Add Blogging to My List of Hobbies
Welcome to my blog! Despite having zero experience or training, writing has always been something I’ve enjoyed. Here I will predominantly share our overlanding and backpacking stories—stories that aren’t quite right for Instagram (where I’ve been sharing my adventures until now). You may also catch some food and gear reviews, destination reports and behind-the-scenes content.
No matter if you know me from my personal life, from Roam4Lo, crossing paths on a trail or if you’ve just discovered me, I certainly appreciate you taking the time to be here.
That’s the gist. You can expect blogs to be posted biweekly, plus you can find more of my content on the Roam4Lo social channels. If you’d like to learn more about me and how I arrived at this trailhead, please continue reading.
More About Me
I’m a camera-shy 40-something father of a daughter and a mechanical designer with a work hard-play hard mentality. I have ambitious dreams, frequently break the rules and possess too many hobbies and interests. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, but relocated to Birmingham, AL, for work about five years ago. I love winter sports—I play ice hockey and enjoy snowboarding. I prefer to strenuous uphill hikes and scrambles. I’m a huge sci-fi fan. I know how to use a 3D printer, and I’ve built furniture using 50-year-old barn wood. I’ve even tinkered with vintage motorcycles.
I’m the oldest of four, one brother and two sisters. Uncle to one niece and two nephews. Son to the most caring and loving mother. Without her love and attention I wouldn’t have the courage or the opportunity to do what I do. She has always put me, and others, before herself. Giving her some credit is the least I can do.
Nature Lover
I’ve always cared a great deal about our environment and our planet, so you’ll often see and read about wildlife here on the blog. BBC nature shows and Nat Geo have always been among my favorites. I’ve always thought it would be extraordinary to be a Nat Geo contributor.
Like many of you, I love being surrounded by nature…as long as it’s not pooping on or biting me. I spent my younger years in the forests of Pennsylvania behind my parents’ house. There I learned where to find the creatures and what type of trees were best to climb…or fall out of. I was even a Boy Scout for a few years. I’ve come to appreciate how fortunate I was to have experienced the outdoors all those years.
Photographer
Three years ago I bought my first camera, a Nikon D5600 with kit lenses. At first, it was just another hobby, but now I’m on my sixth camera body and even dabble in videography. I’ve always had an interest in shooting, just hadn’t committed. Before owning professional cameras, I had a few point-and-shoot cameras, and then smartphones came along. I thought my iPhone photos were so great when I first joined Instagram in 2011. Now, photography has changed how I see the world.
Overlander
A notable life event occurred in April 2020, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic—I traded in my Nissan Rogue for a brand-new Toyota Tacoma 4x4. I was unaware how impactful this purchase would be until later. “I just want a dependable pickup,” I told everyone as I narrowed it down to the Tacoma and Frontier. I’ve always been a Nissan guy and between me and my family we’ve owned five. The problem for me was the age of the previous Frontier generation, it was out-dated (this was before the latest remodel). So I went with the Tacoma. Shortly after the purchase, I was trying to get a leveling lift and slightly larger tires when I stumbled on this adventure activity called “overlanding” where you basically turn your truck, SUV or whatever your drive, into a Swiss Army knife and go “car camping” with or without off-road involvement. Wait, I can combine a bunch of my favorite hobbies, throw in a few new ones and do them at the same time? Psssh. Freakin brilliant—I’m in!
Apparently, I was already an overlander. Back in 2006, I had a third-gen Nissan Pathfinder (the VQ40 engine). This was, in my opinion, the best-looking generation—boxy and aggressive. We used to pack it with camping gear and go find trails near Ohiopyle, PA, and northern West Virginia.
By the Fall of 2020, I started overlanding on a regular basis and always loved the off-roading aspect—the rowdier the better. I remember watching a video on YouTube produced by a group of enthusiasts out of Georgia called Roam4Lo. They seemed fun, rowdy and clearly loved the outdoors. The music in the video was on point, M83, which is one of my favorite bands. I knew I wanted to meet this group and ride with them. As fate would have it, that year on July 24, that came to fruition on their Bama Adventure Trail (BAT) guided ride. Over the next year, I would build a relationship with the core group and became a regular on their rides. Not many overland groups enjoy the hard lines, bouncing through rock gardens and slangin’ mud as much as these folks. They bring a ton of off-road and overland experience to the table but never let it get too serious. They taught me how to discover with confidence (their motto). They showed me how to execute safe recoveries, how to pick proper lines and the vibes they bring on every ride can be felt through the comms (communications for the layman). I can’t wait to get back to the lower 48 and wheel with them again.
Full-Time Traveler
The most recent life-altering moment was in June 2022 when my significant other, Liz, and I quit our jobs, sold everything and became full-time travelers in a 19’ camper. We are currently in Canada, just a month into this extended expedition, headed for Alaska, the Last Frontier.
The camper, which we lovingly named “Burt” (short for burrito), is a 2022 Intech Sol Horizon. We chose the Sol Horizon because it best fit our adventure lifestyle, but before we left Alabama in July, I did make a few modifications: a 2.6” lift, new tires, upgraded battery and a soft starter for the AC unit. We recently added Starlink, too, after admitting it wasn’t ideal to be without the internet for a week at a time. We still need to address power issues, though, and solar power seems to be a part of the solution. Look for a dedicated post on Burt soon!
When we began traveling, I started writing daily in a journal. This was a means to admire and document the adventure, and I’m using it to cultivate this expressive outlet. I hope you’ll come back regularly and stay up to speed with our story.
