Family Adventures Overlanding

Family Adventures Overlanding... Simple right? We’re a family that enjoys Adventures and Overlanding. But truth be told, that’s not where the name originated per say. We have always loved camping and have had plenty of adventures even without our Cruiser. So why FAO? Well, it started as a Family project. Something that would get all of us involved and allow us to spend more time together as a family. Not just camping and exploring, but also by building and maintaining the Cruiser. Everyone of us has had a part in the design and build up of this rig and she has become a part of the family. When I say we built this rig from the ground up, believe me, we did! What we didn’t expect though, was for “family” to take on a completely different meaning. Namely the other people/Overlanders that we meet on our journeys. Some have become close friends and others have become much more than that. They have become a part of our family...

Adventures... Well, that comes from the crazy journeys we embark on. Hiking, Overlanding and Exploring destinations all over this great land! It really doesn't matter where it is, we find adventure almost everywhere. Adventures that teach all of us new lessons and skills. Most importantly, adventures that allow our children to come out of their shells and blossom! Adventures that create everlasting memories!

Overlanding... There are so many different definitions for this term. We tend to believe it’s not just about the journey and the places, but the people you meet along the way as well. We have met so many wonderful people since we started Overlanding. Not just Overlanders either, but people who have no idea what Overlanding is and are curious to find out. Curious because deep down they hear that same call to get out and explore. But they just haven’t listened to it yet. Maybe because it’s an unknown or they’re not quite sure how to start. We were there once and we remember how frustrating it was trying to figure out what gear we needed, where we could go and how to do it. Finding information can be a daunting task and the internet is littered with so much conflicting information. Information that says you must have brand x, y and z, and if you don't, you're not doing it right! As a family, we have accepted that as our new project and we try to educate as many curious people as possible. Not because we’ve been there and done that, but because when we do go there and do that, we think it would be fun to do it with as much Family as possible!! #familyfirstadventurealways

Veteran’s Day

Veteran - “A person who has served in the military.” That definition does not do the word justice. Our service Men and Women have one of the most difficult jobs in the world. But that burden is not only theirs. It’s a burden their family must share as well. The sobering truth of the matter is that some family members never get to meet their mother, father, brother, sister, etc, because some of our Vet’s never make it back. Those that do.. Well, they may be forever changed. Today we would like to ask you to do something. Not just today but especially today... Look to your left, now to your right. Every person you see before you has been touched in some way by a service member or their family... This next part is a little more difficult, but with a little courage It can be done. Pick one person that you see. Walk up and introduce yourself. Thank them for their service or the service of their family member and take the time to get to know them. Listen to their stories. Share their joy and their pain. Laugh and cry with them. Help heal the pain that the burden has left. Then and only then, will you truly understand what “Veteran” means.

As for the photo? That is part of my family’s story. The statue of the soldier is my Great Uncle Albert. He, like many, lost his life in Korea at the young age of 19. Many in my family never had the chance to meet him, including a few of his brothers and sisters. I too, didn’t understand the definition of “Veteran” until I came here with my grandmother. Until I listened to her stories and watched her break down at the shear sight of the memorial. It was at that moment I learned what the meaning truly was and what sacrifice really is. I will forever be grateful and supportive of our service men and women and their family’s. Thank you all for your service! Land of the Free, because of the Brave!!

How the Skottle changed our camp kitchen

Spring of 2016, as we started watching more and more Overlanding videos, we began researching gear and products that we could use on our trips. All Jeremy kept talking about was a Skottle that he saw on an episode of Mountain State Overland on YouTube and how that was a must have in our gear. To be honest, all I thought was “What is he talking about?" and "What the heck is a Skottle?” As the days went on, he kept telling me all about the Skottle and kept going back to the fish taco episode from MSO. Clearly he was excited about it! So I decided to start searching for this Skottle thing he wanted and thought it might make a great Father’s Day present. Not realizing however, that it would ultimately change our camp kitchen and what we cooked at camp and at home!

With my internet browser in hand, I did a quick search. Low and behold I found his crazy Skottle thing he wanted from TemboTusk in California! Then as I dug in more I found out that Blue Ridge Overland Gear also sold them and they are right here in Virginia! Which works out great for me since we live in Virginia! I told the girls what we were getting Jeremy for Father’s Day and they made sure it was the thing that he could cook fish taco’s on! I assured them it was. We got the Skottle ordered in time to arrive for Father’s Day. Hadley and I told Bailey that it must stay a surprise for Jeremy, since Bailey can’t keep a secret and we were almost sure he would find out before it came! About two days before Father’s Day I checked the tracking number of our Skottle, only to find out that there was an issue with shipping…. Concerned, I made a quick phone call and luckily I was able to contact Matt at Blue Ridge Overland Gear and he was able to make sure that our Skottle and bag were delivered the day before Father’s Day!

