It takes a life-changing experience to change the way we live our lives. This is exactly what happened to our family in 2010 when our youngest daughter, Sephine, at age 4, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. This circumstance quickly became uncharted territory with countless rough roads. Cancer is a perfect combination of…
One for the Road
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2020 Issue. Let’s accept that adventure motorcycling means long, unsupported journeys across the world’s developing nations, lately redefined as the Global South. Overlanding is another word for it, as distinct from regular touring vacations or even gnarly domestic adventures that aren’t hard to have…
Overland Across Eurasia by Bus
Article by Martyn Davies “The Overland” From 1957 until 1979 a steady stream of people travelled from Europe to the East. They were a mixed bag seeking a change of lifestyle and a little adventure, including students, artists, Vietnam Vets, and hippies. The road from Europe to India and beyond was called “The Overland” or…
The Great British Road Trip
In mid-July, my husband and I headed north on a Great British road trip. We had no fixed plans: just a desire to climb hills, swim outdoors, and heal the grief and losses of the past six months. Armed for adventure, our ageing T4 bulged with wetsuits, kayaks, and acres of Gore-Tex. We’d even packed…
Between Sea and Mountains: Exploring Québec’s Gaspé Peninsula
Located in Eastern Québec and bordered by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Chaleur Bay, the Gaspé Peninsula (or sometimes simply called “Gaspésie”) is one of Québec’s most popular destinations. Most travelers will want to make the traditional 885 kilometers loop by driving clockwise or counterclockwise on Route 132. Either direction will take you…
Notes from the Trail: Exploring the Rocky Mountains
It was early June, and I was exploring the backcountry of North Carolina. The COVID-19 pandemic was still in full force, with numbers on the rise daily. My phone rang, and it was one of my supervisors in Breckenridge, Colorado. The ski resort I worked at was getting ready to resume operations for the summer…
Patrolling the Alpine Loop
Life is a journey. Within the span of a lifetime, epic journeys take many forms, but they all have one thing in common. Some journeys are arduous like the Phoenician Steps, while others are longer and terminate on an abandoned military dirt airstrip near Crook’s Corner, Zimbabwe. Then again, there are those in between, those…
Are you an Overlander or an iOverlander? Or both?
Photography by Graeme Bell, Luisa Bell, Keelan Bell. Designed to enable access to specific and relevant information, travel apps have become an integral part of the modern overland experience. But, is this an entirely positive development? Are these apps essential? And how have these apps changed the overland travel experience? It is 2010 and…
Video of the Week: Escape Artist in South America
This week’s video of the week has it all: adventure, history, breathtaking scenery, and stunning videography. The Escape Artist, Wieland Hintz, shares footage from his journey across the Andes, from Santiago to Montevideo, with deep insights about the people, places, food, and architecture he encounters along the way.
Guinea Bissau is an Unnoticed Gem on Africa’s West Coast
From Senegal to Guinea Bissau In a small clay hut, behind a crooked, much too low, and visibly worn-out plywood table, Guinea Bissau’s customs officer sits on his white plastic garden chair looking at the carnet. Obviously, he doesn’t know what to do with our vehicle’s customs document lying upside down in front of him….
BeOldLater Celebrates the Ancestors on Dia de los Muertos in Michoacán
We weren’t 100 percent sure about the idea of just strolling into a small, local cemetery near Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico, during the week-long celebration of El Dia de los Muertos, but the spirit of the holiday overcame any uncertainties. After all, that’s why we had decided to skip seeing the Baja 1000, take a…
5 Reasons to Overland Central Asia
Photos by Coen Wubbels. Author’s note: Because the region is so little known, Coen drew a map with all places mentioned in the piece. We hope you find it useful. As the word implies, Central Asia lies in the heart of Asia. The region is surrounded by big countries, including Russia, China, and Iran….
Saudi Arabia: A Primer
Editor’s Note: This article was previously published but with a major part of the story missing. It has been re-published in its entirety so that you can enjoy the whole story. We apologize for this oversight. “Americans?” “Yep” “Camels! Coffee! You come!” With a big wave of his arm, and that limited exchange, my…
Searching for Fall in Colorado’s High Country
The snowstorm on September 8 delivered an unexpected coating of fresh white to Colorado’s high country, and I immediately wondered if there would be any leaves left when I made my way into the mountains. It wouldn’t be the first time that I’d seen fall color thwarted by the state’s fickle weather, but it…
How We Began Our Overland Journey and What We Learned
Two weeks before the start of our overland adventure, my mother and I went to Spain for a week. Coen was flabbergasted. Buried in a list of things he felt needed to be done, he couldn’t understand why I went on vacation. On the other hand, I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about….
Eastern Sierra Magic: The John Muir Trail in Photos
In 2017, my partner, Amanda, and I hiked the John Muir Trail from Yosemite National Park to the summit of Mt.Whitney. It was a spectacular 15-day trip that tested our spirits, our relationship, and our physical abilities. But like so many big adventures that give us insight into the very fabric of what makes us…
A Journey to the Arctic Circle
We put our finger on the map, packed the car, and left the UK on a rainy Thursday evening. Not the most memorable start to an adventure, but after spending the previous two weeks converting the inside of our Land Rover Defender from a tired utility truck into a home on wheels, we couldn’t wait…
Traveling Around The World by Motorcycle : A Female’s Perspective
When people learn my husband, Dave, and I traveled around the world by motorcycle, the assumption might be I sat on the back of his bike. I enjoy mentioning there were two bikes. Dave rode a BMW F 800 GS. I was on a G 650 GS then upgraded to an F 800. I’m not…
Exploring the Southern Appalachians
It was mid-March 2020, and news of COVID-19 was widespread and omnipresent. Businesses were shutting down left and right, and the dreaded pandemic was taking hold across the globe. I was in Breckenridge, Colorado, working on the mountain, and in the midst of the best winter of my life. As COVID-19’s spread increased, and public…
Adventure in Scotland by Land Rover Discovery
Wet and windy, those were the two words that summed up the British weather for our short road trip around Scotland. We explored one of the tallest roads in Britain to the most northerly point of the UK, taking the time to shoot photos and appreciate the stunning views we had almost all to ourselves. …