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Slow Journey South
When Paula Constant and her husband, Gary, attempt to break away from the conventional 9-to-5 routine, a few weeks lazing in a resort or packed in a tour bus is not what they have in mind. What starts out as an idle daydream to embark on 'a travel to end all travels' turns into something far greater: an epic year-long 5000-kilometre walk from Trafalgar Square in London to Morocco and the threshold of the Sahara Desert.
Quite an ambition for an unfit woman who favours sharing cigarettes and a few bottles of wine with friends over logging time on the treadmill. But if the sheer arduousness of walking over 25 kilometres a day through the landscapes and cultural labyrinths of France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco - without a support vehicle - is overlooked in her excitement, then so too is the unexpected journey of self discovery and awakening that lies beyond every bend. Both the companions she meets on the road and the road itself provide what no university can offer: a chance to experience life's simple truths face to face.
Paula's transformation from an urban primary school teacher into a successful expeditioner is a true tale of an ordinary woman achieving something extraordinary. It is a journey that begins with one footstep.
Quite an ambition for an unfit woman who favours sharing cigarettes and a few bottles of wine with friends over logging time on the treadmill. But if the sheer arduousness of walking over 25 kilometres a day through the landscapes and cultural labyrinths of France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco - without a support vehicle - is overlooked in her excitement, then so too is the unexpected journey of self discovery and awakening that lies beyond every bend. Both the companions she meets on the road and the road itself provide what no university can offer: a chance to experience life's simple truths face to face.
Paula's transformation from an urban primary school teacher into a successful expeditioner is a true tale of an ordinary woman achieving something extraordinary. It is a journey that begins with one footstep.
300 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
3 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Paula Constant
6 books74 followersI live in the beautiful tropical north west of Australia, in the small pearling town of Broome. It's the place where I dreamed up the three year walk that formed the basis of my first two books, Slow Journey South and Sahara. I moved to Granada, Spain, for a time after that, which is where I dreamed up the Visigoths of Spain series, currently out (The Saharan Queen, The Votive Crown, The King's Coin) and with more books in progress.
I am also working on a new series of paranormal romance books under a new pen name that I will add as soon as they are available.
I love to hear from readers, so please do contact me any time.
I am also working on a new series of paranormal romance books under a new pen name that I will add as soon as they are available.
I love to hear from readers, so please do contact me any time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 26, 2024
This was a quick breezy read when I needed one.
The first half of the book explains where the idea and the intent for the journey came from - a three year journey split into three parts, the first of which is covered in this book: Walking from London to Morocco (more specifically to M'Hamid El Ghizlane, in Morocco. The second part - to walk through the Sahara desert, and the third part is to walk to Cape Town. The second part is covered in Paula's second book Sahara, which I read around 12 years ago, and enjoyed more than this one. Bit of a spoiler at the start of that review if you intend on reading this one, but not really a big surprise spoiler!
But it isn't as simple as that, because between the inception and the departure were literally years - from memory one and a half years in Broome (where Paula and Gary lived) then the shift to the UK where they 'definitely weren't going to stay in London', and something like 4 years in London trying to save the money for the trip. This first half of the book was only mildly interesting, as all the relationship drama, work drama and lack of saving is shared with the reader. What it mostly established was that the money would have been saved in a fraction of the time if any form of sacrifice was made, but it didn't appear there was much - Paula in particular drinks wine at a rate of consumption I struggle to comprehend, but also trips here, moving house to pay more rent there etc etc, making it pretty painful reading.
At the midpoint of the book, they set out from Trafalgar Square carrying an almost in human amount of equipment, having done almost no physical preparation, and relying on more wine consumption as painkillers each evening. The expected trials of long distance walking take their toll - extensive feet issues. We hear a lot about this, but it is the thread common to all they do.
It is a strange combination of willpower - the quite incredible willpower to pull on the enormous pack and start walking each morning, the similar willpower to keep walking all day, and the lack of willpower in spending the money they raised by mortgaging their house in Melbourne! For a trip in which they planned to camp they spend an inordinate number of nights in accommodation. Realistically their budget was never going to get them through part one of their trip with hotels and wine in these proportions.
This only an ok read, and although I can't recall the details of the second book it may have shown more development in writing after this one, or it could have been the Sahara travel was more appealing to me.