The Saturday before Father’s Day I asked Jeremy what he wanted for his Father’s Day breakfast and all he said was “It would be great to have an omelette made on a Skottle, if only I had one…..” It killed me knowing that it was wrapped and hidden away for the next day, but I knew that he’d have plenty of opportunities to make omelette’s on it in the days to come. Father’s Day morning came and he had to settle for an omelette from on the stove. I know, poor guy… After breakfast, he had to run a quick errand. Which gave the girls and I time to get his present out so we could surprise him when he got back. Since we don’t normally exchange gifts between the two of us for any occasion, he was a little surprised when he got home and saw two big boxes in the kitchen. All he had to say was “I know you didn’t buy me anything for Father’s Day?!?!” I said “No I didn’t. The girls did!” We had him open the box with the Skottle first. As he saw the TemboTusk logo stamped on the side of the box he stopped for a second and said “I know exactly what this is and you shouldn’t have!” He finished unwrapping everything and he couldn’t set it up fast enough. He was determined to test it out right then and there! The first thing he made was fried summer sausage, since it was readily available in the fridge. But shortly after, we loaded up and headed out to the store to pick up stuff to make shrimp tacos!!!!

That night, as we made dinner and experimented, I finally started to realize what all of his hype was over this thing and why he wanted a Skottle so badly…. The shrimp tacos where amazing and cooked really fast! The girls devoured their grill cheesed sandwiches and to this day, when they want a grill cheese sandwich, they want it made on the Skottle. Simply because it tastes better! From that one meal, we realized that not only do we love cooking on the Skottle but our girls love cooking on it as well! Still to this day they’re always asking what they can do and what they can cook!

We began experimenting more and more with the Skottle at home. Trying quick camp meals like, eggs, pancakes and french toast for breakfast and hotdogs, burgers and grilled cheeses for lunch. Then we got more creative and started trying gourmet meals like beef tips with potatoes, kielbasa with pirogies, and of course our favorite, shrimp tacos for dinner! As we found more and more things that we could cook on the Skottle, I became more intrigued by the possibilities and  decided to figure out a way to make cinnamon rolls on it. Our girls love cinnamon rolls and lets be honest, who wouldn’t love to smell cinnamon rolls baking on their Skottle while drinking coffee at camp?!?!?! I knew to start “baking” on the Skottle I would need a lid. Luckily, TemboTusk sells that as an accessory! Once I got the lid, a whole new world opened and I discovered the possibilities of what a Skottle really can do!!! It didn’t take long for fresh cinnamon rolls to get added to our meal planning for trips and it didn’t stop there. I was now determined to make apple pies and after a couple of failed attempts I had success. They were amazing!!!     

Photo credit: C.T. Bell

Over the summer and fall of 2016, as we meal planned for our trips, we found that we were using the Skottle more and more. After just a few trips we realized that we were no longer using our cast iron pans, or any of our big pots and pans for that matter. The Skottle had replaced all of them! So as most of us do, we unpacked our kitchen gear and re-thought about what we actually needed and used from trip to trip. We realized we didn’t use the 2 burner Coleman stove anymore but we did still needed something to boil water and make coffee with. So we purchased a Jetboil Flash with a coffee press and a Sea to Summit collapsable pot to take care of those things and said goodbye to the Coleman stove, cast iron pans, and all the other various sized pots and pans we carried. Now all of our cooking is done on the Skottle and Jetboil Flash!

If you’ve followed along in our journey so far, you can probably see how the Skottle has changed what we cook at camp and how having the Skottle and gives you endless possibilities of what to cook and bake! I am never done experimenting. Actually, I have a list of recipes that others want me to try to make along with a few other things I came up with. So there is still a lot to come! Needless to say, we love our Skottle and the possibilities it has opened. We can’t say for certain that you will love a Skottle as mush as we do, but we can say you’ll never find us without ours! If you are looking into buying one or are new to owning a Skottle and would like some extra tips, we have posted some videos on our Youtube channel that maybe useful to watch. We have a setup, cleaning, and several cooking videos posted there. As always, if you have any questions about any of our gear that a you may see, please send us a message! We look forward to seeing how you like your Skottle and the meals you cook on it!!

