Two Years, One Van, No Plan: Patricia Sullivan’s Journey to Kathmandu

Introduction

In 1965, Patricia Sullivan and her husband embarked on a remarkable two-year adventure driving a classic VW van from Europe through the Middle East and Asia all the way to Nepal and beyond—without a plan. Decades later, Patricia transformed journals, letters, maps, and photographs from that journey into the compelling memoir Overland Before the Hippie Trail: Kathmandu and Beyond, With a Van, a Man and No Plan.

In this article, we explore Patricia’s story, her experience navigating the challenges of writing about events that happened 60 years ago, and her journey through indie publishing, including how the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA) played a vital role. Plus, learn what advice she has for memoir writers and how her original travel materials are being preserved for future generations.

A Journey Like No Other

Patricia and her husband began their trip in Europe in September 1965, initially planning only a short stay and hoping to find work. But they didn’t return home until two years later—after a remarkable trek by VW van through Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Nepal.

They experienced a vastly different world than today’s geopolitical landscape makes possible. The journey included selling the van in Kathmandu and traveling onward by bus, train, hitchhiking, and ships through Southeast Asia and Japan, finally returning to San Francisco.

“It’s impossible to drive that trip these days… Life was different and the countries were different and wars were different,” Patricia recalls, emphasizing the uniqueness of their adventure.

Writing a Memoir Six Decades Later

Though the trip took place in 1965, Patricia did not begin writing the memoir until 2009, after retiring and organizing her family’s archives. She gathered over 115 letters exchanged with family, journals kept every few days, maps, and slide photographs.

Patricia’s goal was initially personal—to create a detailed record for herself and her descendants. However, the rich firsthand accounts preserved in letters and journals helped her vividly recapture her younger self and the journey’s details. She wove original quotations throughout the narrative, blending memory with primary sources for accuracy.

The writing process was challenging, especially with nearly 60 years between the events and her reflections. She used online research extensively to verify locations and historical context, something unavailable when she traveled.

Advice for Memoir Writers

• Keep journals, notes, and photographs well-labeled.
• Use original materials and letters to retain authenticity.
• Don’t rely solely on memory as it fades over time.

Patricia encourages aspiring memoirists to maintain detailed records, as this makes future writing projects far richer and easier.

From Manuscript to Published Book: The Indie Publishing Journey

At first, Patricia simply made photocopied booklets of her manuscript to share with family, without plans to publish. It wasn’t until the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020 that she revisited the project as a publishing endeavor.

Initially unfamiliar with publishing, Patricia sought guidance and discovered the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA). She credits BAIPA’s monthly meetings and community support for teaching her about key publishing concepts like ISBNs, editing, and marketing.

Publishing challenges included handling upfront costs and learning to market her book effectively—an aspect Patricia admits is not her favorite. Nonetheless, she published three editions:

• Paperback: The first edition, self-produced and distributed to family and friends.
• Ebook: A relatively easy step, boosted by contacts and formatting help through promotional platforms.
• Audiobook: Produced later with professional narration, providing convenient ways for listeners to experience the journey.

Recognition and Preservation: Stanford University Archives

One of Patricia’s proudest achievements is that Stanford University contacted her to archive and digitize the primary data from her journey, including slides, letters, and trip logs. This will make her original materials accessible to researchers and the public as an invaluable resource documenting post-WWII travel.

Continuing the Legacy

Though still focused on marketing her memoir, Patricia is inspired by her family’s history of journaling—her mother’s and grandmother’s journals date back to the early 20th century. She plans to explore writing a memoir about her mother’s experiences growing up in the 1920s and 1930s.

Conclusion

Patricia Sullivan’s fascinating travel memoir is not only a window into a van-life adventure during a time of great global change but also a valuable example for indie authors navigating the challenges of memoir writing, publishing, and promotion. Her story reinforces the power of preserving original records, embracing community resources like BAIPA, and the lasting impact of sharing personal journeys.

Learn more about Patricia and her book at patriciansullivan.com and explore the supportive independent publishing community at BAIPA.org.