Overland Bound

Overland Bound One Support Alert: A Rescue Story in Capitan Gap

Overland Bound — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 22:35:26 +0000

The Overland Bound One Support Alert in action! In the vast expanses of the great outdoors, where the rugged trails of Capitan Gap, New Mexico, wind through the terrain, an Overland Bound member, known in the community as @offroadnutz, found himself in a precarious situation that many off-roaders fear. While navigating the back country trails in his 1988 4Runner, an unexpected engine failure halted his adventure, leaving him stranded far from the nearest main road. What followed is a testament to the strength and camaraderie of the Overland Bound community.

With no way to move his vehicle and in need of assistance, @offroadnutz turned to the Overland Bound One app, utilizing the Support Alert feature. This communication tool works with the Overland Bound One Resource Map and allows members in distress to send out a message to nearby community members, requesting assistance. It’s a digital lifeline for those who find themselves in unpredictable situations off the beaten path.*

The Overland Bound One Support Alert Goes Out

The call for help did not go unanswered. Another community member, @eajames, saw the alert and immediately responded, reaching out to @offroadnutz to coordinate a rescue. Demonstrating true community spirit, @eajames and a friend planned their mission, setting out the next morning in a Jeep equipped for the rugged terrain and the task at hand.

“Here he is coming down the trail. What a site for sore eyes.” -@offroadnutz

Their journey was successful, and they were able to locate @offroadnutz and his 4Runner. Working together, they managed to tow the disabled vehicle back to the safety of a main road, where a tow truck could take over. This act of kindness and teamwork highlights the core values of the Overland Bound community: support, respect, and a shared passion for adventure.

This story serves as a powerful reminder of the unpredictability of off-road adventures and the invaluable support that a community like Overland Bound provides. However, it also underscores the importance of using the Overland Bound One Support Alert feature as one of several safety measures. Members are encouraged to employ multiple methods of seeking help in emergencies, including sending SOS alerts via satellite communication devices and contacting local authorities when necessary.

The successful rescue of @offroadnutz is not just a tale of one member’s misfortune and another’s heroism; it is a reflection of the collective spirit of Overland Bound. It demonstrates how technology, when intertwined with the human touch of a tight-knit community, can create a safety net for those who venture into the unknown, ensuring that no member is left behind.

In the world of overlanding, where each journey brings its own set of challenges and surprises, stories like this resonate deeply. They remind us that beyond the rugged trails and breathtaking landscapes, it’s the bonds formed between fellow adventurers that make the journey truly unforgettable.

Join the Overland Bound Community: Adventure Awaits

This story of camaraderie and support in the face of adversity is just one of many within the Overland Bound community. It highlights not only the spirit of adventure that drives us but also the collective safety net that our community provides. Whether you’re a seasoned off-roader or just beginning to explore the vastness of the great outdoors, Overland Bound is your gateway to a community that values support, respect, and the shared passion for adventure.

By becoming an Overland Bound member, you’re not just gaining access to an array of resources, tools, and information tailored for overlanding; you’re becoming part of a global family of adventurers who are ready to extend a helping hand, share their knowledge, and explore the world together.

We encourage you to take the next step in your overlanding journey by joining Overland Bound. Experience the strength of community support, engage with like-minded adventurers, and access the tools you need to safely explore the unknown. Together, we can make every adventure safer, more accessible, and more enjoyable.

Join us today and become part of a story that stretches across continents, cultures, and the uncharted territories of the great outdoors. Let’s embark on this journey together.

Learn More

* It’s important to note that the effectiveness of Support Alert relies on the availability of cellular signal or internet reception, a reminder of the importance of planning and preparation in remote areas. Using Support Alert does not guarantee assistance and should be used in conjunction with other off grid communication and emergency devices.

Downsizing from a House to an Overland Vehicle

Jessica Gonzalez — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 19:43:00 +0000

Words and Photos by Jorge & Jessica Gonzalez

After three years of living on the road, multiple purges of the items that we carry, and a constant refinement of what we currently have, we think it’s safe to say that we kind of have a handle on what it means to travel light in our overland vehicle. We want to share with you our approach, some of the questions we ask ourselves regarding what stays and what goes, and some of the products we use that help us stay sane and organized in a small space.

We went from living in a 2,500sq.ft. townhouse to living in an 80sq.ft. van and we’ve learned a lot about our needs, our wants, and our priorities along the way.

Sure, having a 60 inch flat screen TV to watch Monday Night Football or binge watch Game of Thrones is awesome, but living in a small space demands sacrifices.
So, that blender, the nice washer and dryer, the Sleep Number bed, the art hanging on your wall, the love seat, and boxes in the attic filled with memories have to take a back seat if your desire is to live on the road for any extended amount of time. Plus, all those things would probably break on the trail.

What follows is a practical synopsis of how to simplify. This post will be short on commentary about “minimizing one’s footprint”, “small is beautiful” and other en vogue notions that too often shoehorn an ideology into overlanding. Our advice is not to use a rock as a pillow or to brush your teeth with tree bark. If granola is your thing, grab yourself a Cliff Bar ‘cause that’s pretty much the only granola you’ll be encountering here.

Let’s make this as simple as possible: You need food, a way to cook it, water, some shelter and a way to stay warm. One of us is a former Infantryman and we assure you that other than a rifle and a few other combat essential things, our needs as humans are quite spartan. Luckily, we’re packing a vehicle for overlanding and not a rucksack for field exercises so we can carry a considerable amount more. The amount you ultimately carry will vary greatly depending on the vehicle and the length of your journey.

Because we live on the road full time, we will be writing from a perspective that takes into account long term functionality and efficiency. Feel free to subtract or substitute based on your needs and vehicle space.

Simplify Simplify Simplify

At this point, it’s a good idea to start making a list. It’s helpful to divide the things you’re bringing along into categories such as Clothing, Cooking, Cleaning, Sleeping, Tools, Leisure, and if you’ll be working from your vehicle, Work. Once you’ve compiled a list or perhaps gathered all these items on the floor in your living room, assign a value to each: Must-Have, Nice-to-Have, and Luxury. Go ahead and set those luxuries aside for later. Now, take your Nice-to-Haves and try to cut them in half.

No really, half ‘em. Now, those Must-Haves, take a hard look at each one and ask yourself the following questions:

Is it cost effective?
Is it light weight?
Does it work or is it some gimmick
What’s the quality/will it last?
Is there a better option that can do the same thing?
Is there room?
Can I live with out it?

Chances are if it’s not food, water, or shelter (or a vehicle specific tool), then you can live without it and if that’s the case, go ahead and move that into the Nice-to-Have pile.