First Annual Rooftop Tent Rally

We recently had the pleasure of attending the 2017 Virginia State Parks Rooftop Tent Rally at The James River State Park, just north of Gladstone, Va. The event was put on by Virginia State Parks, Blue Ridge Overland Gear and Mountain State Overland. There was a vendor area and a large open field for camping. The vendors included Blue Ridge Overland Gear, Mountain State Overland, Rove Rentals, Overland Gear Exchange, Freespirit Recreation and Tepui. Classes on Route planning and Basic Overland safety and preparation were held in the pavilion and provided by East Coast Overland Adventures.

Saturday evening there was a live band playing country, classic rock and bluegrass music in the camping area. Large bonfires were erected and supervised by the Park staff and local Fire dept. After the band finished up, Mountain State Overland set up their portable screen and projector and treated everyone to their latest episodes.

Jennifer and I spent the majority of the weekend in the Freespirit Recreation booth talking shop with the people stopping by. We did manage to get away several times though and made our way through the Campgrounds to meet fellow Overlanders and their families. We were fortunate to meet so many great people and got to hear about their experiences.

Sunday was the last day of the event and the day everyone was waiting for. Not because they were ready to go home, but instead, they were anticipating the raffle and giveaways! The James River State Park, Rove Renals, Tepui and Mountain State Overland kicked it off by raffling off some cool swag and gift certificates. Blue Ridge Overland Gear threw in one of their awesome Fluid/Oil storage bags and East Coast Overland Adventures donated a copy of their "No highways Tour" book. Rodney and Dona of "Overland Medic" donated a set of Ridgid off-road lights. Freespirit Recreation donated a camp ReadyLight and Overland Gear Exchange capped off the door prizes with a free one night stay in their new Conquer off-road trailer! It was pretty cool to see people winning these door prizes just for showing up and camping for the event! After all of the door prizes were handed out, the grand prize was raffled off. All of the proceeds for the raffle tickets would be going to the Friends of the James River Foundation and will be put directly back into the park. Something we can totally get behind! As for the Grand Prize.... It was a brand new tent donated by Tepui! Imagine that! A $10 raffle ticket wins a brand new tent! What an event! Can't wait for next year!!

Rick’s Place

Rick’s Place is truly a gem hidden on a back country road in Henry County, Va. Nestled on the banks of the Smith River, this oasis offers up beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and tranquil sounds of the river.

There’s a small cabin, a fifth wheel camper and a pull behind camper for rent. The pull behind camper has its own covered porch with onsite bathroom. There are also three other sites available with full hook ups and there’s a small area at the end of the camping area that accommodates primitive tent camping. Primitive may not be the correct word to use as all of the sites have a beautiful view of the river and access to the lower riverfront terrace. On the terrace, there’s a horseshoe pit, hammock and patio area as well as several areas to access the river. Rick prides himself on taking care of his guests and provides such things as firewood, canoes and a paddle boat at no extra cost!

Henry County, Va has always been one of our favorite places to explore. Fairy stone Park, Philpott Reservoir, the town of Bassett and all of the neighboring towns and communities offer plenty of places to check out. As a matter of fact the Philpott Reservoir spillway is just a short distance up the road and has a large parking area great for a relaxing picinic. Trust me, we know!!! So the next time you’re looking for a relaxing get away or a place to use as a base camp from which to explore, be sure to consider Rick’s place....

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RicksPlaceOnTheSmith/ 

Address:

1975 Riverbrook Rd

Henry, Va 24102

Phone: (240) 340-7964

Wet and Cold Labor Day Part 2

As overlanders, we typically seek adventure in remote places away from the masses of RVs and pull behind campers. But truthfully, adventure can happen anywhere & at anytime. It doesn't matter if you're hard core & traveling across the deserts of Africa or just meandering your way down some path during a day hike. Adventure holds no prejudice. That's what we love about it and why we thirst for it constantly. Adventure for us is about experiencing new things and making memories in the process. Memories that help build character. But, I digress....

Adventure was on our minds as we drank our blissfully warm coffee and stared out into the mountain mist. Today’s agenda was simple. Go for a stroll through the woods and let adventure find us! With the kids finally up and ready to go, we bid farewell to our friend Adam as he broke camp and began to plot a route to his next destination. Our day pack in hand as well as the poorly marked trail map supplied by the camp host, we embarked on our journey. 

