Overland Expedition Film Festival

Once again its time for the Adventure Film Fest.  This event is held annually and is free to attend the showcasing the best independent adventure films from the previous year.
Last years event was a huge success - you can read about it in this blog post:
Independent Overland Films

Regardless of the year, overland expeditions have always been filmed.  Here are a few clips from the past decades (1930's to 2010)

Quick Introduction: Bruce, our new blog author @zimbo243

The Overland Live blog has been a good project to get involved in. My initial idea was to start blogging about all topics related to independent overland travel - this evolved into historical overland trips, alternative vehicles plus a good mix of random thoughts (See Contents). A year after starting the project I have voiced my thoughts on enough topics that it is time for some fresh content and thoughts.

Time to evolve a step further: Introducing Bruce Paice.
Bruce is a keen overlander with a passion for his motorbikes. His enthusiasm and knowledge on the topic is excellent, which, as a result for Overland Live Blog, he wants to jot down his thoughts.

Be sure to follow Bruce via www.twitter.com/zimbo243

Please feel free to contact myself or Bruce if you have any comments, thoughts or ideas.

Additional Reading:

Enfields to India challenge

Ever fancied buying a classic Royal Enfield Bullet motorbike and heading to India?
Here are four guys that are undertaking an awesome challenge. They are riding four classic Royal Enfield Bullet Motorcycles on a 10000 mile journey from London to India.
See the website Enfields to India for more information
The expedition leader Mark Kirby is not a stranger to the adventure riding scene. Mark and a mate rode two 1998 Honda Africa Twin from London to Cape Town in 2005. The photo below was taken in Sudan. It just goes to shows that you don't need a brand new bike to go on an awesome adventure.



Recommended Reading:
Living in the past: sampling the Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic ES. (Ridden & Rated).: An article from: Rider

Feel the dust... Africa's Roads

The dust layers the Defender dashboard, whilst the azure African sky blurs the horizon.  A faint smell of EP90 invades the cockpit.  The gear lever quivers in its rubber gator as the diesel engine idly clunks under the spare wheel on the bonnet.  Two wheel tracks guide you forward...

Engaging the clutch, selecting the gear and feathering the accelerator gives forward motion. Dust rises from the XZL tyres as they roll over the track.
This is the life of the overlander and these are the roads Africa offer...

Focus on: Kenya

Jambo, Welcome to Magical Kenya!
I was thinking back to 2005 when I was overlanding through Kenya.  If you are looking for a country that offers a mix of cultures, awesome wildlife, diverse landscapes, then Kenya is for you.   Here are a few thoughts from my few months spent in the country:

UK TV: My Crazy Family Gap Year - Africa Overland

The Pindorias Overland Adventure

I have often wondered what it must be like to travel with children overland.  In this documentary by the UK Channel 4 team, a family of five drive from Cape Town to Cairo. (Trip Website)

From the Archives - Overland Expeditions 1968

From the 1968 Overland Archives: The Pegasus Overland Expedition and the Grandmother's Expedition to Australia

Pegasus Overland Expedition
BBC reported:

"For five young men from Liverpool, 1968 was to be a year they would never forget as they travelled overland from the UK to New Zealand. John Proffit, John Doran, John Bate, Tom McCormack and Victor Parkinson set off to make the trip through 18 countries in a second hand Land Rover."

DRC: Parc de La N’Sele

I received this email from Breemeersch & thought it might be useful for overlanders needing a break after the hectic border crossing into Kinshasa.

République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) : Parc de La N’Sele

By coincidence we found this wonderful parc at the “embouchure” of the N’Sele river and the Congo stream at 45km East of Kinshasa.

Willy Treffen - Largest Overland Truck Meeting

For the last 31 years overlanders have been gathering in Germany for an overland & expedition meeting.  This event, however, is unique.  It's an overlanders meeting point for all those interesting in overlanding with expedition prepared trucks.  The trucks vary from campers to huge Man ex-army vehicles.  Each vehicle is uniquely prepared.

Land Rover Series I Expedition Vehicles

Land Rover Series 1 Advert

Land Rover entered production of the Series I vehicle in 1948.  Since that day the Land Rover has evolved into the most seen and respected expedition vehicle.  Additional information on the Series I can be found on the wikipedia website: Land Rover Series 1

In this blog post I attempt to trace early Land Rover Expeditions which have used the trusty Series 1 as the vehicle of choice.  I have also linked to a few videos and old Land Rover adverts