Save Space

Once you feel like you have a good handle on what you’re taking with you, these are the questions we like to ask regarding efficiency:

Does the item have more than one use?
Can you nest it?
Could it be compressed?
Can it be rolled, strapped, stuffed into something else or stored outside?

Space is at a premium so priority is generally given to items that meet at least one of the criteria mentioned above to make our use of space as efficient as possible. Another thing to think about is how you will pack your vehicle and what you will put where. Think first about accessibility.

How often throughout each day will you be accessing that particular item?
How important is it that that item be near the top or near the bottom or somewhere in-between?
Is it a daily, weekly, or seasonal item?

Example: We access our camera on a regular basis so it’s kept within arms reach at all times, but our winter coats stay tucked away until it’s time to fish them out of whatever recessed abyss they happen to be stuffed.

Cut Weight

Overpacking leads to being overweight. Overweight leads to worn or broken parts on your vehicle. Overpacking also leads to clutter, frustration, and inefficiency. Being able to get to things you use often quickly will make your life on the road substantially less frustrating. Live by the credo: Everything Has a Place. Stick to that like white on rice.

Look back through your list and ask: Is this is the lightest possible item available for this purpose? If not, there should be a good reason for it.

This is How We Do It

Here are some items we have found to make life easier on the road, maybe these can inspire you to find some of your own. This list is by no means exhaustive because we’re simply not going to bore you with every little gadget and doo-dad in our vehicle but we think it might help you start thinking creatively about how and what to pack.

Clothes

Look at yourself in the mirror. Is Kim Kardashian staring back at you? I didn’t think so. Now that you know that, prepare to cut way back on your wardrobe. When overlanding, wearing the same clothes for a week or..dare I say…two, happens. You ain’t out to impress anybody with your fancy clothes combo so cut way back on all those precious garments. Dirtbag is the New Black.

We used to have a walk-in closet full of clothes, now our clothes fit into a carry on bag. Versatility and functionality are the key. Carry clothes that layer or work as a system so when combined can function in cold weather or be used alone in warmer weather.

We pack all of our clothes into packing cubes. Why? Because packing cubes compress bulky clothes into cubes that are easy to organize and fit into tight spaces. Think of them like legos only with clothes inside them and less devastating were you step on them barefooted.

Something we’ve learned in our time on the road is to find clothes that are multi-purpose, look fly, and can pack well. Jorge uses these pants from NorthFace exclusively. They are great for hiking, walking around a city, wearing to work when we have to go into an office to perform our duties, and they can become shorts which means hot days are less hot because pant-leg-air-conditioning. Oh, and you can also use them as swim trunks. Boom. These are pretty much the unicorns of the trouser world.

We pack t-shirts as well. Probably 3 or 4 a piece. Roll these puppies and save space. No really, rolling instead of folding saves huge amounts of space in the packing cubes. Do it.

As far as shoes we both carry four or five pairs of them. Jorge has one pair of flip flops for summer gallivanting and showers in unspeakably gross places, one pair of high top Chucks that are pretty much the definition of sex appeal, a set of water shoes for walking in the ocean and creeks and rivers oh my, and one pair of hiking shoes in the event we’re feeling froggy enough to take a walk in the wild.

Jessica also carries flip flops which means her toes are always perfectly pedicured, she has a pair of boots made for walking, a pair of trail running shoes that double as hiking shoes, water shoes for rivers, creeks, the ocean etc and then one pair of Chucks ‘cause she’s a straight baller.

We kind of have a lot of shoes. You could probably get away with flip flops and a sturdy pair of hiking/running shoes. We just like footwear though so…yeah, we go a little overboard on it.

We also carry a handful of winter clothes. When your house is on four wheels you can mostly avoid the cold but from time to time we like to check in with Father Winter and see what’s crackin’ (usually our lips), in which case we both have a heavy winter coat and some Long-Juans™ (the hispanic version of long-johns). We manage to pack those into a pretty small space as well. We like the NorthFace jackets because they compress down into small ball of cute space savings.

Cooking

Nesting pots, a spatula, some tongs, a knife, and a stove of some sort. Our fine friends at Overland Bound sell the skottle but other options abound. We’ve had good luck with stoves from Coleman. Currently our rig has a built in stove which makes our rig pretty much cooler than Vanilla Ice in 1990.
The nesting pots have been a godsend meaning they take up very little space and have been up to the task for 3 whole years of overlanding. These pots are teflon coated and some of our compadres on the road don’t dig on teflon because cancer but we’re immune to all forms of weakness so we use these pots to show off our super natural resilience. Also, we can store bowls inside the nesting pots thus saving even more real estate.

Real talk though, if you want to use a cast iron skillet because you like the baked in flavors of left over food and grease then get the smallest one you think will work for your needs. Oh, and get one cutting board. We like wooden ones because they look like we have class and they are lightweight, but you can find uber thin plastic cutting boards that take up less space, weigh less and have less class.

Cleaning

Check it out, we use store bought real cleaners you get from Walmart and not the Trader Joes or Whole Foods crap that is pretty much scented water in a bottle made from mud and polar bear dreams. Specifically our main go-to cleaner is the Windex MultiSurface cleaner. It cleans windows, dog poo, grease after cooking two pounds of bacon, and it wipes away sadness caused by seeing too many forest road gates closed. One bottle to rule them all. Take that Sauron.

Other cleaners we use are bio-degradable dish washing soap from Mrs Meyers that’s safe enough to feed to a baby seal* and brake cleaner when things go terribly wrong with the vehicle. We’ve heard brake cleaner is the safest product known to man. We aren’t sure that’s entirely true because after each use we seem to die a little bit on the inside. Use sparingly.
*Don’t feed soap to baby seals. They don’t like it. Fact.

Sleeping

Minimal is better, but many folks including ourselves like to splurge on space a bit in the sleeping department. We use full size pillows, blankets, and foam mattress toppers because we can spare the space. But others choose to use sleeping bags and inflatable pillows. Go with whatever option works in your space and affords you the good night’s sleep you need on a regular basis. Our good friends over @Bound.For.Nowhere were genius’ and just cut their fancy memory foam pillows in half to save space AND keep it comfortable. Sleeping is awesome, make it comfortable. Feel free to use that line if you’re in advertising.

Tools

Because we don’t have a garage to head back to when things go sideways, we carry an ungodly amount of tools, each of which has thus far come in handy, mind you. In our opinion, carry tools that can change a CV, a belt, and a hose. Beyond that we think it depends on your vehicle and where you’re going. If you’re in a VW Vanagon, consider having a mechanic on retainer to live with you. If you have a Toyota, you probably have no idea what the engine compartment looks like because you’ve never had to open the bonnet.