The trail head was nicely marked and the path appeared to be well groomed. As we made our way down the path, we looked at the map and decided on a nice loop trail picking the shortest leg of the trail for the decent down to the lake shore. A quick pay off to keep the interest of the kids. However, we were having a difficult time locating the entrance to that particular trail. We came upon an arrow sign pointing in the direction of the lake. Confuse, but assuming this must be the trail, we turned and started our decent. The decent only lasted 50ft and we found ourselves walking a level grade just behind the campsites. A quick examination of the map showed that we were not on the trail we thought we were. After an about face, we made our way back to the original trail and continue in the direction we were previously traveling in. Half a mile later, the path was began to narrow and overgrowth started to become an issue. As we made our way through the overgrown sections, doubt began to enter our minds as to whether this was the correct path or was just another miscalculation. We pressed on nevertheless. That is until we came to the section that resembled a South American jungle. Not being one to give up easy, I pressed ahead to Scout the trail. Half a mile ahead and several more jungle like sections, I decided to call it. There were no markers and there was no other trail in sight. With my head hung low, I made my way back to Jen and the girls. This was not the way we would get to the lake. Not with out contracting poison ivy or getting all scraped up.

After a quick regroup, the decision was made to head back to the first trail we turned down and see where that one went. Again, we headed down the trail marked by a single arrow carved into a wooden plaquarde. We descended down the all to familiar section and made our way past the camp sites. Three quarters of a mile later, we found a sign with actual writing on it! They do exist!!! Now that we knew exactly where we were at, we just had to decide between two options. Turn left and we would begin the long switchback portion of the loop trail we were originally looking for, or go straight and go towards whatever is marked as cove. Our curiosity peaked, we went straight. For the next mile or so the elevation of the trail fell slow and steady as we wound our way down into the valley. The trail started to mirror a dried up creek bed to our immediate left and the descent became ever more difficult due to erosion and abundance of exposed tree roots. The air started to become moist and cool as the sun was blocked more and more by the dense canopy above and it felt more like evening than mid morning. In the distance, a glimmer of light could be seen and we could just barely make out the tree line. Making our way toward the warmth and the light, we traversed fallen trees and washed out hillsides til we were greeted by the rocky lake shore. 

Making our way out of the tree line, stumbling over fallen trees and large boulders, we found a nice place to sit and reflect on our journey. The kids stood at the waters edge, tossing rocks into the lake as Jennifer and I watched on, reveling in the accomplishments of our children and how they overcame each and every obstacle set before them. The journey was not without it’s hardships mind you, but with determination and confidence that we could work as a family, we proved yet again that we could take on adversity and we could triumph! Today was a good adventure!

Wet and Cold Labor Day Part 1

   The morning is calm and cold. Jennifer and I sit quietly listening to the breeze blow through the trees as we enjoy a warm cup of freshly made coffee. The children are sleeping in the rooftop tent and the campers in the surrounding sites are beginning to wake up as the sun starts to burn its way through the morning mountain mist. The warm feel of the sun breathes life back into our spirits, especially after two days of cold, damp and rainy conditions. The thoughts of the days activities are running through our minds. Hiking, exploring and most importantly, adventure are looming on the horizon.

   After a dreadful work week, we were ready for some much needed rest and relaxation. The holiday weekend was the last chance we had to take a nice family trip before the kids went back to school. A trip that honestly, we all needed! In normal fashion, the truck was packed and ready to go, as it always is, for our Friday evening departure. The slow constricting Virginia Beach rush hour traffic only fortified my need to get out of town, as I fought arduously to make my way home. We had a four hour drive ahead of us and I was anxious to get on the road. We made our way out of the metropolitan area and were soon greeted by the beautiful sights of the surrounding rural areas. The sights didn't last long though, as we started to encounter the remnants of the relentless Hurricane Harvey that decimated much of southern Texas the week before. Driving through the blinding rain and dodging standing pools of water on the highway, we eventually made it to our first destination in Bedford, Va. Pulling into our camp in the middle of a meadow and finding a level spot to set up became ever more complicated by the mountain mist and the sporadic down pours. We set up as quickly as we could and we pulled the kids out of the rig and got them ready to turn in for the night. We were all exhausted, but excited to be back in the mountains.

   The next morning was cold and rainy. Harvey wasn't finished with us yet and the forty degree temps were not helping the situation at all. A morning walk through the meadow, taking in the beautiful sights of the surrounding mountains, with our trusty adventure dog was just what we needed to pick our spirits back up. A short time later, we were greeted by friends in camp and the morning became filled with conversation and laughter as all of the kids played in the meadow. A sense of warmth came over us as we sat back and watched all of the children play. Weather be damned, this was going to be a good trip!

