THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

These musician decided to pack up their lives and trek across the country - with three kids in tow!

- MAXINE PETERS

SELLING most of your possessions and leaving everyone and everything you know behind in exchange for the great unknown might sound like a terrifying prospect to some. But for Darren and Rouchelle Peens it's been an absolute dream.

The pair, who are both musicians, racked up hundreds of thousands of kilometres over the years when they travelled from gig to gig across the country. Now they're back on the road again and this time it's with their kids, Maddox (7), Indie (4) and Coco (2).

When Darren and Rouchelle told their family and friends about their plan they were met with disbelief. Three small kids in a car for weeks on end, they asked incredulously.

But the couple were determined: they wanted their children to experience the beauty of the open road and the magic of exploring all four corners of South Africa.

It's been cathartic, Rouchelle says. "The more we removed what was cluttering our lives emotionally, spiritually and physically, the more we found ourselves."

Until last year, Darren (51) and Rouchelle (34) had been living in St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape but the idea of a minimalist nomadic lifestyle had long appealed to them.

"During my quiet time in prayer one day I journalled the word nomad and I sat with it," Rouchelle says. "That same day Darren mentioned the word in conversation and we got talking about what's really important to us at this time in our lives."

Their solution was to pack up everything and escape the rat race.

They gave up the lease on their rented home, sold off their belongings and set off on the open road in their Renault Scenic with a caravan and their three little ones in tow.

Their journey through the country has been life-changing, Darren says.