Here’s another pro-tip: Use a tool roll. It’s tempting to get a tool bag but we have found after 3 years of tool bags that a tool roll or two saves an inordinate amount of space. Something else we do is we have a little bag that contains often-used tools like screwdrivers, allan wrenches, an adjustable wrench and a cutting tool. That bag lives in a different more easily accessible place than our “oh shit” tool rolls. Also, consider having a multimeter. Buy a good one. Don’t skimp on that.

Leisure

Do you have a hobby like photography, drawing, knitting, or fishing that you’d like to pursue while on the road? You’ll need to plan for space for these items. Ask yourself all the same questions you did before with your essential items:

Is there space?
Is there something smaller or lighter that would work just as well?
How often will I need to access these items?

We like to read and we used to carry a stupid number of books with us. Now we have switched to using the kindle app on our Apple device and have nearly unlimited space for things we want to read. Yes, we still carry some books but it’s vastly fewer than before. Bound books are like the missionary position of consuming content these days but there’s just something about holding a real book in your hand, ya know?

We also like to photograph and shoot video meaning we carry an assortment of cameras, mounts, and stands. We have managed to whittle our camera gear down substantially and to find ingenious places around the van to attach accessories using a combination of Quick Fists and velcro straps. Get creative with how you attach things, get even more creative with cutting down on what you take in the first place.

Work

This category will obviously vary widely depending on the type of work you choose to pursue while on the road. That being said, use the same sort of thinking here and ask yourself what is the minimum amount of gear you can get away with and still get the job done. Keep in mind that security is key for valuable items like computers or other valuable gear and you should think about secure storage when building out your rig.

Wrap Up

Living on the road doesn’t have to suck but it does require sacrifices. Going from a huge house to a typical overland vehicle like a Syncro or Land Cruiser or Defender is going to entail cutting way back on the stuff you have. That’s totally ok. You decided to hit the road because you’ve reached a crossroads where enjoying vehicle dependent travel is now more important than enjoying a life of flat screen TVs and a Sleep Number Bed.

No, there isn’t anything wrong with having things and enjoying them, but if you’re like us, what you happen to be in love with at the moment simply doesn’t include the things one typically fills a house with. If that’s you, welcome to Overlanding. We’ll see you out there!

How to Pack Your First Aid Kit for Overlanding

Overland Bound — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 00:14:00 +0000

By Chris Solis

Know How to Organize the Different Parts of your First Aid Kit

When heading out into the backcountry we need to be prepared for any misadventure that we may encounter. Vehicle maintenance needs to be done in advance, spare parts double checked, sleeping and cooking gear need to be accounted for, etc.

Once you have all that squared away, you’re ready to head out into the wilderness, right?

Well, not quite yet.

First Aid Kit – Too Easily Overlooked

One area of preparation that commonly needs the most attention and improvement is First Aid. For me, First Aid is the most important part of my system because as much as a mechanical breakdown can ruin a trip, or being cold and hungry can be miserable, not being able to care for an injured member of your family or group is one of the worst situations to be in.

When investing your time and money into a first aid kit and training you need to make sure the gear and education you are receiving addresses realistic problems you will encounter so that you will have the confidence to handle them in real life.

The goal of this article is not to tell you which kit to buy, or which class to take, but to get you thinking about what YOU want from your first aid system and how to organize it.

More often than not, people buy an expensive trauma or first aid kit that promises care for almost all injuries with 300+ items crammed into a cool looking kit. And then once the purchase is made, ‘First Aid’ gets checked off and is considered done.

First Aid Kit – 3 Components

The reality is that most first aid kits on the market purport to be a jack of all medical necessities, and this is exactly why they fail the consumer. So where do you start? First we need to define the types of care we are going to provide.

This is important because the first aid kit you carry and use needs to address different types of care when you are miles from help. I break it down into three components:

Boo Boos (I have kids.)
Basecamp First Aid
Trauma Care

Each has its own priorities and therefore I carry three kits to address each one. As we go through them I want you to think about how you would set up your kit to deal with the types of injuries and ailments you could possibly encounter.

Boo Boo Kit

This is for the little cuts and scrapes, bumps and bruises that everyone gets just by being out and about. They don’t require anything more than a quick wipe off and a band aid for the most part.

If you have children, you will go through 100 bandaids on a normal trip. This is a small kit, easy to grab from the glove box or other cubby. This should be accessible when the rig is fully loaded so you can address things when you stop for lunch, bio breaks, etc.

Some items to consider are bandaids, neosporin, chemical ice pack, chapstick, moleskin, etc.

Basecamp First Aid Kit

This is more of a true first aid kit, designed to care for people at camp and take care of the medical issues that come up. Think of it as the mobile medicine cabinet that can be stored in your vehicle and brought out at camp when the rig is mostly unpacked.

This contains medicines for headaches, stomach aches, wound care supplies, creams and ointments for a variety of ailments, etc. This is designed to treat those issues that don’t require you to end the trip, but make the person more comfortable and enjoy themselves.

Trauma Care Kit

This is the one that needs to be easily accessible, fully stocked at all times, and only used for major injuries. The kit should be organized to allow for the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) trauma protocol to be followed.

Having a separate trauma kit allows for all of the equipment needed for each step to be immediately available without having to hunt through 299 other things during an emergency.

I recommend using a soft sided backpack (emergencies don’t always happen right next to your rig), and that it be capable of carrying enough equipment to care for the number of people in your crew.

Invest in your own safety by having the gear needed for additional responders to jump in at the scene. Your kit should have equipment to not only treat, but protect and remove patients from more harm.

And here’s the reality of backcountry trauma care when traveling way off the beaten path: no matter what you carry or level of training you have, you are significantly limited in what you can do when dialing 911 is not an option.

Once you embrace this and know that all you are trying to do is have the right first aid kit and tools accessible at the right time in the right circumstances/situations, you are well on your way to being properly prepared.

About Chris

Chris moderates and manages the First Aid section of the Overland Boot Camp section on our forums.

Above and beyond being an Advanced Trauma Life Support Instructor, and Flight Surgeon for the East Bay Regional Parks, Chris is a passionate outdoorsman and teacher. He spends his professional time as the Chair Department of Surgery Sutter Delta Medical Center, and his personal time off-roading in his Camel Trophy Defender 110.

Overland Bound Completes Third Trail Guardian Clean Up in the Mojave National Preserve

Elizabeth Bennett — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:03:34 +0000

Overland Bound Completes 3rd Trail Guardian Work Weekend in Partnership with the Mojave National Preserve –

April 24th, 2021 –

It was a weekend of hard work, camaraderie and perfect weather in the Mojave National Preserve.

With the help and guidance of OB/Trail Guardian Executive Director Kent Reynolds, over 100 Overland Bound members joined together in the Mojave National Preserve to take on three major projects in partnership with the US National Park Service (NPS). Ongoing work to clear decades worth of debris in the Death Valley Mine was completed, barriers and fire pits to help protect the environmentally sensitive ecosystem of the Kelso Dunes were installed, and significant progress was made in the demolition of a historically inaccurate barn at Kessler Ranch.

