We hope you have as much fun as we did looking back on some of our favourites from our favourite overlanding team, Paul and Jo Marsh from Essence of Overlanding.
With over 30 years of overlanding experience, they are on a journey to share their stories and experiences through films, that will inspire the courage and confidence in you, to follow your own dreams!
Join us as we explore a few more of our favourites below.
Essence Of Overlanding – EP9: Facing Fears & Changing Gears
From an early age, Jo has always been more curious and interested in the “road less travelled”, yet her mind and her fears were her handbrake – she suppressed who she really was, and succumbed to the trap of pleasing others to find acceptance and keep the peace.
As she evolved through many life changing experiences, it became loud and clear, that she needed to overcome her obstacles by changing her mindset, which was a journey in itself.
Change was a constant in Jo’s life and her quest for personal growth, drove her to where she is now and who she has become. She eventually allowed for that authentic self to guide her through the twists and turns in life and turned her trials into triumphs. She also got to learn that change inspires her whilst the thought of stagnation frightens her! If it were not for the fact that she finally did face her fears and discomfort and take the leaps of faith, she would still be questioning herself and living a life unfulfilled. Instead, she has followed her heart, and touched the lives of the hundreds of people she has coached and mentored. Her heartbeat is about equipping, empowering and enabling people to make the changes they long for, that bring them the authentic life they seek – this is what feeds her soul!
The stories already told on the channel and the many stories to come are testament to the work and passion Paul and Jo possess in allowing for people to feel like they can chase their dreams, answer the call to adventure and to change their lives forever. For Jo, her greatest gratitude is for her lifetime of experiences (ups and downs) and encounters that have brought her to where she is in her life now. Living life to the fullest expression for Jo is, looking back over the years and being able to say “at least I have….” rather than “I wonder what if…” or “I wish I had….”
Essence Of Overlanding – EP10: Solo Overlander
Simon is truly an intrepid traveller. As a novice overlander almost 10 years ago, he circumnavigated Africa starting in Morocco on the West Coast of Africa, down to Cape Town and up the East of Africa, back to the UK. He was accompanied by various family companions along the way, however, the enormous courage and confidence it took to embark on an expedition of this magnitude is testimony to who Simon is. His tried and tested recipe, which he applies to all activities in his life, is PLANNING & PREPARATION. For Simon it was never a question of IF he could do it, but rather HOW he could do it. He knew he would be challenged along the way and he took it head on, without allowing any of it to put him off Overland travel in any way. He did the research, found the right people to help him make it happen, and got himself skilled and equipped for the journey ahead, knowing it would be confronted with many unknowns. For Simon it was about the adventure and exploring unchartered territory.
After this epic journey, Simon sold his truck and replaced it with a troop carrier that he had built up, and shipped it to Africa, to use for his annual expeditions. Almost a decade later, Simon returns to Southern Africa as a solo overlander, for his annual “fix” of African blue skies, wide open spaces, the peace of wilderness and the warmth of the people. The connections Simon has made with people in the various African countries have stood the test of time… He has forged some incredible friendships over the years, so when he returns to many of these places, it’s like coming home!
Essence Of Overlanding – EP11: Women in Overlanding
Our fireside chat with Karin, Tina and Dana is about sharing their varied experiences in Overlanding from being novices to now being more experienced and passionate overlanders. We hope to inspire more women to let go their fears, concerns and misperceptions and take the road less travelled to see where it leads them. It’s a journey of exploration, experiences and self-discovery which is empowering, liberating and exciting!
For most, men or women, overland travel can seem daunting, scary and perhaps even unappealing at first. And in a world often dominated by masculine energy, overlanding could appear, on the surface, to be the epitome of it all. However, like anything in life where you have faced the unknown: having your first child; starting a new career or business; going to a function where you didn’t know anybody or learning a new skill, often you were amazed at the outcome and your capabilities. The overlanding lifestyle is just the same. It is a wonderful way to explore life through unique encounters and extraordinary experiences. It is about unplugging from the mainstream of life and all its distractions and immersing yourself in nature, with your co-pilot in hand, allowing for the road of self-discovery to unfold with a sense of freedom and present moment connection.
Therefore for those of you who have never been overlanding or who are dragging your heels because it is your husband or partner’s dream – see it as a metaphor for overcoming your own personal barriers and mind-made limitations that prevent us from taking bold steps in the direction of our dreams. In our work with our clients, it has in fact often been the woman who has excelled the most and created the biggest change in themselves through overlanding.
Overland travel creates the perfect blank canvas for everyone – so take that journey and you will be amazed where it leads you!
Join us in the next edition of our journey as we look at the next edition of Essence of Overlanding
