Ollie's Story

I’m Ollie, a veteran and adventurer with a story shaped by resilience and reinvention. At 17, I left school to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a soldier, and for a time, I lived that dream. But everything changed. During a reckless initiation, I took a boot to the face that left me blind in my right eye. In an instant, my career and everything I had worked for was gone.

The years that followed were some of the hardest. I battled with depression, self-doubt, and the weight of feeling like I had no direction. It took time and a lot of work on myself to begin climbing out of that darkness. Therapy helped, as did surrounding myself with the right people. But the real turning point came when I decided to take control of my life again, starting with something as simple as buying a van and setting out on a journey across Europe. Travelling wasn’t just about seeing new places it became a way to rediscover my purpose, heal, and regain the freedom I had lost.

Even when the pandemic hit, I kept travelling through it, pushing forward on my journey. But when restrictions tightened again, I felt the weight of uncertainty and the loss of momentum. It was important for me to return to a safe space, regroup, and put plans in place for the next adventure. A few years later, I made another bold move, sold my house, bought a new van, and built The Road All Over.

Now, this journey isn’t just about exploring the world it’s about exploring what’s possible when you refuse to give up, even after life knocks you down. My goal for The Road All Over is to be more than just a travel blog it’s a space for people who have felt lost, beaten down, or trapped, to see that there’s always a road ahead. You can reshape your path, reclaim your purpose, and find joy in the unknown.