Overland Bound volunteers distributed themselves across these worksites, and best of all, the collective hours of volunteer service are translated into direct value to the NPS. Volunteer hours are calculated into cash value by multiplying the number of hours the volunteers work by the Independent Sector’s estimate of the value of volunteer time. (For example, the value was $23.07/hour for 2014.) We will update this article with the total value pending confirmation from the Mojave National Preserve team. The November 2020 Trail Guardian event had an estimated value of over $18,000.

Thank you to Park Superintendent Mike Gauthier, Park Archeologist Dave Nichols and Mojave National Preserve Science Advisor Debra Hughson and Matt Caire for their commitment to producing these events.

The workday wrapped up with a large campfire and raffle. Thank you to Maxtrax, Zarges Cases, Gazelle Tents and Wagan Tech for their generosity in offering up raffle prizes for our hard workers.

A significant and enthusiastic THANK YOU is due to the entire volunteer leadership team who lead the charge: Bob Brann (Death Valley Mine Lead), Kevin Reinig (Truck Unloading Lead), Nick DeLuca (Truck Loading Lead), Tom Butler (Demo and Debris at Kessler Ranch Lead), Mike Lee (Kelso Dunes Lead), Deb Lee (Event Medical Lead) and Rob Irwin (Documentation Lead and Medical Support).

In the words of the National Park Service, “Volunteering is an American tradition that over the years has made an immeasurable contribution to communities, organizations, and individuals throughout the country. Volunteers are vital to the success of the National Park Service (NPS).”

Overland Bound is proud to work alongside the National Park Service and all other land use authorities to help keep our trails open, especially the historically rich and well traveled overland route of the Mojave Road. We are currently working to expand the Trail Guardian Program to reach even more lands in need of volunteer assistance.

Thank you again to everyone who joined us during this epic weekend! And please remember to pack out more than you packed in. Let’s work together to leave it better than we found it.

Virtual Overland Expo 2020: Coming Soon to an Internet Connection Near You

Elizabeth Bennett — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 18:55:27 +0000

You would be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn’t been impacted by the upside down that is 2020. The Overland Expo events scheduled this year for the West, Rocky Mountains and East were no exception. But rather than sit back and wait, the Overland Expo team took matters into their own hands and created a virtual experience unlike any other. The Virtual Overland Expo is completely free to join, offers a wide assortment of overland specific virtual roundtables, education opportunities and weekend only deals on overland gear and equipment for attendees.

It’s all for the taking online starting Saturday, August 8th at 9AM PT. Details are below!

From the Overland Expo Team: “Overland Expo is committed to gathering the overland community year-round online. Join us Saturday, August 8th for the Summer Edition of Virtual Overland Expo.

Virtual activities include educational seminars, live roundtable discussions, show discounts from exhibitors, cool rigs & motos on display in the Nomadica Outfitters Virtual Campgrounds, prizes and giveaways, and a sample of short films as part of the ICON Overland Film Festival. Join in all day for roundtables, travel tips, and training.

Featuring:

Wild camping: The dirty truth
Elevate your outdoor meals with Chef Corso of MONTyBOCA
1.2 Million miles worth of top travel tips
Driving the Pan-American highway
Regional Q&A: Alaska
And more!

Where to tune in:
Virtual Overland Expo Hub
YouTube Premieres
Instagram Live

See Full Education Schedule

Let us know in the comments if you plan to join. We hope to “see” you there!

Exploring Red River Gorge

Elizabeth Bennett — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 23:50:40 +0000

Overland Bound Member 6480 Jason Price met up with the Kentucky Toyota Land Cruiser Association (KYTLCA) for a ride through Red River Gorge. It was an epic drive through an unbelievable landscape, and the only part better than the vehicles were the new-found friends driving.

By Jason Price

Photos by Sarah Walton

One of the great things about overlanding and off-roading is the community of people that you meet. Take the Kentucky Toyota Land Cruiser Association (KYTLCA). Mountain Mama and I recently attended a ride sponsored by them at Red River Gorge.

It was a great opportunity to meet lots of folks from the region. Kentucky has a very vibrant scene with lots of levels of overlanding and offroading displayed at this event.

There was everything from rock crawlers to overlanders to vintage FJs to fresh off the lot Tacomas. There were even a few people who showed up with Jeeps and a Trailblazer to boot.The ride was divided into four different levels of experience. I had originally planned on going with the low immediate group. But this was going to be Mountain Mama’s first outing in which she would be driving. She was a bit nervous, so I decided to tag along with the beginners group to help ease some of her anxiety about putting her 2016 Tacoma through the paces.

We had a motley group. Many of the people on the trip had never been on any kind of trail with their rigs. Some brought along the whole family like we did. Most had been a few times and then there were the leaders of the group.

John was in a Land Cruiser that had seen many a trail and Josh was in a Chevy TrailBlazer that was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.After airing down to 25psi we took off for a short highway ride that soon dipped into some gravel for a few miles. Before you knew it, we were hitting our first dirt, or should I say, mud. As we got deeper and deeper into the ride it became quite apparent that this was not going to simply be a gravel road cruise.

We first hit a muddy uphill that didn’t prove to be a challenge for any of the vehicles but was a trial by fire for the nerves of some. The major obstacle was at the crest of a hill. There was a rock to the left and a narrow trail that was a bit off camber.

Without a view of what you were dropping into, it was a test of faith in John’s ability to lead us. As his voice crackled over channel 7 on our CBs, he gave us the confidence we needed to complete the task.Mountain Mama was anxious as she crested the hill but others on the trail taking pictures helped steady her nerves and even jumped into her rig to coach her and the Taco through the first challenge of the day. Now keep in mind that the Tacoma is her baby and is a 6 speed TRD Offroad edition. So not only was this her first time but it was a manual to boot. By the time she made it down to the front of the group she was pumped to have made it and was raring for more.The route weaved its way through thick sections of deciduous forest interspersed with the occasional pine and magnolia patch. The Red River Gorge area is a geological treasure.

Much of “The Gorge” lies in theDanial Boone National Forest and is part of the Pottsville Escarpment. It has a collection of natural arches that ranks it in the top three spots in the United States to view these natural wonders.

Historically, the area was stripped of its timber. The remnants of this can be seen at the Nada Tunnel. The tunnel served as a shortcut for a small gauge rail track that was used to remove the timber from the area. The area is still a resource for oil and natural gas.With dozens of pumpers along the route it is a constant reminder of the importance of the land and the need for striking a balance between preservation and sustainable use and its impact on the local economy.

