarked on an epic odyssey that started in January this year. It led them to seven continents, 18 countries and eight wonders of the world.
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There’s no sign of tiredness as the friends catch up with YOU soon after returning home on 1 April. In fact, Ellie, a photographer, and Sandy, a retired doctor, appear on top of the world.
The two pensioners (81) are wearing matching sweaters emblazoned with the words Around the World in 80 Days as they chat to us by video call from the living room in Ellie’s home in Abilene, Texas.
There were so many highlights, they say, but the best part was that they got to do it together.
The besties have travelled together many times over their more than 20 years of friendship, but they’ve never before embarked on anything as ambitious as this.
It was Sandy’s idea. “I just asked Ellie ‘Wouldn’t it be fun if we went around the world in 80 days at age 80?’ Ellie’s eyes grew wider and she said ‘Goodness, yes!’” Sandy tells us.
They mapped out their plans and bought all the tickets – then Covid hit and they had to put everything on hold.
“But it didn’t shut us down,” Sandy says with a mischievous grin. “We made the trip this year with our new motto ‘Around the world in 80 days at 81 and still on the run’.”
Their adventure kicked off in Argentina on 11 January and they boarded a boat to cross the Drake Passage to Antarctica.
Both have artificial knees, but they’re in tip-top shape, they tell us. Still, their doctors had to ascertain whether they were fit enough to handle the cold and demanding trip.
“Because we were over 70 years old, we had to get our doctors to sign a release that we could go to Antarctica,” Sandy says.
Her favourite destination was Bali, where she had a monkey eating out of her hand and got to ride the swings over rice fields. Ellie loved Finland.
Ellie’s the more adventurous of the two and she delights her seven grandkids with hair-raising tales of the python that wrapped itself around her in Australia and of her husky sled-ride in Finland.
“The minute they shouted we took off running,” she says of the sled ride. “It was 20 degrees below Celsius.”
The seasoned travellers have the following advice for others who want to do something similar: pack light, have a money bag that you can hide under your clothes and take medication to avoid going to the loo often.
“If you travel with me, you take a tablespoon of Pepto Bismol (Eno) every morning, to prevent stomach problems,” Sandy says.
As a safety precaution, they avoided wearing flashy jewellery or expensive clothing on their travels.
“We didn’t stay in expensive hotels and we didn’t go out at night,” Sandy adds. “And anyhow we are probably ready to go to sleep by 8pm,” Ellie chimes in.
The plucky senior citizens had to save for quite a while to afford the trip, which they say cost the equivalent of a small car. But the way they see it the memories they made are far more valuable than anything they could buy.
Ellie and Sandy are proud of the way they managed to make their money stretch. They rode public buses for most of their inner-city travels and opted for budget hotels that cost about $29 (R522) a person.
The lowest they paid for accommodation was $13 (R234) in Cairo, Egypt, which boasted a view of the pyramids. “You just need to be adventurous,” Ellie says.
Sandy says the pair never fight and what she loves most about her photographer friend is seeing her get excited about capturing a good shot of something like a perfect sunrise or sunset.
It’s been 23 years since they first met and their friendship has gone from strength to strength.
Their paths crossed in Zambia, where Ellie and her husband, Kelly, lived for six years while working for a medical mission offering support to hospitals, schools and communities.
In 2000, shortly after the death of her husband, Don, Sandy decided to become involved in mission work and that’s how she and Ellie met.
When Kelly died in 2005, Ellie returned to the US and she and Sandy, also a mother of three, started travelling together.
The besties say their adventures are dedicated to the memory of their late husbands. “They would both be proud of what we have done,” Ellie says.
The rest of their families are proud and supportive too. Their kids and grandchildren eagerly awaited the intrepid travellers’ Instagram and blog updates from various corners of the world.
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There are already plans for another epic trip in 2024. The best friends want to visit countries on all seven continents – and South Africa is on the list, they tell us.
They’ve also already thought up a catchy new motto: “We are 82 and travel we can do!”
The best thing about all these adventures, they say, is the people they meet. “One of the things we found wherever we went was the goodness of people,” Ellie says.
“They are kind. They want to be friends and that has been meaningful for us.”
Pensioners who want to follow in their footsteps should just push themselves out of their easy chairs and and do it, the travelling besties say.
“Make plans and live,” Sandy says. “Because age is only a number.”
Sandy and Ellie visited 18 Destinations - Argentina, Antarctica, Chile, Spain, Finland, Italy, United Kingdom, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Egypt, Qatar, India, Nepal, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.
