I'll be honest, I have done a lot of camping but the vast majority of that comes from car camping though I have done some softcore overlanding in my life. Overlanding is a combination of car camping, backpacking, and minimalist camping. You load up your vehicle like car camping, you live out of your vehicle as if it were your backpack in backpacking, and like minimalist camping because you still have finite space but a potentially long way to go. So what is the draw of overlanding?
It's All About The Journey
All to often we get caught up in destination travel. With the destination set, you might find yourself pushing to get there as quick as you can, get set up as quick as you can, and move on to the next thing as quick as you can. This frame of mind is not the frame of mind you take with you in overlanding. Overlanding is all about the journey! Sure, you could say there are destination stops along the way and that's not wrong. The difference is that it's what you see and do between destinations that also counts! Point A to point B is not necessarily the most direct or fastest route. It could be the most scenic or least traveled route that takes you to places you could only dream of!
Man & Machine
Are you a car enthusiast? If not already, overlanding might turn you into one. Overlanding is quite possibly the ultimate melding of you with your vehicle. You trusting in your vehicle to carry you the distance and, in a sense, your vehicle counting on you to carry it the distance as well. What I mean is you have to be sensible and take care of your vehicle and equipment because you could potentially be on the road for a long time relying on it to be in good working order every step of the way. Breakdowns are no fun but a real possibility with overlanding.
Take You Places Others Only Dream Of
"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." -Doc Emmett Brown, Back To The Future
It's true, you don't really need roads when it comes to overlanding. As long as you do so legally, if you can get there, you can go there! Be mindful of private property and government regulations of course and plan your route accordingly. On top of that, make sure you are well equipped to get yourself out of any situations that might arise (read: a tow truck may not be able to come and get you). If all goes well, overlanding can bring you the time of your life!
Think overlanding is for you? Don't like the opinions shared? Feel free to respectfully express your opinions in the comments below!
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