Motorcycle Explorer October 2014 Issue 2 | Page 34

Sam Manicom
A few words from Sam
The Buzz of Overlanding
‘Value your dreams. They are where Adventures begin.’
My first article for Motorcycle Explorer Magazine has had me thinking about Adventure travellers
and Overlanders? Who are they and what makes a motorcycle journey allowed to be called an
Overlanding trip? What makes a person into an adventure traveller anyway? Are these people
freakishly lucky, driven by their dreams of the open road and its challenges, or complete nutters?
After all, there are risks. And, well, is there such a thing as a standard Overlander or Adventure
traveller anyway? Actually, I think it’s a daft concept. Our world is made up of complete
individuals. What does the word adventure mean anyway? The Oxford English dictionary says
that an adventure is, ‘An unusual and exciting experience.’
We all know of people
who’ve been inspired by Ted
Simon’s book Jupiter’s Travels
and by the magical mix of
overlanding books and films
that are around now. Probably
all of us have had
conversations with people
who’ve been motivated by
Ewan and Charley too, but the
reality of adventure means
that every adventurer does it
their way, whether they set off
planning to emulate someone
or not. Each adventurer is an
exceptional being. They may
dream in the same direction,
but each is affect ed by the
gene pool they come from and
the experiences that life has
thrown at them. If nothing else,
those are the things that make
up who they are as individuals,
and will guide their adventures
in a unique way. I think that the
main factors that make an
overlanding adventure are that
the adventurer is away from
his or her comfort zone, on two
wheels riding through places
where adrenaline pops in their
veins, and their abilities can be
pummeled by the unknown, for
a significant period of time.