Meet the Shoestring Warriors, the adventurers who make up our community!
Shoestring Warrior: Xoli
Hometown:
Soweto, South Africa
Current Location:
Danbury, Connecticut
Profession:
Certified Nurse Assistant
What are your passions outside of work?
I have a lot of them, but knitting, being a DJ, yoga, hiking, Reiki and cooking are my favorites.
How would you describe your level of camping experience?
Beginner – I went camping for the first time with Shoestring Adventures!
Tell us about your Shoestring Adventures!
I knew I was setting myself up for a beautiful adventure so I followed my instinct. Alyx helped me a lot, I don’t own any camping gear so she had a list for everything I needed to get including a company where I can rent my sleeping bag, she even brought me a sleeping pad and an extra blanket. Every hike we took was spectacular. I must say, to have the view of the ocean in front of you and the view of these hills behind you as you hike is a treat. We went to some beautiful caves, I didn’t want to leave.
I said to my friend Diana Reilly when I landed in SLO, ohh it’s raining and I forgot my umbrella, she immediately said to me, you silly girl, you don’t need that. And a red light came on and I remembered that I’m supposed to get rained out, so yeah, my first night was sleeping out in the rain. I said to myself, I’m finally a camper.
What advice do you have for first-time campers who want to get outdoors?
Just go out there and do it. Life is too short. Do some reaserch about camping and the gears that you would need, become an REI member. They have a lot of classes that they host, that can be helpful. My friend Diana Reilly helped me a lot, I’m going to kidnap her to my next adventure. If you’re not ready to buy your tents, sleeping bags/pads or even backpacks, GetOutfitted is a great store to rent from. Do not over pack, just enjoy yourself and the experience.
The perfect s’more?
I’m not a fan of s’mores, but I will try again on my next adventure!
Follow more of Xoli’s adventures on Instagram!
