Overland Expo West 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

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.