Innehållsförteckning för Summer 2020 från Overland Journal

They held the parrots out on sticks as I rode by; we made eye contact, the parrots and I. Although I knew the situation would be upsetting, I turned around to see what there might be to learn. The boys selling them were young. Some of the birds had been painted to be more colorful, to look like types of macaws that they were not. The false, acrylic-based hues would have been laughable were they not on voiceless victims of a dark, illicit trade. I understand why people purchase them out of pity. Tethered to one of the sticks was a blue-headed parrot, the same species I had helped to rehabilitate at a rescue center located outside of Cali, Colombia. I had fed the timid but hungry orphan fledgling with…

At about the size of a 20-liter jerry can, and weighing in at 16 pounds, the Marine 3000 is a serious medical kit for those far from definitive medical care. In other than a first-world location, the Marine 3000 will likely make the carrier the best medical clinic for many miles. While built as part of AMK’s Marine line, tailored to ocean-based travel, whether at sea or on land, being able to treat the most severe illnesses or injuries in the middle of nowhere is something any expedition should aspire to. The size of this kit would likely preclude its use in a single, smaller vehicle, where space can quickly be filled with a multitude of gear. But it would work very well in a group of several, with the…

All too often, the vehicles we love are eventually lost. Old muscle cars are traded in for more practical sedans or wind up in a ditch, road trip vans succumb to high miles and blown motors, and our trusty camping trucks begin to rust after years of faithful service. Eventually, the automotive works of art that were once our pride and joy end up in a junkyard, scrap pile, or rotting away in someone’s backyard, doomed to deterioration. Yet, every now and then, the story doesn’t end that way. With immense dedication and often significant financial investment, an enthusiast will occasionally pluck a vehicle from the brink of extinction to give it a second chance at life—to once again carve coastal highways, wander lonely back roads, and keep a little…

All men dream, but not all equally. Those that dream by the dusty recesses of the night, awake to find it was all vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous, for they may act their dreams with open eyes and make things happen. –T. E. Lawrence The above quote is one of Mac Mackenney’s favorites. Driven to accomplish great things, his dreams are constantly evolving, coexisting with the rigors of life. He has a propensity to land on his feet, despite significant struggle, and see those dreams manifest. Mac’s instinct to persevere is always present, a drive that motivates his own objectives but also makes him a logistics planner extraordinaire, sought out by the world’s great explorers and novices alike. You may know of Mac from his participation…

THE RIDER □ Touratech carbon helmet with SENA communicator □ American Optical Aviators sunglasses □ Aether Expedition Suite w/D3O moto jacket and pant □ Garmin inReach with GPS maps □ Leatherman multi-tool □ Tire gauge, lighter, EarPro, sunscreen □ White’s leather boots with D3O shin/knee guards □ Bison leather gloves, coated in beeswax □ Large Prometheus Design Werx scarf (can be used for EMS needs too) AETHER WATERPROOF WELDED DUFFLE □ Triple Aught Design Alchemy wool base layer □ Beyond Clothing Celeris mid-layer hoodie □ Aether Fall Line hard shell (can layer under moto gear) □ Triple Aught Design Intercept jeans, one pair □ Beyond Ventum pants, one pair (can be a mid-layer or for exercising) □ Two Triple Aught Design Traverse Tech T-shirts (only in black) □ Pearly’s and…

Basil Butter Chicken is one of my family’s favorites. We came across this Paula Deen recipe years ago, changing a few things to make it our own, and it always delivers. I’m a caterer, and given that I cook for a living, when overland trail riding and camping, I don’t want to be a slave in the “kitchen.” I want to be out playing with everyone else. Using techniques from my catering business, I apply the same time-saving tips and do what I can ahead of time. In most cases, the majority of work can be done at home before you leave for the backcountry. That way, after a long day of riding, everyone can chip in and produce a gourmet meal without much effort. SERVES 6 PREP TIME 30…

Step 22 Silent Jack Mount The silent treatment—a solution for securing loose, rattling Hi-Lift jacks. Step 22 products lurk silently. Founder Adam Wood doesn’t make the flashiest equipment, but he does address problems that constantly plague expedition and overland vehicles. One of those dilemmas is a rattling Hi-Lift; Wood’s gear fills those pesky small gaps on this device to minimize noise and wear and tear. Attempting to quash my jack’s relentless clattering, I used two rubberized keepers intended for the Hi-Lift, one near the mechanism, another toward the handle’s end, and two long rubberized twist ties around the handle and jack bar. I rolled this way for years; it looked improvised because it was. Step 22’s Silent Jack kit consists of a purpose-designed polyurethane rubber “handle grabber” and a compression…