The area has been a climbing mecca for decades, with many famous routes up the rock to challenge even the most skilled of climbers. Many of those climbs centers around one of The Gorge’s most iconic draws…Miguel’s. While it was closed for renovations during this visit, it is an iconic place to get a pizza and Ale-8 after a day on the trail or on the wall.We next hit a bit more gravel before getting to a creek crossing and then a muddy switch back. As soon as we crossed the creek and were waiting to ascend the first leg of the switchback, an oil worker attending to a pumper approached our rigs and gave us a warning of the conditions. He also questioned our sanity for attempting such a route with such nice trucks. I assumed he didn’t know much about the trail prowess of Toyotas.

As we began the assent, the FJ crawled right up the pitch without an issue as did the Tacoma. Mountain Mama worked the clutch in the Taco like she had been offroading for years. Many of the veterans waiting at the top of the hill accused her of being a sandbagger. The switch back progressed with another muddy pitch that proved to be as much fun as the first. We continued the route to the Bone Yard Offroad Park for killer pork tenderloin sandwiches that hit the spot after a long morning on the trail. As time was running short, a few members of our group headed for home while the rest of us pushed on, now under the leadership of Josh.

He took us on a route that lead through a series of water crossings that tested the nerve of the uninitiated. With water washing well over the tires and ice still in the creek, the slog was a chilly example of some of The Gorge’s most scenic trail.

Cliffs dripped with ice and hemlocks. It was a truly magical place.As we hit the main road back into Slade, our group slowly broke apart as each member’s voice crackled over the CB thanking Josh for such an amazing trip through The Gorge.

We all went our separate ways but are bound by a common thread of this experience. As Mountain Mama and I settled back into our room with our cubs at the Hemlock Lodge with carry out from La Cabana we reflected on the journey we had just enjoyed.

What stuck out more than anything was the people we met. The KYTLCA made us feel like old friends. As we continue to get more involved with them, we look forward to many more memories and friends to be made.

Learn more about the Ohio Valley Overland on their Facebook and Instagram page!

Overlanding with Disabilities

Elizabeth Bennett — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 23:29:58 +0000

Overlanding in Africa can be challenging at the best of times, but when you’re wheelchair-bound, it’s a whole new ball game. Seasoned traveller Louis Broodryk shares the clever ways he gets around on a continent where wheelchair access is limited and sometimes non-existent.

By Louis Broodryk
Photos by Louis and Kareen Broodryk

If there’s one person who deserves to be called fearless, it’s Louis Broodryk. Nearly three decades ago, his life took an unimaginable turn when a tragic accident landed him in a wheelchair. Despite a new set of challenges, he did not let his disability stop him from living life to the full and pursuing his travel dreams. For the past 15 years, he and his wife, Kareen, have backpacked around the world, capturing the experiences on their blog Fearless on Four Wheels. Now, they have quit the rat race to pursue travel full-time for a year and a half.

Louis shares their story:When we told our friends and family that we would be resigning our jobs to travel Africa, the most common response was: “You are going to do WHAT?!” It is now nine months later and what an adventure we are having.

I broke my back 26 years ago. ‘Luckily’, I regained some use of my upper legs, which makes mobility easier as I can crawl and stand with support. My accident did not stop my passion for travelling and exploring, especially in Africa. That is why Kareen and I decided to embark on an epic trip across Africa.

We left Cape Town in July 2018 and have travelled through Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania, including Zanzibar. Currently, we are exploring Kenya and plan to travel farther north thereafter.Our mode of transport is a 2010 Toyota Hilux D4D called Ufudu, which means tortoise in Zulu. To make the bakkie wheelchair friendly, we installed a hand control driving system, extra handles around the vehicle and a carrier on the driver-side to store my wheelchair in.

Being in a wheelchair, you have to consider the types of surfaces you will encounter. For example, we discovered that I can handle a maximum of three days in very thick sand, like that found in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Khwai River in Botswana or on a beach.

In these conditions, moving so much as a metre is very difficult and slow, and after three days, we have to find an environment with harder terrain. I am very independent and try not to ask my wife for help, but in thick sand, I have to ask constantly.The same goes for campsites. Searching for campsites with some grass and working out the distance to the various facilities have become specialised skills for us. Ablution blocks are seldom wheelchair friendly – sometimes, the wheelchair cannot even fit through the doorframe. Using a plastic chair in the shower can make washing easier, and I also carry a rubber mat with me to sit on. Sometimes, I have to find a fork in a tree trunk to use as a toilet, but it works well and has the best view!

On our trip so far, we have come across only two wheelchair accessible toilets, and both were in shopping malls in Lusaka, Zambia. Thankfully, navigation apps such as Tracks4Africa have made our lives a lot easier by helping us find pictures of campsites.A big challenge for me is the maintenance of the wheelchair. On one occasion, we hit a tree with the side of our Hilux on a very narrow, sandy road leaving Angola. Luckily, a taxi stopped and helped us get all the pieces of our canopy and wheelchair packed in the car.

Unfortunately, my wheelchair had broken in two places and I was not able to use it at all. In Mongu, Western Zambia, I had the wheelchair welded back together the next morning. The canopy was then repaired over the next few days. This was all done with the help of another taxi driver, Mr Brighton, to whom we could not be more grateful. On our adventure, we have encountered the best kinds of people: friendly, hospitable and always willing to help. Sometimes, they can be too helpful, which becomes especially problematic when there is a big language barrier.

This was most challenging in Angola. We spent a wonderful month there, but it was difficult to communicate as our Portuguese is very limited, and strangers always wanted to assist by pushing me. Nevertheless, we were astounded by the beauty of the country. The lack of infrastructure and the impact of war is still very visible, but I would definitely recommend a visit to this picturesque country.

We believe in having a positive impact on the places we visit. Therefore, before leaving South Africa, we raised funds to distribute reusable sanitary pads at schools in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. It was heart-warming to see the schoolgirls’ reactions when they heard the pads can be washed and reused for up to four years. We have already received feedback from one school that told us there has been an improvement in girls’ attendance since they received the pads.Our adventures have taught us to work together as a team, especially when things go wrong. We have learnt to simplify our lives and live every day with very few luxuries. Our travels have taught us the value of a smile and to appreciate real connections with people.

For the next leg of their trip, Louis and Kareen are headed to central and northeast Africa. If you want to join them on their adventures, you can find them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

If you would like to help Louis and Kareen improve the lives of schoolgirls across Africa, you can donate to their sanitary pad project.

Overland Vehicle Preparation

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 23:36:14 +0000

Preparing a vehicle for overland travel is specific to your style of travel, there is no “one size fits all” solution. Graeme Bell and family have spent years on the road less traveled, exploring some of the most remote corners of the planet. We asked him to talk vehicle preparation for long term adventure.

