The oldest-known wild bird is an albatross named Wisdom, now 71 years old. Given her age, biologists estimate this avian has flown more than three million miles in her lifetime. As extraordinary as this seems, it takes on greater significance once one understands the taxing nature of an albatross’ travel. An albatross can go years without touching land, sleep while flying, and sense aquatic food from a distance of 12 miles. With these capabilities, it’s little wonder mariners from centuries past have considered the albatross an omen of good fortune.
For overlanders Nicolas Chazee and Mathilde Vougny, who share their adventure under the name Next Meridian Expedition, “Albatross” was a suitable moniker for the Land Rover Defender they selected to transport them around the world. “On our overland expedition, we are not staying long in a place and picking our route to complete this trip in three to four years. The albatross travels around 100,000 kilometers per year, just like us, and floats over the land while we overland. We liked that idea.”
Next Meridian’s wheeled Albatross is a 2012 Puma Defender, a trace from the time Ford owned the Jaguar Land Rover group. The Puma features a TDCi Duratorq engine, 2012 being the year Ford transitioned from a 2.4-liter to a 2.2-liter engine. Choosing a vehicle for a multi-continent trip is rarely an easy decision, but agreeing on one non-negotiable tends to jump-start the process. In this case, Mathilde knew she wanted a pop-up roof to create interior space during unsavory weather. “I am all up for adventure,” she told Nicolas, “but if we are to leave for several years, I do not want my only two options on rainy days to be sitting in the front seat or lying on the bed in the back.” This understanding led the two to choose between a Land Cruiser 70 Series or Defender. In France, 70 Series’ were beyond their budget due to the purchase price and the addition of exorbitant taxes. “What was out of the question was putting half of our travel budget in a car,” they shared pragmatically. With full knowledge and acceptance of Defender reliability issues, the choice was made.
The original owners, a Parisian couple, outfitted the truck at RR Concept (RRC) north of Lyon, France. RRC is known for Defender builds and specialty truck campers, supplying gear from respected European brands as well as products designed in-house. Following the build-out, the couple took the Defender on a tour from South America to the United States, where they replaced the engine. They shipped the vehicle back home and sold it to a Frenchwoman named Cecile, who owned the vehicle for one year and used it to visit Morocco with friends. Nicolas and Mathilde drove from Belgium to France to become the third owners. At the time of purchase, there were 90,000 kilometers on the chassis and 25,000 kilometers on the replacement engine. Albatross, nicknamed “Albo,” returned to roost when Nicolas and Mathilde brought him back to visit the home of his original owners. The couple was thrilled to hear of their old Defender’s upcoming adventure around the globe.
Albo was but one piece of a grand plan, born of the pair’s travel experience. French by birth, Mathilde studied and worked largely abroad, including in Jordan and Argentina. She worked with the United Nations in Belgium prior to departure. For Nicolas, defining home is a difficult task. Half French, half Italian, he was actually born in Thailand. He lived in Asia and Africa as a child and has held jobs that required him to speak a combination of English, French, and Italian. Out of their experience, the two dreamed of a multi-year overland journey on six continents. Originally envisioned as a three-year circumnavigation, now stretching to four, the projected route includes 300,000 kilometers across 88 countries. To date, the couple has left France, explored Scandinavia, shipped the Defender to Canada, drove to the Pacific Ocean, journeyed to Alaska, headed south through the Western United States, crossed into Baja, and is now in Belize.
While preparing their Defender, Nicolas and Mathilde made intentional choices so their chosen lifestyle could be sustained. A diesel heater compensates for the breathable fabric of their ExTec pop-top tent and even dries clothes and shoes overnight, while an ARB twin air compressor cuts the time required to air the tires, which they have found themselves doing more than once a day depending on terrain. Their shakedown period in Iceland revealed the usefulness of a heat exchanger to provide hot water for the outdoor shower. “In cold places, it entirely changes our attitude. Before, we needed to go to a place where we could take a warm shower at least once per week. Now we can’t think of any need for a campground or hotel.” They were also grateful for the heat exchanger in Alaska and Utah, which prevented their water tank from freezing.
Anyone who has moved camp on a daily basis for months at a time values the convenience factor. In Albo, switches for lights and the water pump are within arm’s reach. Jerry cans, a shower tent, and BBQ are mounted on the exterior to reduce set-up time and keep the inside living area clear of clutter. Nicolas and Mathilde have designed their storage system to avoid hitting their heads or stepping over items on the floor.
