MrSeth
Member
So this is a topic I have wanted to touch on for a few years now, and after experiencing both worlds for a few years I have identified my passion- what is yours?
Off-Roading- "the activity or sport of driving a motor vehicle over rough terrain."
Overlanding- "describes self-reliant adventure travel to remote destinations where the journey is the primary goal. ... While expedition is defined as a journey with a purpose, overlanding sees the journey as the purpose."
As a child, my father would take my Pheasant hunting in the state of Kansas in his 1993 Toyota Land Cruiser. I always loved falling asleep on the back bench seat on the drive to and from, and always enjoyed camping out of the back of the truck for a week while hunting. Growing up, he eventually sold that vehicle and bought a Chevy pickup truck- he has regretted it his entire life. The closest he has come is his Lexus that he has. The hunting stories we tell to this day always revolve around "remember that old golden color landcruiser? We had some sort of big bird shocks on it (OME) and we would beat it up and it would never ever die"
In college, all of my friends would drink heavily or smoke the ditch weed they could muster up in Kansas. But I would drive the roads my father and I used to drive, stop at the spots we used to stop at, and sit where we used to sit. One night, out on those dirt roads in my Honda, I decided to have my Bulleit and camp it out alone under the stars. That night, the memories flooded in-the old conversations ran rampant through my head.
That night, in my somewhat intoxicated stupor, I decided- I am gonna sell this turd and pick myself up a Toyota.
At that time I owned my little golden Honda Accord (my grandmother gave it to me) and a 1968 Mustang coupe that I had poured my heart and soul into building. Luckily for me, my school was the McPherson College School of Automotive Restoration.
I listed both of my cars at the same time and ended up just having enough money to pick up my 2004 Toyota 4Runner. (there's a build thread so I won't go on about my rig as this posts' point isn't to discuss my build).
The day I bought my truck, I went bombing down the roads my father and I used to go down to hunt. I crossed the railroad tracks listening to Bruce Springsteen like we used to do and camped by an old silo we used to stop by. In fact, the property owner came out to see who it was, and I told him who I was- we shared tears and stories, a bit of whiskey, and a cigar or two reminiscing about the old days. He left me alone that night to camp where my father and I used to camp.
The next day I awoke, skipped my classes for the day and drove to the old diners we used to go to, talked to the people we used to talk to, ate the food we used to eat, and even got myself some cruddy Folgers coffee that we used to chug in the morning to wake up to hunt "the birds".
I realized that with my PTSD from rescue operations performed in Oklahoma and Kansas were silenced by my driving. My driving got me off of my medications and have always brought back fond memories.
This is the point at which I realized, it doesn't matter how big my rig can get, or how big the rocks are that I can crawl over- it's all about taking that drive down the memory lane chasing that old 1993 Land Cruiser.
--------
Now, a quick break in this story as I want to touch on a bit of 4x4'ing that I did. YES it was fun, YES it was addicting, YES there is a HUGE following in getting that "MAX FLEX" or getting out of your rig to walk next to your twin stick rig walking up a steep incline.
Adrenaline rush? YES. Feeling of satisfaction coming down from the Colorado mountains without a broken rig? HECK YES. But it just wasn't the "high" that my soul was chasing.
---------
To this very day, my father and I always talk about driving that old Land Cruiser for 30 hours straight, camping at truck stops, making due- this is what drives my passion today.
I don't fly anywhere- except on orders. I drive. I love the journey getting to where I am going. I love talking to the people, seeing the places, supporting the small businesses, taking photos with fans and other 4Runner owners. It is sweeter than sugar to me and is my true passion in life.
My biggest mistake in Overlanding is trying to create and commercialize my passion by creating Lone Wolf Overland Co. Was it fun at times? YES. Did people really stop me to take photos and get signatures? YES.
BUT IT ALL SEEMED SO ARTIFICIAL.
Sewing and sharing products I made for myself and my journeys with others was fun, but seeing those products MINUS the memories or challenges associated with them made me feel like I was letting my inner soul and freedom just seep out.
DO I still Overland? Yes. When I can.
Unfortunately work holds a tight leash around my neck- but I still escape when I can. I drive to Crested Butte, Durango, Silverton, Estes Park, Flagstaff, etc.. and try to shut out the rest of the world when I'm on the dirt roads or highways. I still play my Springsteen, my Russ Taff, my Journey and others and just lose myself in the journey to the location.
--------
It seems like we tend to shut off our nearly religious connection to whatever we do whether its hardcore rock crawling, offroading, or overlanding- My intention with this post is to possibly re-ignite and kindle the small flame within each and every single one of you and to encourage you to get out and explore....
In the end, after watching countless episodes of 4xOverland on Youtube, drinking my whiskey neats, selling my drugs in the pharmacy, or working long rotations in the hospital- it really doesn't matter WHAT you call yourself- just get out, live, love, and be free.
We are all growing old, but we don't have to die on the inside.
Keep wheeling, keep overlanding, keep exploring and discovering but above all else- keep living in the passion you find deep within yourself.
