The Muskoka Foundation, whose tagline is “Use What You Know to Do Good as You Go,” is getting the summer off to a great start with programs throughout Canada, USA, Latin America and Africa. Many overlanders don’t realize how much of a difference they can make in their own backyards: Muskoka has volunteering locations in Inuvik, along the Top of the World Highway; in Seward, along the spectacular Kenai Peninsula; and down to Canyon de Chelley in Arizona, to name a few. 

To say that Overland Expo 2011 was a huge success is in fact an understatement: the growth, excitement, and quality blew us away. Thanks to our title sponsors [Four Wheel Campers, ARB-USA, Sportsmobile, Overland Journal, Equipt Expedition Outfitters] and special sponsors Land Rover, RawHyde Adventures BMW Academy, Jeep, and MaxTrax. 

Meet Tree (John Trujillo), Stevie, and Kiki (the pooch), nomads and authors of the excellent website
SprinterLife.com. This engaging pair are heading vaguely south in an ’06 diesel Sprinter, after literally selling most of their possessions and embracing the full-time overlanding life in 2009. Part of what nudged them forward, literally, was Stevie’s lucrative but miserable job and Tree’s climbing accident, which landed him in a wheelchair for a good part of 2008. Life is precious, and they decided to embrace it. They share a little of their life with us here:

TELL US WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DO THIS:
Stevie: Within a few months of meeting, Tree and I were already fantasizing about driving the Pan-American Highway together because we both love to travel and agreed that the trip to Tierra del Fuego would be amazing. Through the years, the fantasy morphed into a discussion that eventually shaped up into an actual plan. The tipping point of when the trip became a lifestyle, though, happened shortly after we sold all of our possessions, moved into the Sprinter, and started living like nomads . . .

We met Bill Dwyer—known as AtlasRider on his popular YouTube channel—at the first Overland Expo in 2009. Bill was preparing for a trans-Americas ride and impressed many of us by taking his street bike through the dual-sport riding course. After another year of preparation (including buying a KLR650)—and a stint teaching video-blogging at Overland Expo.2010—Bill took off for South America this August, and hopes to make Ushuaia in 8 months. He’s currently in Guatemala, and took some time for an interview.

Tired of hauling your fridge out, or kneeling awkwardly on your tailgate, just to get a Coke? So was Jerry L’Ecuyer. Below, he shares how chocolate led to his innovative, made-in-the-U.S. LoadSpotter slide:

“My son and I have been going on off-road and expedition trips since he was four years old. We started with an FJ-40, hauling an old tent and an ice chest. Over the years we graduated to an FJ-60. That was luxury on long trips compared to the 40! While in South Africa one year visiting family, we had an opportunity to purchase a rooftop tent and rack for the Land Cruiser. Now that was luxury deluxe!