2.5 stars, rounded up.
The first half of the book explains where the idea and the intent for the journey came from - a three year journey split into three parts, the first of which is covered in this book: Walking from London to Morocco (more specifically to M'Hamid El Ghizlane, in Morocco. The second part - to walk through the Sahara desert, and the third part is to walk to Cape Town. The second part is covered in Paula's second book Sahara, which I read around 12 years ago, and enjoyed more than this one. Bit of a spoiler at the start of that review if you intend on reading this one, but not really a big surprise spoiler!
But it isn't as simple as that, because between the inception and the departure were literally years - from memory one and a half years in Broome (where Paula and Gary lived) then the shift to the UK where they 'definitely weren't going to stay in London', and something like 4 years in London trying to save the money for the trip. This first half of the book was only mildly interesting, as all the relationship drama, work drama and lack of saving is shared with the reader. What it mostly established was that the money would have been saved in a fraction of the time if any form of sacrifice was made, but it didn't appear there was much - Paula in particular drinks wine at a rate of consumption I struggle to comprehend, but also trips here, moving house to pay more rent there etc etc, making it pretty painful reading.
At the midpoint of the book, they set out from Trafalgar Square carrying an almost in human amount of equipment, having done almost no physical preparation, and relying on more wine consumption as painkillers each evening. The expected trials of long distance walking take their toll - extensive feet issues. We hear a lot about this, but it is the thread common to all they do.
It is a strange combination of willpower - the quite incredible willpower to pull on the enormous pack and start walking each morning, the similar willpower to keep walking all day, and the lack of willpower in spending the money they raised by mortgaging their house in Melbourne! For a trip in which they planned to camp they spend an inordinate number of nights in accommodation. Realistically their budget was never going to get them through part one of their trip with hotels and wine in these proportions.
This only an ok read, and although I can't recall the details of the second book it may have shown more development in writing after this one, or it could have been the Sahara travel was more appealing to me.
2.5 stars, rounded up.
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January 12, 2020Rating: No rating / 5
Reading experience: Skimmed this quickly, looking for something to justify my "walk across the Sahara" curiosity that this book seems like it might satisfy.
If the Sahara is what you're here for, skip this book and go to the next one by this author, the one in which she is actually in the Sahara.
For this book, ladies and gentlemen, is 50% preparation and 50% walking through Europe, which, while not easy and it does take a while, is not the against-all-odds excitement that the Sahara can provide.
Skimming past this, I'll try the second book by this author in which she is actually walking in the Sahara. Hopefully that will satisfy the curiosity I have for what a journey across the largest desert in the world will be like.
Reading experience: Skimmed this quickly, looking for something to justify my "walk across the Sahara" curiosity that this book seems like it might satisfy.
If the Sahara is what you're here for, skip this book and go to the next one by this author, the one in which she is actually in the Sahara.
For this book, ladies and gentlemen, is 50% preparation and 50% walking through Europe, which, while not easy and it does take a while, is not the against-all-odds excitement that the Sahara can provide.
Skimming past this, I'll try the second book by this author in which she is actually walking in the Sahara. Hopefully that will satisfy the curiosity I have for what a journey across the largest desert in the world will be like.
April 24, 2020
Some of the reviews weren't too kind but I really enjoyed this book, easy to read and you can only admire Paula and her husband for making the journey a reality. Now I need to get my hands on the sequel Sahara!
January 26, 2012
This book takes until the second half of the story to begin travelling. The first half is mostly background and preparation. The second half is great, but I have to mark the book down for taking too long to start the story proper.
Paula does like to 'quaff' her alcohol. At every opportunity she's 'quaffing'. "We may as well get toasted" "An afternoon of boozy laziness", and so on. She has a problem with alcohol.
The story though, once it is underway, is a tribute to endurance as she and her husband walk from London to Africa. Few would attempt what they did. A remarkable feat.
I liked this quote: "The landscape is achingly dramatic. It's like looking at a shelf of book covers from the fantasy section - "
Paula does like to 'quaff' her alcohol. At every opportunity she's 'quaffing'. "We may as well get toasted" "An afternoon of boozy laziness", and so on. She has a problem with alcohol.