Words by Graeme Bell / Images by the Bell family

There is a very important distinction which needs to be made between the Offroader and the Overland traveller, often the two are thought to be the same.

An Offroader uses their vehicle, usually highly modified and not a daily driver, for recreational purposes and perhaps the odd holiday where he or she will venture into the realm of the Overlander for a while. The priority is to test the limitations and endurance of both individual and vehicle either in designated 4×4 areas or on a round trip to an adventure destination where reliance will be on the the vehicle to travel to remote places over difficult terrain. The Offroader has nerves of steel. The Overlander’s objective is adventure travel over vastly changing terrain while testing courage and resourcefulness and the vehicle’s endurance and reliability; all the while maintaining some degree of comfort, usually over an extended period of time. Not all Overlanders like to drive far from the beaten track and many will never exploit the off road capabilities of their vehicles. There is nothing wrong with this way of travel. Many remote places we have been are accessible by a well driven, unloved sedan. If you are an Offroader who intends to become a long term Overlander you will have a fantastic journey if you are willing to adapt your mindset by carefully considering your long term travel needs.Yes, less is more. There is a European overlander I never met who toured Central South America at the same time we were there (the first time around). We had mutual friends and the tales we heard were fresh. He drove a custom modified Pinzgauer based vehicle which resembled a lunar landing pod with wheels. The dashboard and ceiling of the driver’s cab was equipped with knobs and dials and switches, lights that flashed and gauges to inform of the pressure, fluid level, heat and health of every bloody moving part. Antenna swayed above the vehicle and a satellite dish jutted out the side of the living quarters. He had upgraded almost every part and had installed an electrical system which would baffle most Electrical Engineers. The thing had six driven wheels, portal axles, lockers on each differential, self inflating tyres, you name it. It probably cost more than I have ever earned or spent, and I started working when I was 14. Problem was… the thing hardly ever worked. The electrical system would crash frequently and the highly tuned engine ate the gearbox and pooped out the clutch. Twice he had to have a technician and a huge crate of spare parts flown in from some spotless Swiss workshop. Those mechanical problems were undoubtedly an inconvenience und very, very frustrating, but we are going to assume that Herr. Otto had a huge pile of Euros under his bed back home in Bavaria. The rub was that though the vehicle was designed to be highly competent off road, it was unreliable and therefore unlikely to leave the hard top for any significant periods of time. Contrary to popular belief, many Overlanders are not able to afford either the over the top rig or the associated costs. If you are going to travel around the world in a 4×4, or any vehicle, you want to live by that old corporate chestnut – KISS, or Keep It Simple Stupid. No doubt when planning to outfit your vehicle you will spend countless hours on the web and attending outdoor shows where gleaming hardware and camouflage strapping solar powered water filtration air beds will coax the hard earned cash right out of your pants. That burly, khaki clad salesman will convince you that you should not even consider leaving home without the rock sliders and the custom roof rack and the full length LED light bar, the three extra fuel and water tanks including the latest generation NASA designed pumps installed by his workshop while they drill in a cast iron drawer system, a full lighting system, a bar, two fridges, military grade under body protection, 40 inch tyres and all the associated upgrades to the running gear and electrical system.

All of that is great if you plan to use the vehicle to impress your mates every second weekend, and once a year for a run to Moab, but maybe not so great when you are planning to be a long term traveller. The focus when modifying a vehicle for Overlanding should be on comfort and every day usability. You want to be dry when it is raining, warm when it is snowing or ice cold, cool in a heat wave, protected from the wind with the ability to store and prepare food under all those conditions and sleep well at night, safe from bugs and predators, both two and four legged. Recently we were camping in a desert with a leak of Defenders, when a small sandstorm blew through camp all night. Everyone was miserable except for the genius who had put an ambulance body on his Defender and our family who could sleep in a tent through a tornado. Said genius (he really is a genius, a rock climbing PanAm vet who manages a team researching paediatric cancer), was warm and clean and safe behind insulated walls. He had sleeping space for two and could cook inside or outside the vehicle. He had one way blacked out windows for privacy, vents for ventilation and fans to cool the interior. The roof housed solar panels and surfboards, and had space for climbing gear or kayaks. Inside he had storage space for more than he needed and a large, lockable safe for cameras and other expensive technology as well as external storage boxes built into the ambulance body’s cavities. I spent a day with him driving some low range routes in the surrounding mountains and was impressed that the Defender’s off road capabilities were not hindered at all. I was envious. The cherry on the cake was that he had spent the equivalent of the price of a new roof top tent on the conversion, but, being a genius, he had created that bit of luck.Our advice to anyone planning a long term Overland journey is to first consider their particular style of travel and their own capabilities and requirements. If you like to get out there in the rough stuff and machete your way through a jungle, then you will need a vehicle equipped to be as tough as you are. If you prefer a gentle cruise with a bit of off piste driving and camping thrown in, then you will need a vehicle better suited to that style of travel. You will save a ton of money by investing in the vehicle which is best suited to your style of travel. How do you discover your style? Get out there and do it! Take whichever vehicle you have and go for a long drive, explore, meet other travellers and study their rigs. Only then will you know what is right for you.Whether you consider yourself an offroader or an overland traveler, head over to the Overland Bound Forums and start researching the adventures YOU want to take. Creating a forum account is free. Check it out!

Building a “Home” in a Land Cruiser 80 Series

Elizabeth Bennett — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 20:01:48 +0000

What do you do with your 1993 Toyota FZJ80 Land Cruiser once the kids have left the house? You turn it into a “home” and explore as much as possible.

Overland Bound Member Ofer Bruhis takes us through every decision made converting his Land Cruiser 80 Series into a (very) tiny home. Read on for all the details!

Words and Photos by Ofer Bruhis

My Land Cruiser 80 Series

About 25 years ago we bought a family car. A 1993 Toyota FZJ80 Land Cruiser. It served us for 20 years for family camping, and car pooling around town. Now that the 4 kids have left the house, we have no use for it.

Looking at the low resale value, we decided instead to invest and convert it into a house/camper having all the options of being on/off the road and being independent of lodging and food.

The first issue was to create a reliable overland Land Cruiser vehicle, with a robust drive train, a fuel efficient engine and one that could travel over any terrain.

This meant we would have to replace the 10 MPG 1FZ-FE gas engine/auto transmission with a 1HDFT (which is a Toyota 24-valve turbo diesel engine mated with an H151 5-speed transmission). This 24 MPG upgrade would allow us a 700-mile range per tank of gas.

Transforming the Land Cruiser – Exterior

Searching for the right engine for the Land Cruiser 80 Series was a long process -we’re talking 2 years. After exhausting eBay and Craigslist, in December 2017 the engine was finally found through the North America Land Cruiser Community (through Facebook).

