Well, why not? For a number of years, I thought I had figured out what I wanted when it came to my off-road adventures. I had a pretty awesome Jeep TJ that that could easily handle most things I was willing to throw it at. Even though the off-road parks near me are at least an hours drive, it was completely worth it, challenging my machine as well as challenging myself. Man was I content!
My contentment started to fade a little as I wanted more. I happened upon an unbelievable deal on a 2013 Jeep JKU that I just couldn't pass up. While I always boasted about how great my Jeep (TJ) was with it's crank windows, manual door locks and inline 6 cylinder motor, one test drive in a newer Jeep with the bells and whistles and a few more ponies under the hood quickly made me realize what I had been missing!
I thought to myself I had reached my pinnacle. I had two Jeeps, one built to off-road and the other built to lug around the family. As with any new toy, my time and energy went in to the new Jeep. I recall a neighbor mentioning the Ultimate Adventure YouTube series to me and how I really needed to check it out. The Ultimate Adventure is an invitation only event for off-roaders to embark on a week of wheeling, camping and good times. The event planner was the only one who knew the route and any vehicle issues were repaired on the trail or at camp. I quickly found myself hooked on this series, interested in the rigs that were invited, wondering where they would wheel next, and how on earth were they going to repair "that" on the trail.
After watching as many episodes as I could find, I found myself thinking about how awesome putting on something like this would be for a few people I know. As an avid camper and someone who loves to off-road, this seemed like the perfect combination. I started giving thought to routes and who I would invite along, and somewhere along the way I ran across the TransAmerica Trail. This trail was created by Sam Correro, who decided he wanted to ride his adventure bike from coast to coast. Thankfully Sam had the idea that he wanted to avoid as many major roadways as possible and stick to back-country, gravel, and forest roads. I thought to myself about how awesome this would be to do in a Jeep and at that moment, my spark for Overlanding ignited.
Fast-forward to now. That spark I had has grown into a full-grown inferno. Overlanding has given me a chance to see beautiful areas of the country that many will never see. I have also been rewarded with the great bonds that have been made between friends and family on my trips. I love waking up in the morning, hitting the road (the more remote the better), and staying somewhere completely different night after night. Overlanding provides me an opportunity to reconnect with nature and recharge my batteries. During those times I no longer have to try to keep up with the break-neck pace that life brings to the table everyday. I get the chance to slow-down and enjoy everything the world provides us.
For me, Overlanding is more than the tangible adventure. It's creating memories that will last my lifetime. It's telling stories from the road that one would swear are made up. It's sharing a few good laughs with people who share the same passion.
As I have said before, my goal with this website is to share my experience in hopes of educating others and perhaps igniting their Overlanding spark. Feel free to subscribe so you can stay informed and remember, you are only one step away from adventure!
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