Anyone who has traveled to out-of-the-way locales has pondered a litany of emergency scenarios, from breakdowns to becoming lost. One of the top concerns is always medical care. Dealing with medical issues—whether an emergency should arise or something less urgent—can be made easier with an appropriate and well-designed medical kit. There is a significant caveat to this: the best medical supplies in the world are not much use without training in how to use them. While a general first aid course is better than nothing, overlanding lends itself, by its very nature of being further afield, to a “wilderness medicine” basis. Generally, this is defined as being one or more hours from definitive medical treatment. Think about it: in an urban environment, most first responders (police or fire) arrive within…

Adventure Medical Kits have been a part of my gear for rescue work and personal use for many years. This Pro kit is well-thought-out, especially for a vehicle, and for those with a basic level of medical training. Well-balanced between minor trauma and the typical medical issues which can occur outdoors, its size and weight (10.25 x 7.5 x 5.5 inches/1 pound, 12 ounces), can easily go from vehicle to daypack. Contents are kept water-resistant and separate inside the main ripstop nylon pouch with proprietary DryFlex resealable bags, and does include another smaller interior nylon ripstop bag. These internal bags are not labeled, making immediate access to their contents a bit of a search through the clear material. This could be easily remedied with tape or permanent marker if desired.…

POWER 1HD-FT turbo-diesel engine with an upgraded G-turbo Toyota H55 manual transmission SUSPENSION AND DRIVE 4.10:1 axle gearing Nitro Pro Series chromoly 32 spline axle shafts Nitro chromoly birfields ARB front and rear air locking differential Old Man Emu BP-51 suspension WHEELS AND TIRES 17-inch factory Toyota TRD Pro wheels 35/11.50R17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers RECOVERY AND ARMOR ARB bull bar front bumper Warn 9.5XP-S winch Safari snorkel Custom rear skid plate DC Customs Fab sliders Expedition One rear bumper Custom high-clearance bike rack ACCESSORIES Scheel-Mann heated seats Goose Gear custom S-Series interior Espar diesel heater Dometic fridge Dometic sink 12-volt water pump and tank ARB Intensity LED lights ARB dual compressor…

Ah, no, not one of Mr. Land Rover Stylist McGovern’s current iterations of Evoque-alike clones, blinged-up, TTT-ed, and sometimes hard to tell apart in the car parks. (TTT? Trembling, tentative, touchscreen—you know how it is when you’re trying to drive as well.) This was the original Velar, 40+ years ago; that was 1978, as I recall. Spoof-registered from build as a Velar for security reasons, what we now know as the Range Rover Classic emerged with the name on the bonnet changed just in time for me to buy it direct from Land Rover as an ex-development-fleet vehicle—used by A.B. Smith himself and spawned by the one and only Tom Barton. A YVB173H, no less, until, fearing H-reg would date it, I surrendered to vanity and picked up a THS-8…

A silver ball hit the ground with a thud. As it rolled and found its final resting position next to a little red target ball, there were groans and cheers from the players. The winners had been decided. Pétanque’s a national pastime in Laos. Similar to French boules, it’s taken seriously on the backstreets of Luang Prabang, where losers often have to pay for a round of beers. After work most evenings, local men play against each other on dimly lit courts that feel like the Lao equivalent of a pool hall. Cigarettes are smoked, and beer is consumed, while teams throw silver balls down a gravel court, aiming as close as they can to the target, knocking their opponents’ balls out of the way. Pétanque’s one of several French…

Few things will make you appreciate the importance of choosing the right wheel like one cracking on you in the Australian Outback. There is something unsettling about being hundreds of miles from the nearest parts store, not knowing when the next wheel will fail. Yet most enthusiasts know very little about aftermarket wheels, and who can blame them? Between the number of choices out there and the marketing hype flooding the industry, things are a bit murky. Our goal is to clear the air by going over the basics of wheel manufacturing, the strengths and weaknesses of different materials and construction methods, and, most importantly, when you should choose certain types of wheels and when you shouldn’t. We’ll even recommend a few of our favorites along the way. So, grab…