The engine/drivetrain came out of a European HDJ81 Land Cruiser and was sent to Valley Hybrids, a shop in Stockton, California that specializes in diesel engine conversion for Land Cruisers.

They replaced most of the external parts, rebuilt the injector pump and injectors, and did all the checks to verify that the engine was in excellent running condition. They also rebuilt the 5-speed transmission.

The transfer case was converted to part time 2WD/4WD from all time 4WD in order to get even better milage on the highway. They have done an amazing job. We could have not chosen a better shop.

Meanwhile, “back at the ranch”, the Land Cruiser was undergoing more changes. The bumpers were upgraded with more rugged units that can accept a winch and a spare tire in the back. (Bumpers by 4x4Labs.)

The front seats were refinished with new leather and seat warmers. The two rows of rear seats were removed to allow space for a kitchen and bed. The electrical and fuel systems had to be converted to the diesel engine and the transmission hump had to allow for the new manual shifters.

The Land Cruiser was then painted with a ‘sand’ color.Once the engine was completed at Valley Hybrids, we borrowed a truck and brought it from Stockton to San Jose, CA.

On a hot sunny day in July the engine was finally put into the vehicle. Since this engine was designed for this Land Cruiser model in other countries, little metal work modification was required.

The finished job on the drivetrain required testing before the work on the “tiny house” began. The car was driven for 1000 miles. It also required a trip to the CA DMV to change the title of the vehicle from gas to diesel.

At this point we added a second battery to support the ‘home’ part of the Land Cruiser. It is charged by the alternator when the engine is running and disconnects when the voltage drops below 12.5 VDC when the engine is not running.

It connects to a solar panel when the car is parked for extended period of times while using the fridge.

Transforming the Land Cruiser – Interior

Tali Hardonag Architects then began the interior design of the vehicle in order to convert it into a “tiny home”. After a long search, a marine grade fridge/freezer was selected to accommodate the limited space — Webasto BI-41 dual.

The advantage of this model is that it has a detached compressor that can be placed up to 6 feet away from the fridge.

The lid for the fridge gave us a bit of a problem. For a $1000 fridge, the quality of the lid is not great. It just sits on the top of the fridge and is made of molded plastic with a sheet of Formaica on top.

We figured that securing is a must, so we used removable hinges on the back, and rubber latches in the front. All this had to be integrated into the lid and Corian on top of it all. It was a time consuming task.

Our search for a sink and faucet zeroed in on a Kohler K-3349–1-NA. We liked it because it’s a sturdy 18 gallon model, small and deep. The faucet will fold in to the well.

The sink was mounted on the frame. It required to be ‘sunk’ in about an inch, so the faucet folds flush with the counter top cover. The drain for the sink was hooked up. The last section is silicon hose and it exits behind the right rear wheel.

An extension can be attached if we want the water to flow away from the vehicle. Otherwise we can just use a small bucket. We had issues with space for the stove. We ended up building a stove from two camping stoves and some machined brass pipe parts.

The connection was used from a torch welder and it hooks to a standard Coleman propane tank. The stove was assembled and tested. It requires a wind shield and is designed to fit in a drawer under the fridge when not used.

We can pull it back to cook by the tail gate, or remove it completely and place it on the counter top for cooking in wet or cold weather. We used an old Corian slab to build the countertop.

It took a long time to get everything accurate, but once assembled it looked great. The material was easy to work with and the glue lines are almost invisible.The SkyCart aluminum drawers (6061-T6 0.1″ thick) were powder coated with Navy Gray (Cardinal GR-01) by Moises Finishing in San Jose.

We installed the drawers with soft close glides. The bottom drawer is a bit lower to allow taller pots to fit in. The finished panels for the drawers were installed using 100% silicone to glue them. We hope it will hold.

Also, all the sheet metal inside was covered with noise dampening sticky material. The lower side of the bed is a bench that has a slider part that opens to a twin bed.

The bench will have 3 cushions so that passengers will be able to sit on a bench seat in the back. They will have leather on top to match the front seats. The bench also has a storage area underneath. We used latches to lock it in place.

We also installed a back cushion for the bench, that is removable and used as the part of the mattress that covers the slider part of the bed.

These 3 frames attach to each other and to the vehicle itself with screws. They are not permanent, and can always be removed. The storage compartment is behind the front seats with 3 aluminum lids that hinge.

The two hatches on the driver side and center have 2″ cushions and also serve as the upper part of the bed. The rear tail gate has food grade stainless steel plates with latches so that we can store all the recovery gear. It is a bit heavy, so when opening it, care must be taken.

Water tanks are 8″ PVC schedule 40 with caps. Each tank provides 30 liters of water. One of the tanks holds hot water. (It heats 9 gallons to 150F in 18 minutes when the engine is running and warm.).

A circulating pump with a thermostat runs the water through a heat exchange unit with the radiator coolant. The compressor will pressurize the tank so that water ‘climbs’ to the faucet and shower. Ha, yes, the shower…

The exterior shower unit is a Bullfinch shower head. The unit is well made, and very compact. The shower head plugs in and has the handle integrated into it.

We used 3/8″ copper pipe for the water system. Most used compression fitting, except in a few places that used a silicon hose with clamp to relieve the stress of the vibrations.

The original pump that we chose was not self priming, so we chose a different pump. We used an old Prius battery to run the pump. (Yes. A Prius battery in a Land Cruiser 80 Series.)

Also, the electrical panel (has a) solar panel controller, 110 VAC Converter panel, main switch panel, thermostat controller, 110V plug and fuse box. A main disconnect was added as well. The 110VAC 1KW converter was mounted inside the wheel well to save space.

We added rock sliders and new Old Man Emu suspension from Cruiser Outfitters. for the Land Cruiser 80 Series. The suspension is a bit stiffer because of all the expected load we are planning to add to the car.

The roof rack is made by Prinsu Design in Idaho. It easily mounts on the vehicle and spreads the weight. Very well designed! The ARB awning was installed with custom made brackets.

The air system was installed with an ARB compressor and a 1 Gallon air tank. A pressure reducer was required for the air system that pushes the water up out of the tanks to the faucet and shower head. We are fighting gravity all our lives.

The heat exchange was mounted above the transfer case. There was just enough space for it. Silicon hoses to the radiator water. Rigid copper for the drinking/shower water.

So the setup for the three modes of the car — drive, cook, sleep are below:

And at this point the vehicle was ready for the first test. An 8000 mile trip to Alaska!

You can check out the entire photo album here!

Whether you’re building out a Land Cruiser 80 Series, a brand new Gladiator or Subaru, head over to the Overland Bound Forums and start researching for the adventures YOU want to take. Creating a forum account is free. Check it out!

