Where it all began
As we sit reminiscing about our journey through life, we can't help but marvel at how the love for adventure and the thrill of the open road have been constants in our lives. It has been punctuated by various motorhead hobbies. From drag racing a 10-second Camaro and tearing through the terrain in a rail buggy to ATV riding and the rebuilding of a 1987 Chevy Blazer, affectionately named Big Red – our vehicles have been more than just modes of transportation. They've been companions on our journey through the twists and turns of life.
Our early camping adventures were in a 32’ fifth wheel dubbed Bird’s Nest which was towed by a V10 Ford F-250 which never had a name now that we think about it. Over the years, our vehicles evolved, and with each change, our travels changed and expanded. A Jeep Wrangler JK, a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, and our current '19 Ram Rebel 1500 have all played their part in shaping our adventures.
The turning point with our travel came with our '13 Wrangler Rubicon, fondly named Dirty. Alana wasted no time in transforming this vehicle into an off-roading beast complete with 37 inch tires and many modifications. Trips to Pennsylvania's Rausch Creek Off Road Park and a cross-country drive to the Rubicon Trail near Tahoe, CA revealed a profound realization – it's the journey, not just the destination, that makes a trip truly unforgettable. Selling Dirty marked the beginning of our focus in overlanding adventures.
Around this time, Jay also started getting a little more serious about his photography. For a while we were content with short day trips and weekend jaunts. Unfortunately, Ohio only has so much for you to see before realizing there’s so much more out there in this country.
Enter Klondike, a '16 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, and Ehu, the custom-built trailer Jay made. We filled the enclosed area with our things, strapped some items to the top, and mounted a roof top tent. Our first cross-country photography/overlanding adventure took us from Ohio to Yellowstone National Park, with stops in South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota. We camped in National Forests (oh my, the cows!!), avoiding highways whenever possible, and rediscovered the charm of the open road.
However, towing a trailer had its drawbacks. Enter Wilmaaa (Yes, the way Fred Flintstone says it), our '19 Ram Rebel, a vehicle that is our current canvas for our evolving overlanding setup. We placed our things in the bed, strapped some items on top of a hard tonneau, and used a roof rack for the rooftop tent. All of this became known as Camp Bedrock. This setup took us to New Mexico, Arizona, Southern Utah, Central Colorado and a tour of the New England area states, solidifying our love for the overlanding lifestyle, or at least our version of it.
Yet, every journey comes with its challenges. Rain, cold, bugs, and relentless winds on a sand dune tested our resolve. After many discussions, we needed a refuge when the weather turned unfriendly. Enter the AT Overland Atlas topper on Wilmaaa, our Camp Bedrock 2.0. Is it perfect? Far from it. There are always tweaks and improvements to be made. But, in our eyes, it's our teeny tiny home away from home, our sanctuary on wheels. We have used this setup for our two month long trip to Alaska and back, along with many other trips around the United States.
We have intertwined our international travels throughout the years with The Faroe Islands, Venice, Italy and The Virgin Islands. There are a lot of destinations on the international “bucket” list, but we have decided to concentrate on our National Parks and states for the time being.
As middle-aged travelers who have embraced the open road, we want to share our story with others who yearn for adventure. The allure of overlanding lies not just in the destinations but in the experiences along the way. The camaraderie of spotting other overlanding enthusiasts, the breathtaking views in unexpected places, and the joy of discovering new areas– these are the moments that define our journeys.
For those considering or already on the road less traveled, our advice is simple – embrace the imperfections, relish the unexpected, and savor the journey. Our overlanding lifestyle might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for us, it's the perfect blend of freedom, exploration, and shared experiences.
So here's to the next adventure, the next campsite, and the next chapter in our overlanding journey. We hope to see you out there on the open road, where the possibilities are as endless as the horizon.