The story though, once it is underway, is a tribute to endurance as she and her husband walk from London to Africa. Few would attempt what they did. A remarkable feat.
I liked this quote: "The landscape is achingly dramatic. It's like looking at a shelf of book covers from the fantasy section - "
May 3, 2013
This book made me mad .. such long & inept planning before the trip even started - glad I haven't met them on my travels, they give independent travellers a bad look. Did not even read it all .. speed read most of it with lots of pages flipped over and will not join them in the next section of their journey.
August 16, 2021
How many of us can leave our routine life and take up an adventure of a lifetime?
Walking on average 25km a day is no big deal if it is done for a week or two. But how many of us can do this for few months at a stretch not to talk of even a year!
This is a very fluently written book by the author Paula Constant. Initially, it is not easy for her and her husband Gary to decide and plan out the things but eventually, they embark on a year-long super-mega-walkathon of about 5000kms. In spite of their initial challenges, they continue walking and successfully complete the walk from London to M'Hamid in Morocco. They walk through England, France, Spain, Portugal, and finally into Morroco. It requires serious commitment and tons of patience to go through such a process but the experiences scripted by the author are incredible. While reading the book I felt as if I was walking along with Paula and Gary. This is one of the best travelogues I have come across. While giving the readers plenty of passive experiences of the walk, Paula has also succeeded in keeping the readers always curious about what is coming up next. And this is a quality of a good author. Certainly would like to read her next book - Sahara.
Walking on average 25km a day is no big deal if it is done for a week or two. But how many of us can do this for few months at a stretch not to talk of even a year!
This is a very fluently written book by the author Paula Constant. Initially, it is not easy for her and her husband Gary to decide and plan out the things but eventually, they embark on a year-long super-mega-walkathon of about 5000kms. In spite of their initial challenges, they continue walking and successfully complete the walk from London to M'Hamid in Morocco. They walk through England, France, Spain, Portugal, and finally into Morroco. It requires serious commitment and tons of patience to go through such a process but the experiences scripted by the author are incredible. While reading the book I felt as if I was walking along with Paula and Gary. This is one of the best travelogues I have come across. While giving the readers plenty of passive experiences of the walk, Paula has also succeeded in keeping the readers always curious about what is coming up next. And this is a quality of a good author. Certainly would like to read her next book - Sahara.
March 4, 2020
Such a good read!
May 9, 2020
I enjoyed walking along with Paula and Gary on this trek to the Sahara.
I just realised I have read her second book Sahara first but they read well as stand alone books.
I just realised I have read her second book Sahara first but they read well as stand alone books.
September 26, 2020
Another Aussie woman traveller, this one describing the angst of getting organised to walk from London to Morocco.
February 17, 2021
Slow to get going, lots of complaining and not enough preparation. The second half, describing the 12 month walk from London to Morocco, was much more interesting
February 20, 2021
I don’t usually read non-fiction but I really enjoyed this story.
December 27, 2021
Gave me a thirst for adventure!
April 5, 2015
Slow Journey South is the autobiographical story of Paula Constant and her husband Gary's journey from London to Morocco, a journey made entirely on foot. It is their intention that this is the first section of a journey from London all the way to the bottom of Africa. (According to her website she is currently in Australia and planning the next leg of the journey). She spends so much of the book complaining about her husband that I was quite surprised to find that they were still together at the end of it.
The actual journey doesn't start until well into the book as the planning and saving stage takes a good two years. I got really annoyed at her - she is forever complaining about how Gary doesn't do enough to help with the planning, but then at the same time she spends a great deal of time (and money) drinking and smoking and going on holidays round Europe with friends. When Paula and Gary do finally set out their absence of planning is terribly obvious, especially when they meet up with other walkers who are far better equipped and not trying to bring everything plus the kitchen sink.
Paula has a natural writing style and the early parts of the book are quite amusing but I got increasingly fed up as the book went on at how much time she spent whining about money or about her husband and how little she talked about the places that they walked through or people that they met. There are some lovely descriptions here and there that give you a tantalising glimpse of what might have been, but then we are back to the annoying husband and sore feet diatribe. The final section of the book, when they are in Morocco, is actually the best, but it's a long journey to get there (in every sense!).