I woke up to find my tent in my face. Why had my shelter collapsed, leaving me wrapped up in a lasagna of damp nylon? I lay motionless, listening for any clues that might suggest the cause of my predicament. It was early and quiet, but not too still for the competing solos of birdsong. The clear notes faded into the bush, giving a sense of space, vastness, and emptiness. There was nothing for the sound to reverberate off of, just the enormity of the sky above. I wriggled out of the tent after finding my clothes and locating the zipper to the door. Standing next to the crumpled pile of green fabric, slowly waking up, I surveyed the situation. The guylines had been ripped from the ground. Some tent…

The Primus Camp Kitchen Products developed under the pressure of exploration. The year was 1911, and Roald Amundsen had just arrived at the South Pole. Roald was known for his pedantic nature and the extreme lengths he went to in testing equipment prior to an expedition. His stove of choice was the Primus, and it not only helped feed him but saved his life as well. “In deep cold, sweat condenses in its passage through the clothing, forming a deposit of rime, which then melts with horrible discomfort. Amundsen had to sit up late, drying his Netsilik reindeer fur kamiks over the Primus stove.” –Roland Huntford, Scott and Amundsen Primus was founded in 1892 and served notable expeditions from the South Pole to the first ascent of Everest in 1953.…

One of the best experiences is traveling by motorcycle (I do admit I’m biased). Paring down to just the necessities takes planning and is honed to one’s specific personal style and preferences over many days and miles in the saddle. The components of a motorcycle first aid kit (FAK) need to fit these parameters too. It must contain the basics to not only deal with daily travel but also have the ability to stabilize and treat injuries likely to be sustained in the event of an unplanned dismount from the bike. Few manufacturers have attempted to meet this need in a prepackaged FAK. Rescue Essentials, with its motorcycle operator’s kit (MOK), has begun to fill that gap. At approximately 8 x 9 x 3 inches, and just over 1 pound,…

Moving into the realm of the active professional medic or guide with advanced training (wilderness first responder, wilderness emergency medical technician or above) is this AMK kit. While remaining relatively light (4 pounds, 9 ounces) and compact (11 x 8 x 7.5 inches), this unit provides a broader array of supplies, medication, and equipment. It will definitely be advantageous to carry for those going farther afield, without access to definitive medical care for extended periods. The heavyweight nylon case with water-resistant zippers is made to endure the rigors of overland travel. I feel comfortable moving it between several vehicles, and packing miscellaneous gear on top of it or the occasional rolling out onto the ground will not phase it. Two zippers open the bag into easily identified and well-labeled compartments,…

Road trips have always been our favorite kind of vacation. Yet, with our daughter ready to go to college and willing to enjoy a last summer with her parents and brother, we had to raise the bar. After deciding to follow the Pacific Divide across the USA from Canada to Mexico, we spent the last weeks of June in a constant state of euphoria, preparing our vehicles and camping gear with febrility. Our dreams of adventure fell short of the real experience, though, which was so much better than we could have anticipated. After driving off pavement everyday for 30 days straight, we became so used to the bumps and slippery conditions of the fire roads, that driving on pavement felt strange. Bouncing in our seats, we let our muscles…

One of the wonderful things about adventure motorcycle travel is the simplicity, eschewing the complexities and excesses of daily life. As a rider, we can only bring so much, and the more we travel, the more we tend to leave behind. The less we take, the better the bike corners, and that is kind of the point. While preparing this comprehensive rider, bike, and equipment list, I pored through my notes, paring it down to essentials. It is most important to address the critical pieces, starting with riding gear (which also protects us from the environment), survival basics, tools, navigation, and communications. Although it is tempting to bring the kitchen sink stove, I really only cook food off the bike when I am in North America. Otherwise, local offerings are…

Manufacturers have been adding knurled edges on their wheels for years. The goal is to increase resistance on the rubber, like a skateboard’s grip tape on a shoe, but Method took things a step further with their Bead Grip. Unlike other knurled edges, Method used raised directional ridges that dig into the rubber when air pressure is added, naturally resisting the bead’s ability to shift. This is further secured by an aggressive inner safety hump, which acts as a backstop to the existing pressure of the Bead Grip.…