Joining us this week on the Overland Journal Podcast, host Ashley Giordano welcomes Paula and Jeremy Dear, two Brits en route from Belgium to Southern Africa in a 32-year-old ex-Belgian Iveco military police truck. In this episode, Paula and Jeremy dive into why they chose this vehicle for travel in Africa, how a slow pace has allowed them to experience places more deeply, and how prioritizing cultural immersion has brought joy along the way.
Overland Journal Podcast Episode #297
The Overland Journal Podcast is brought to you this week by Overland Journal Magazine
Bio:
Paula and Jeremy Dear, 50-something Brits with Belgian passports, are overlanding from Belgium to Southern Africa. Since June 2023, they have traveled through Europe and Morocco, driving down the West African coast in “Ivy,” a converted 1992 Iveco 4×4 former military vehicle. Currently in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo—their 20th country—they are seasoned travelers who previously spent five years touring Latin America in a VW camper. Drawn to the unpredictable nature of overlanding, they returned to Europe to fund this latest journey. They now balance their adventure with part-time freelance work as they make their way south, continuing a lifestyle defined by the unique highs and lows of life on the road.
Their trip is being documented on Substack at trailingivy.substack.com.
Overlanding as a Digital Nomad: Combining Travel with Online Work
Host Bios:
Ashley Giordano
Ashley Giordano’s first foray into overland travel involved a 48,800-kilometer journey from Canada to Argentina with her husband, Richard, in their well-loved but antiquated 1990 Toyota Pickup. Currently cruising along the iconic Silk Road in a 2008 Toyota Tundra, her full-time navigator duties are rewarded with bowls of plov and lagman noodles, hikes in the Tian Shan, and countless cups of fragrant Tashkent tea. As senior editor at Overland Journal, you can usually find Ashley buried in a pile of travel books, poring over maps, or writing about the unsung women of overlanding history, including her enduring inspiration, Barbara Toy. @desktoglory_ash
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