Overland Expo West

5/22/2017

By Tim Notier

Well that was insanely awesome!

I got to meet the rock stars of adventure riding: Sam Manicom, Azure and Roel from My Ticket to Ride, I shook hands with Ted Simon, and met Michelle Lamphere who had just recently completed the same route (mostly) that we will make during our first year of traveling.

I was lucky enough to get my newly self-published book, Maiden Voyage, into the hands of many over-landing authors and experienced writers, as well as a few beta readers. I am excited for the critique from these seasoned adventurers.

I got to sit down and learn from the best of the best, met the owners of Mosko Moto, and drank $6 beers with thousands of like-minded individuals.

The following are some of the main lessons learned during the workshops and open forum conversations with experienced adventurers, both the two wheeled and four wheeled variety:

Just do it! The first and hardest step is actually following through and leaving.
Don't be scared of far-off lands. The world is more friendly than it is represented on the news.
Don't be afraid of getting robbed at every turn, but trust your instincts, and get out when your Spidey Senses start tingling.
You don't need a hundred thousand dollars to start the journey of a lifetime.

The Expo was such a great experience, and I am so thankful to the handful of people who took the time to talk to me one-on-one to motivate and educate me on what we are about to ride into.

One of the most valuable things I took away from this expo actually came from a fairly lousy experience of trying to keep warm during the 30 degree nights in Flagstaff, Arizona. Luckily, some key newly-found friends evaluated my gear, and made intelligent suggestions that would add expenses, but would not leave Marisa and I shivering all night. Marisa sadly could not attend because she is still teaching, but I froze while there.

My ignorance never hinted that Arizona would drop down to 33 degrees at night, no weather forecast needed, it would be warm, I thought.

I already have new gear in transit based on the trials of other traveled (and warm) adventurers:

Nemo 2 person tent w/ garage
REI reflective tarp (to reflect our own heat back up to us)
2 person Enlightened Equipment quilt
2) Nemo 25L sleeping pads

(Update: Check out the full detailed list of our camping gear here)

A husband and wife duo traveling two-up on a BMW F800 stated: A thousand dollars of comfort is worth ten times that in well rested sleep.

I am so grateful for everything I learned, and the new friends I have made. I am excited to continue to watch them travel, and hope to one day cross paths again out in the grandness of the world.

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