   Breakfast in our bellies, camp broken down and stowed away, we made our way into the heart of Bedford to visit our friends at Blue Ridge Overland Gear. Pulling into the parking lot at BROG we were greeted by the local farmer market and the classic charm of the Appalachian town. Our hiking shoes thumping against the old timber floor as we walked in and the smell of the old Bedford hardware store, where BROG now resides, added even more charm to the experience. Once inside we were greeted by Matt and Adam, who were working hard to get the tasks at hand finished in preparation for the week ahead. We made our way around the shop and checked out all of their latest additions. The amount of gear placed throughout the shop, is almost overwhelming at times. BROG has made a name for itself by specializing in storage and organizational solutions for the modern outdoorsman and overlander. What many people don't realize though, is that they truly are a one stop shop for all of your outfitting needs. Recovery gear, 12 volt fridges and rooftop tents are just a snippet of what they provide. After drooling over the latest gear, not to mention those beautiful James Barroud tents, we made our way to the counter and payed for our new apparel and gear. The guys were extremely helpful in picking out the right solutions for our needs and many great conversations were had. If you're ever in Bedford, we’d highly recommend stopping in and visiting the people at BROG, even if it is just for some good ole conversation! 

   Speaking of conversation, we had spent so much time engaged in conversation, that we’d had completely lost track of time! It was now lunch time and the grumbling sounds coming from our children's stomachs had now set the next task. Luckily we’re overlanders! Ham and turkey sandwiches ala-parking-lot were on the menu. The sandwiches were not the original gourmet meal we had planned for lunch, but they worked in a pinch. We were ready to get back on the road and definitely ready for a little adventure! A quick stop at the gas station to top of the tank and we were on our way. We made our way out of Bedford on the beautiful winding mountain roads and into one of our favorite Virginia localities. Eagle Rock is a beautiful area with a lot of geographical diversity. On one side, you have a massive rock face that towers in to the air, seemingly forever, and on the other side you have the Beautiful James River that is winding its way through the picturesque Appalachian valley. Across the river, the quaint little town that adorns the same name can be seen. On the river kayakers are enjoying the class 1 and 2 rapids, even if it was a little rainy. This is an extremely popular location for kayaking and canoeing. Twin River Outfitters, just a short drive away in Buchannan, supports all experience levels of water sports enthusiasts by making sure they are instructed and outfitted properly.They also offer a shuttle service that will take you and your equipment up river and they could be seen at the boat landing around the bend dropping off the latest bunch of adventure seeking enthusiasts.

   Climbing up out of the valley and still fighting our way through the drizzle and rain, we made our way into the Alleghany Highlands. A brief but steep ascent up the mountain road, we arrived at our destination, Morris Hill campground. It’s Labor day weekend and the campground is sparsely populated thanks to the storm system. Empty sites with reserved placards could be seen all around, a welcomed sight for sure. Almost serendipitously, the sun came out as we found our site. The warm welcomed rays shone down on us for a brief moment, giving the false sense that the cold drizzly weather may finally be over. Not being the type to look a gift horse in the mouth, we took advantage of the break in the weather and quickly leveled off the truck and set up camp. With our Freespirit Recreation rooftop tent erected and our trusty Rhino-Rack Foxwing awning drawn out, we made the decision that this weekend may require just a little something extra in the form of shelter. Luckily, Freespirit Recreation was kind enough to send their universal annex for the Adventure series tent to us for a review. With the weather beginning to move back in, we figured no time like the present for a full field test. A little cumbersome, but totally worth the extra realestate, we erected the annex. Good thing too! No sooner did we drive the last stake into the ground, the sun disappeared into the menacing sky and the rain, once again, began to fall. Nestled into our newly erected annex, we listened to the rain falling through the trees and the children giggling and playing in the rooftop tent above. A short time later we had a break in the rain and out came the Skottle. All hands were on deck as Jennifer and the girls prepared Chicken Alfredo for dinner. One of the kids’ favorite camp meals. Truth be told, its one of ours too! About the time we were wrapping up dinner, our friend Adam (@Overland_History on Instagram) arrived at camp. His well kitted Jeep XJ is always a welcomed sight around camp. Hilarity and conversation ensued well into the wee hours of the night. 

   The next morning came far to quickly. Rolling out of the tent with eyes-a burning, we made our way quietly down the ladder trying our best not to awaken the kids. Shoes on and stepping out from the comfort of our annex for the first time, we were abruptly stopped in our tracks by the mountain mist and the barely above freezing temperatures. A quick scramble to the door of the Cruiser and out came the winter jackets, stowed in our BROG attic. Finally somewhat warm and coherent, we began our typical morning ritual of making coffee in our JetBoil and french press. As Jennifer worked on the coffee, I made my way around camp doing the usual equipment checks. Everything in order and coffee in hand, we retreated back to the warmth of our annex and wondered what adventure lies ahead…..