Overland Journal Spring 2012

Path Less Traveled Throughout my life I’ve always enjoyed doing what others can’t or didn’t want to do. I followed the path less travelled and was inspired by the unusual travel articles in Overland Journal. Antarctica is one of those places that few people get to experience. Those with financial resources can “visit” the polar continent, but to “live” there one must either be a scientist funded by the NSF or be working as a contract employee in a scientific supportive role. The latter is how I arrived at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Although a CEO in real life before retirement, my avocation involved building or rebuilding cars and trucks. With my mechanical knowledge, I found a job fit and was employed by Raytheon in the station’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility. Every day…

Ros Woodman Ros Woodham is a freelance designer and photographer from London. She now resides in Spain where making music has become a large part of her life. Regular expeditions to the Pyrénées and Northern Norway with U.K. based adventure company, Mudrut, satisfies her need for adventure. A Series III Spanish Land Rover, rescued from a scrap yard in Andalucía, has been her daily driver since moving to Spain in 2006. Stephen Gross When not flying Boeing 737s for USAir, Steve worked for Land Rover as a consultant at their Global Testing Services facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Steve is also a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic. He currently works for Rover Techs, a Land Rover service facility located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and drives a beautiful 300Tdi-powered 110 built to the specifications of a…

Since my earliest memories, I’ve always been intrigued by adventure travel. As a kid I remember my father turning the television on each Sunday. He’d turn the dial (yes, you had to physically get up and change channels back then) to a show called Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. Donning proper safari attire and trekking through distant lands, zoologist Marlin Perkins would confidently describe the deadly prowess of a lion, crocodile, or anaconda, while his sidekick Jim Fowler (also a world-class zoologist) wrestled it into submission. These were my first introductions to the world outside the bubble in which most of us lived. I dreamed of one day pitching my tent on an African savanna or in the Australian Outback, and falling asleep under the swirling constellations of another hemisphere.…

Suzuki V-Strom 650 $9,799 In 2002 Suzuki introduced the V-Strom 1000, a sport-enduro class bike that has gained a following over the past decade. To mark its 10th anniversary, Suzuki has revamped the V-Strom 650ABS with new technology, styling, ergonomics, and a more powerful and efficient 90-degree V-Twin. As a dual-sport, the bike falls somewhere between a street-dedicated steed and the DR650SE. Its fuel-sipping 645cc mill is not a power monger (who wants to go 120 mph anyway), but it should average between 40-45 mpg, be a solid bike for the tarmac, and competent on mild dirt tracks. We may be sourcing one of Suzuki’s newest offerings this summer, taking it out for a spin, and giving you a full report on its merits. (CC) suzukicycles.com ARB Nissan AirLocker $1,096 The ARB Air…

The Military Jacket by Aether is a fine example of form following function. As a field jacket it truly has everything you need and nothing you don’t. Its design is one of timeless elegance that also incorporates proven organic technology with Etaproof fabric. Developed by the Royal Air Force during WWII, it was incorporated into the immersion suits used by Hurricane Pilots. This may have some thinking the material must be a synthetic; instead, the fabric is comprised of cotton that is tightly spun and woven into a very dense plain weave cloth. The cotton gives it a soft natural feel while the technology that goes into the weave allows it to be waterproof and breathable without any synthetics. My real world test included a blustery 10-day October trip on sections…

If you were to thumb through the catalog of All Things Australian, not to say there is such a thing, somewhere between didgeridoos and vegemite you would surely find Blundstone boots. Affectionately referred to as “Blunnies,” these unique boots with their signature elastic ankle panels and lace-free uppers, are time-honored legends of footwear and iconic boots of the outback. If Australia had an official boot, this would likely be it. Blundstone, as it is known today, began in Hobart, Tasmania, more than a century and a half ago. That’s a long time to perfect what is now a modern classic. It also explains the boot’s ubiquitous usage in the outback as well as its growing popularity around the globe. Although Blundstone offers a complete line of work and safety boots, it…