Electrical, fuel, and water range were considered carefully before the six-continent journey. With an Excel spreadsheet provided by SunWare, Nicolas and Mathilde calculated they would need 200 watts of solar to cover daily electrical needs. They chose to mount one 100-watt panel on the roof and carry another 100-watt panel that could plug into a 90 amp-hour lithium battery and be angled toward the sun as needed. Two additional 100-watt panels feed a Jackery 1000 power station, used during extended camp stays to charge equipment like drones, cameras, and computers. Though the alternator halves the need for solar on driving days, having more than enough power offers the couple peace of mind during persistently cloudy weather.
To navigate the more desolate stretches of the world, Albo was equipped with several auxiliary diesel containers to complement his 75-liter stock tank. All told, this Defender can cover 1,100 kilometers between refuelings. The drive between Fairbanks, Alaska, and Prudhoe Bay proved the need for this fuel range. Though there is one fuel station to break up the 700-kilometer track, the cost per gallon was $7 at the time of Nicolas and Mathilde’s visit.
Water capacity was also planned with intention. One 65-liter tank is used for cooking, washing dishes, and showering. Albo can carry another 50 liters of drinking water when three other jerry cans are topped off: 2.5 liters for each person to last 10 days. Though they haven’t needed this volume through Europe and North America, it’s available for the remote reaches of the world.
It wouldn’t be a Defender without shop time. In Quebec, the starter connector broke, and Mathilde had to push the car to jump-start it. On the opposite side of Canada, in British Columbia, a U-joint required replacement. Fortunately, the couple had a spare with them. Working south after Alaska, disaster struck in the middle of Yellowstone National Park when Albo started releasing smoke and leaking oil. Nicolas and Mathilde debated whether to tow to reputable mechanics in Seattle or Denver. Either option would cost more than $3,500, and insurance was willing to contribute a mere $100 to the cause. Instead, the duo opted for Jackson Hole, where a mechanic was rumored to be familiar with Defenders. The garage was there, but not the requisite parts. Several days of searching eBay ended in frustration when delivery times stretched to three weeks. They pivoted and ordered from the United Kingdom via DHL. The parts arrived in three days. In the end, the problem ended up being excessive blow-by. The injector seals, rocker cover, rocker cover seal, and valve seals were all replaced, eliminating the issue.
Nicolas and Mathilde expect sourcing parts will continue to be a challenge. Though replacements are easily accessible in Europe, the same has not been true in the Americas, where the 2012 Puma Defender is still too recent to import under both US and Canadian law. Fortunately, DHL offices are common, including throughout Latin America. With patience and budgeting for shipping and customs costs, parts can be imported from across the world.
Despite the hurdles, Nicolas and Mathilde remain content with their vehicle selection. Albo can reach posted highway speed limits but also handles off-road terrain, like the mucky tracks of Finland during springtime melt. Occasionally, the couple daydreams of modifications to their living space, such as a more comfortable couch and larger sink. They also wish for a pop-top that would allow their bed to lift with the roof, permitting them to keep bedding in place on travel days for a decreased set-up time. A pop top like this would also provide more living space below the bed, toward the front seats. These changes will likely not happen during the current trip, but the couple does plan to fit a roof rack in Africa to hold a second spare tire and extra fuel.
One albatross species, the Laysan, can fly around the entire globe in two months. Nicolas and Mathilde cannot soar quite as quickly in their Albatross, but I can’t imagine they’d ever wish to. Through detailed preparation, acquisition of new skills, and a spirit of adaptability, they have made their luck. But naming their Defender after an omen of good fortune surely doesn’t hurt.
Specifications
2012 Land Rover Defender Puma
Power
122 horsepower TDCi 2.2L engine
MT82 6-speed transmission
Suspension and Drive
RR Concept heavy-duty front and rear springs with secondary rear inner springs
Koni Raid shocks
Wheels and Tires
Aluminum wheels
BFGoodrich All-terrain T/A KO2 tires (265/75R16)
Recovery and Armor
T-Max 9500-pound winch
ARB recovery straps
Hi-Lift jack
MaxTrax recovery boards
ARB twin compressor
Terrafirma front bumper
RR Concept front and rear bull bars
Skid plate
Differential covers front and rear
Ex-Tec snorkel
Accessories
Ex-Tec pop-up roof
Ex-Tec interior flooring and drawers
Engel 45-liter cooler fridge
Dual-burner Coleman stove
Auxiliary 45-liter diesel tank
Diesel 20-liter jerry can
Water tank for shower and sink, 65 liters
Lifesaver 20-liter purifier and jerry can
Water jerry cans, 10 and 20 liters
VisionX lighting
Dometic 220-volt inverter
AGM 12-volt, 95 amp-hour battery (engine, winch, compressor)
Auxiliary 12-volt, 90 amp-hour lithium battery
SunWare 100-watt solar panels (2)
Jackery 100-watt solar panels (2)
Jackery 1000 power station
Resources
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2023 Issue.
Read more: Worldschooling and Overland Travel
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