How did you get into overlanding?
For me it was a spur of the moment decision, over twenty years ago. I had always loved to travel and did my fare share in my 20’s. But then I was in a rut. A failed relationship and stuck in a monotonous job I really did not like.
A friend of mine came to my place one evening, and we got on to the subject of travel. He asked why I don’t go travelling anyone. My excuses, even to me sounded lame. However, he was no better than I was, he had never really travelled apart from a few beach holidays.
I had been a truck driver most of my working life and always loved the idea of driving around the world. The very next day, the thoughts of the previous night’s conversation were still rattling around in my head. I walked down to the corner shop and bought the latest travel magazines and papers for travel articles and ads.
Neither the paper nor magazine were bursting at the seams with anything that caught my attention. But there was one. It said, “Join the London the Banjul rally.”
Without even asking my friend, I called the number and booked us a place. In overlanding talk this would not be the longest expedition, around 3 weeks. But it certainly did sound exciting. When I spoke to my friend I told him about it and luckily he really liked the idea and was glad I booked it so, neither of us could back out.
We would drive a 25-year-old Suzuki SJ410 from London to Banjul, the capital of Gambia. It was at the time the best trip I had ever been on. It was just what I needed at that time of my life. It was certainly a reset. It brought me excitement, achievement and a load of other “ment’s.”
Somewhere in Mauritania and The Sahara
Most of all it opened my eyes to a different way to see the world. From then on, I was hooked on overlanding. It inspires and motivates me now and have spent many months and years travelling the world, overland.
What got you into overlanding?
I look forward to reading your stories
