130,000 km, 47 countries, 1 cat who lived to 21:
The true story that proves anything is possible
5 years of van life, 47 countries, and a cat who ruled the dashboard like a queen until her very last breath…
She left us on October 21, 2024 in Marrakech.
On May 1st 2019, we closed the door of our house for the very last time… not knowing we wouldn’t open it again for five whole years.
We set off in our brand-new van (our first ever self-build, not even 4×4), zero experience, no itinerary, and it took us 20 minutes just to figure out how to light the gas bottle…
And most importantly: we took Mimine with us — our 16-year-old cat at the time.
She lived every single second of the adventure with us and passed away at the very end of the journey, still perched on her throne: the dashboard.
130,000 km, 47 countries, zero punctures, –17 °C in North Macedonia, +45 °C in Namibia, elephants 3 metres from the van in Zimbabwe, nightmare tracks in Mauritania, Guinea, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana…
And Mimine ? She slept peacefully wherever we were.
We finally came home to France in May 2024 years later.
Today, we’re sharing everything we wish we’d known the day we picked up the keys.
Mimine ruling the dashboard like an empress, insane landscape behind her.
This is the image everyone will remember.
The big leap – May 1st 2019
The van still being loaded in front of the house, boxes everywhere, Mimine watching everything from the passenger seat.
We planned a two-month “test run” in Spain and Portugal…
We never came home.
Straight to Lapland and the midnight sun.
At that moment we truly believed the journey would never end.
Then came full-on adventure mode: ice-cold showers, wild camping, Mimine screaming in her carrier for the first 200 km of dirt tracks… and then silence.
She had accepted that this rolling box was now her home.
Moments that mark a lifetime
• –17 °C in North Macedonia, February 2020
Van buried in snow, Mimine wrapped up warm on the dash.
• +45 °C in Senegal, January 2022
Van in the desert, huge shadow, Mimine on the step staring down chickens and lambs like a queen.
• Elephants 3 metres from the van, Zimbabwe 2023
The legendary elephant photo/video – pure “wow” moment.
Mimine – the real star of the trip
At 21 years old, she collected more passport stamps than 99 % of humans.
Travelling the world — including Africa — with a very senior cat is 100 % possible.
We did it for 5 years, never left her behind once, and never once worried about her safety.
The Africa route in one click
https://www.polarsteps.com/MurielCarboneMascheroni/4489570-afrique-2022-2023
And now? We’re passing the baton to you.
We built the exact shop we wish had existed in 2019:
Endless Escape Shop.
Ultra-light gear, tested over 130,000 km, that let us travel with Mimine (and that we still use today with our new cat) — stress-free, anywhere, anytime.
Sign up to the newsletter so you don’t miss the launch.
Because yes — even with zero experience, even with a 21-year-old cat — you really can travel the world.
All you have to do is close the door… and go.
Live your dreams instead of dreaming your life. But do it safely and serenely.
Ready to close your own door ?
Sign up to the newsletter so you don’t miss the launch.
Because yes — even with zero experience, even with a 21-year-old cat — you really can travel the world.
All you have to do is close the door… and go.
Live your dreams instead of dreaming your life. But do it safely and serenely.
Ready to close your own door ?
Tell us in the comments: what’s your biggest fear or doubt before taking the leap?
We’ll reply personally!
See you very soon on the road
Mimine is watching over us (and over you) from her little cloud.
We’ll reply personally!
See you very soon on the road
Mimine is watching over us (and over you) from her little cloud.
First drop coming in just a few days:
the pack specially designed for cats (and dogs!) who want to hit the road with you.
We’ve also got plenty for human travellers (and non-travellers too!).
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