The USA is Overlanding Nirvana

Elizabeth Bennett — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 22:36:05 +0000

Words and Images by Graeme Bell

We are a South African family who have driven our Land Rover Defender to over 50 countries on four continents over 150 000 miles. We have crossed the equator four times and our children have grown up to be multicultural. We have been to Casablanca, Dar es Salaam, New York, Buenos Aires, London, Istanbul and Dakar. And we believe that, of all the countries we have visited, The United States of America offers one of the most rewarding overland experiences.
Here are a few reason why:Jungle, desert, mountains, beaches, glaciers and the wide open plains. Whichever terrain you seek to explore the USA has it. And the country only does spectacular. Zion National Park is perfect, every peak and tree and grain of sand is perfect. Utah is a red paradise (and Salt Lake City once hosted the Winter Olympics), Alaska is the final frontier where salmon and bears and glaciers compete for your attention, Florida has beaches jungles and swamps and all kinds of crazy. The South is greener than England. The entire West Coast is an overlander wet dream (it is worth noting that we did not spend nearly enough time exploring the East Coast, but we plan to rectify that mistake one day).Americans man! On our very first day in the USA we stood in a Brownsville, Texas supermarket parking lot and unloaded a cart of BBQ ribs, cold beer and bags of fresh fruit and vegetables into the Land Rover. A lady approached us to chat and we told her how we had driven up from Argentina. “It’s ok”, she said, “you are home now”.
In California and Washington State and Pittsburgh and a dozen other cities and towns we were welcomed into homes and communities, we learned to say things like “you’re good”, and “that’s funny” and “say what now”. The generosity and friendship we experienced was heartwarming and humbling. In Europe we paid $2.00 a litre for diesel and in West Africa a litre will cost $1.00. We paid less than half that per gallon on average in the USA which essentially meant that we could drive four times further than we could in most other countries. This is a very good thing simply because of the size of the country – you can drive all day and still be in California. Crossing Texas alone can take the better part of a week (especially if you are driving a Land Rover Defender 130).
Cheap fuel also means you have more money for experiences, for a good campsite and a decent meal. If you do all your shopping at QFC and similar point awarding retailers you can save even more money on fuel with the accrued loyalty points. (Yes, I am a penny pincher, but savings pennies opens a lot of doors eventually.)If you are an overlander you have to love driving, the two go together like brats and burgers, dust and diesel, NFL and ad breaks. America has excellent paved and unpaved roads connecting north to south, east to west. It is the roads which have dictated the American style – V8 and Harley Davidson. What can be better than cruising down Route 66 listening to Elvis and sipping on an ice cold drink?Yes, you could spend $100 000 on an overland vehicle, but you can also spend $1000 on a decent old Ford pick up, throw some camping gear in the back and hit the road. Older vans and campers can also be bought for a bargain and O O O O’Reillys Auto Parts will usually have all the spare or replacement parts you need. We have heard of people buying a camper in Alaska and driving all the way to Argentina and selling the vehicle for more than they paid for it. That is a win.We love Kampsites Of America. Yes, they can sometimes be a bit gaudy and corporate but we could spend a week at the KOA in Flagstaff Arizona, relaxing after another hard work Overland Expo, washing clothing, enjoying hot showers, bacon and eggs for breakfast, toasted sandwiches for lunch, a steak on the grill for dinner (there is a large supermarket a short walk away).
The US has some amazing campsites, in general, if you can escape the fifth wheel and RV concrete campsites. Air conditioned bathrooms and recreation areas, swimming pools and games rooms, vending machines, washing machines and high speed internet are all available or you can sit under the stars surrounded by naked hippies in the Saline Valley, the choice is yours. And investing in loyalty cards can almost half the cost of an affiliated campsite.BLM land can be an overlanders best friend or his worst enemy, it all depends on who pulls up to camp next to your idyllic, secluded campsite. The BLM office is usually staffed by a well trained and informed elderly gentleman with hikers legs and khaki shorts who can advise on trail condition, camp availability and points of interest. Some of the best camps we experienced were on BLM land, Moab is a great example – you can pay 40 bucks to be surrounded by walls of RV or you can drive up out of the town and head out onto the BLM where you can watch the sun set, alone with your love by your side.The country has a bad reputation but Mexico is much more than just a border crisis and cartels. Driving from San Diego into Tijuana is like stepping through a portal into another dimension and Baja, California offers all the experiences and attractions which international overlanders crave. It is the best of both worlds and you will find many American PanAm vets hanging out on the beach or in the mountains, stretching the dollar as far as it can while eating a fish taco and sipping an ice cold Tecate. Canada is an outdoor mans paradise and where overlanding ends river navigation begins. Well organized, many and massive the twenty nine national parks are reason alone to visit America. The West Coast in particular boasts an amazing array of protected land and Alaska, though difficult and expensive to visit, is worth the journey. The parks are almost all open most of the year though some, ie Crater Lake and Rock Mountain NP, do close through the darkest, coldest winter months. It is best to avoid the parks over the holidays as camping can be impossible without booking and the trails and through roads resemble LA gridlock. A parks card will save a lot on entrance and camping fees and are worth the initial investment.Oh man, the food. From haute cuisine to junk food, the US is second to none for the variety and quality of food. Southern BBQ is legendary for a reason and a meat man’s fantasy, the fruit and vegetables are delicious and cherry season on the west coast is the best season on the west coast. Every state has it’s own burger joint but our favorite by far is In n Out Burger – triple triple animal style fries with chocolate shake – the first thing we eat when we arrive in California and the last thing we eat when we leave. San Francisco is foodie paradise and you have not lived until you have had a local take you to his favorite restaurants. The best beer is not Bud Light, hell no, not even close. With thousands of micro breweries you are spoilt for choice with every flavor and type of beer imaginable available. I enjoyed the IPA’s but, to be honest, the beer I enjoyed most often was the simple yet refreshing Yuengling lager from the oldest brewery in the States.Sure, the US does not have the history of Europe but what she lacks in ancient architecture she makes up with the modern history of a people who created the the most powerful country on the planet in a relatively short space of time. And these people achieved this feat through innovation, perseverance and hard work. America has the space and resources which allow impossible dreams to become a reality and American innovators overflow with curiosity and creativity. The wealthier cities teem with art and culture while the country is dotted with islands of self expression. From Hollywood to Nashville, Miami to New York, the planets greatest minds gravitate to the USA where they contribute to the culture which leads the world. If you are a history buff you can explore the country looking for evidence of the Civil War, the gold rush or the American Revolutionary War.
As foreigners we certainly felt at home in the USA and we plan to drive back to the land of the free, home of the brave after a loop around Africa and via Russia. As foreigners we certainly felt at home in the USA and we plan to drive back to the land of the free, home of the brave after a loop around Africa and via Russia.