Have a fantastic night, and safe travels to all of my brothers and sisters.
-Seth
Off-Roading- "the activity or sport of driving a motor vehicle over rough terrain."
Overlanding- "describes self-reliant adventure travel to remote destinations where the journey is the primary goal. ... While expedition is defined as a journey with a purpose, overlanding sees the journey as the purpose."
As a child, my father would take my Pheasant hunting in the state of Kansas in his 1993 Toyota Land Cruiser. I always loved falling asleep on the back bench seat on the drive to and from, and always enjoyed camping out of the back of the truck for a week while hunting. Growing up, he eventually sold that vehicle and bought a Chevy pickup truck- he has regretted it his entire life. The closest he has come is his Lexus that he has. The hunting stories we tell to this day always revolve around "remember that old golden color landcruiser? We had some sort of big bird shocks on it (OME) and we would beat it up and it would never ever die"
In college, all of my friends would drink heavily or smoke the ditch weed they could muster up in Kansas. But I would drive the roads my father and I used to drive, stop at the spots we used to stop at, and sit where we used to sit. One night, out on those dirt roads in my Honda, I decided to have my Bulleit and camp it out alone under the stars. That night, the memories flooded in-the old conversations ran rampant through my head.
That night, in my somewhat intoxicated stupor, I decided- I am gonna sell this turd and pick myself up a Toyota.
At that time I owned my little golden Honda Accord (my grandmother gave it to me) and a 1968 Mustang coupe that I had poured my heart and soul into building. Luckily for me, my school was the McPherson College School of Automotive Restoration.
I listed both of my cars at the same time and ended up just having enough money to pick up my 2004 Toyota 4Runner. (there's a build thread so I won't go on about my rig as this posts' point isn't to discuss my build).
The day I bought my truck, I went bombing down the roads my father and I used to go down to hunt. I crossed the railroad tracks listening to Bruce Springsteen like we used to do and camped by an old silo we used to stop by. In fact, the property owner came out to see who it was, and I told him who I was- we shared tears and stories, a bit of whiskey, and a cigar or two reminiscing about the old days. He left me alone that night to camp where my father and I used to camp.
The next day I awoke, skipped my classes for the day and drove to the old diners we used to go to, talked to the people we used to talk to, ate the food we used to eat, and even got myself some cruddy Folgers coffee that we used to chug in the morning to wake up to hunt "the birds".
I realized that with my PTSD from rescue operations performed in Oklahoma and Kansas were silenced by my driving. My driving got me off of my medications and have always brought back fond memories.
This is the point at which I realized, it doesn't matter how big my rig can get, or how big the rocks are that I can crawl over- it's all about taking that drive down the memory lane chasing that old 1993 Land Cruiser.
--------
Now, a quick break in this story as I want to touch on a bit of 4x4'ing that I did. YES it was fun, YES it was addicting, YES there is a HUGE following in getting that "MAX FLEX" or getting out of your rig to walk next to your twin stick rig walking up a steep incline.
Adrenaline rush? YES. Feeling of satisfaction coming down from the Colorado mountains without a broken rig? HECK YES. But it just wasn't the "high" that my soul was chasing.
---------
To this very day, my father and I always talk about driving that old Land Cruiser for 30 hours straight, camping at truck stops, making due- this is what drives my passion today.
I don't fly anywhere- except on orders. I drive. I love the journey getting to where I am going. I love talking to the people, seeing the places, supporting the small businesses, taking photos with fans and other 4Runner owners. It is sweeter than sugar to me and is my true passion in life.
My biggest mistake in Overlanding is trying to create and commercialize my passion by creating Lone Wolf Overland Co. Was it fun at times? YES. Did people really stop me to take photos and get signatures? YES.
BUT IT ALL SEEMED SO ARTIFICIAL.
Sewing and sharing products I made for myself and my journeys with others was fun, but seeing those products MINUS the memories or challenges associated with them made me feel like I was letting my inner soul and freedom just seep out.
DO I still Overland? Yes. When I can.
Unfortunately work holds a tight leash around my neck- but I still escape when I can. I drive to Crested Butte, Durango, Silverton, Estes Park, Flagstaff, etc.. and try to shut out the rest of the world when I'm on the dirt roads or highways. I still play my Springsteen, my Russ Taff, my Journey and others and just lose myself in the journey to the location.
--------
It seems like we tend to shut off our nearly religious connection to whatever we do whether its hardcore rock crawling, offroading, or overlanding- My intention with this post is to possibly re-ignite and kindle the small flame within each and every single one of you and to encourage you to get out and explore....
In the end, after watching countless episodes of 4xOverland on Youtube, drinking my whiskey neats, selling my drugs in the pharmacy, or working long rotations in the hospital- it really doesn't matter WHAT you call yourself- just get out, live, love, and be free.
We are all growing old, but we don't have to die on the inside.
Keep wheeling, keep overlanding, keep exploring and discovering but above all else- keep living in the passion you find deep within yourself.
Have a fantastic night, and safe travels to all of my brothers and sisters.
-Seth