A quick read and reasonably entertaining - it's an interesting story - but ultimately too much complaining for my liking.
The actual journey doesn't start until well into the book as the planning and saving stage takes a good two years. I got really annoyed at her - she is forever complaining about how Gary doesn't do enough to help with the planning, but then at the same time she spends a great deal of time (and money) drinking and smoking and going on holidays round Europe with friends. When Paula and Gary do finally set out their absence of planning is terribly obvious, especially when they meet up with other walkers who are far better equipped and not trying to bring everything plus the kitchen sink.
Paula has a natural writing style and the early parts of the book are quite amusing but I got increasingly fed up as the book went on at how much time she spent whining about money or about her husband and how little she talked about the places that they walked through or people that they met. There are some lovely descriptions here and there that give you a tantalising glimpse of what might have been, but then we are back to the annoying husband and sore feet diatribe. The final section of the book, when they are in Morocco, is actually the best, but it's a long journey to get there (in every sense!).
A quick read and reasonably entertaining - it's an interesting story - but ultimately too much complaining for my liking.
December 17, 2023
Interesting challenge fuelled by Paula’s desire to traverse the African continent on foot. Well written, and most interesting in the amount of preparation for the trek from London to Morocco took. The insights from the people met on this journey are the best parts. Quite inspiring that shows you can do whatever you put your mind to (however not sure her husband would agree the sacrifices are worth it). I’m keen to read her second book which details the African part of the journey.
July 15, 2008
Nothing is impossible, always believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams.
I've always been fascinated by Africa and all things African, who knows maybe just maybe one day I too like the author of this book may get to live out my fantasies / dreams
Looking forward to the next installment.
I've always been fascinated by Africa and all things African, who knows maybe just maybe one day I too like the author of this book may get to live out my fantasies / dreams
Looking forward to the next installment.
April 17, 2014
Actually really liked the long haul through the first half of the book where she plans the trip...infuriating though it was at times...because that is one of the things about travelling that I love. Amazing that these experiences seem to bring out doubt in oneself whilst successfully facing such a challenge.
April 16, 2015
Easy Read that makes you see imagine the real experience. Beautiful and inspiring account of travel experiences and personal challenges while chasing the dream. Must read for someone passionate to follow the heart and for some who loves travelling. Thanks Paula for sharing your journey with us!Cheers
February 22, 2009
She frustrated me to exasperation with her exhausting planning and questioning of what she was trying to achieve! Glad I stuck with her as her writing style and story are very good but, my goodness, she worked hard at this trek. I really hope she did enjoy herself along the way.
March 18, 2010
A fantastic read. A very well written, compelling story articulating the struggle we experience in our journey of life. I couldn't put it down. Please don't miss the opportunity to read this modern day masterpiece.
January 16, 2015
Slow to get started with all the long drawn out description of their planning, arguing, soul searching etc but once the actual walking began there were some interesting descriptions of places, musings etc.
April 14, 2008
I did enjoyed this easy little book, although I am not entirely sure I really grew to like the narrative voice/author (for various reasons!)
I do look forward to reading the second installment.
I do look forward to reading the second installment.
May 18, 2009
I quite enjoyed this story about a woman who dreamed to walk through Africa. This is the first part of her journey.
January 4, 2010
Very Inspiring. Makes you want to get out there and experience the world before it disappears.
March 16, 2010
A true inspiration, couldn't wait to continue the journey with her!
March 14, 2012
Another good audio book I really enjoyed the honest account of the difficulties, but also the pleasure of walking from London to Morrocco.
August 19, 2012
I couldn't get my head around the way Paula and Garry started on their walk. It defied logic that some one taking on a walking trip would be so unco ordinated in footwear, finances, packs etc. etc.
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March 22, 2013This book really lent itself to some photos.
Both my wife and myself thought it was going to build up to trekking across the Sahara Desert, this did not happen.
Both my wife and myself thought it was going to build up to trekking across the Sahara Desert, this did not happen.
March 29, 2013
Fantastic book. Paula's written word draws you in feeling as if you too are walking with her.
August 9, 2020
Slow to start.. lots of dreamy aspirations of escaping the rat race while drinking bottles of wine. A suitable companion to Eat, Pray, Love.. nevertheless a remarkable achievement.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews