ALLINTHEFAMILY

BY SANDY BORDEN #188051

Overland Expo 2013: Hanging with Our Tribe

EVeRYone Has a DIffeRent DefInI-

tion of the word family. Of course, it conjures up thoughts of a mom and dad, siblings, Christmas celebrations and summer vacations; but in our world, family extends beyond blood and borders. It was at last years Overland Expo while talking with my husband, Terry, and good friend, Alison DeLapp, that Terry experienced a true moment of clarity. In the middle of our conversation, Terry stopped all of us and exclaimed, I figured out what it means to be here with our friends. When were home, were the weird people. Were not weird here! That, my friends, is how we came to figure out that not only were we finding our familyour tribe, we were no longer the weird people. Our first Overland Expo was in 2011 in southern Arizona. After a mad scramble to make some time on the calendar, we were set to attend our first Overland Expo, aka OX. In order to make the trip work, Terry was to U-Haul the bikes to a friends house Alphonse Palaima is toasting another Overland Expo. outside of Phoenix while Jack and I rather, take matters into our own hands and followed via Southworst a day later. Yes, ridgo see for ourselves. How brilliant is that? ing the entire distance is always the ideal How simple and brilliant. The people we situation, but when working around school would meet that year helped to spur someschedules and that pesky job thing, you do thing in us. Could we even think of taking what you must to make it happen. We all off for a couple of months to travel? The met up at our friends Sean and Jennifers spark was lit. abode, where they graciously put us up for OX 2012 in Mormon Lake was the first the night. Morning came too soon; neveryear we could be presenters, officially givtheless, it was necessary to push off before ing talks to other overland families and prethe Arizona sun switched from bake to tending we knew what we were talking broil. about when it came to packing and cooking Within hours, we were setting up camp on the road. Okay, we actually do know among a barrage of tents, Unimogs and what were talking about, but its just weird other off-road conversions. It was as if (theres that word again!) when others Tonka had built life-size replicas of all of

our favorite childhood toys! Needless to say, the boys were set for entertainment. However, it wasnt just about the rigs and the vendors; it was about the stories from various travelers about their journeys around the globe. Whether they had just completed a trek or were currently smack in the middle of their adventure, they all had one thing in commonthey werent afraid of the world. Their travels proved that we should not believe what the media says,

believe in you as well. Jack even gave two solo presentations on what its like to travel by motorcycle with mom and dad. The talk was complete with a slideshow presentation and a prompt shooing for Terry and me to take a step back and let him take this on his own. I cried during both presentations. I try not to be an embarrassment to my kiddo, but how proud were we of him? I mean, really, he was only 10! It was also during this time that our familyour tribebegan to come together. It didnt matter what you rodetwo, four or eight wheels; the main things that brought us all together were the desire to look beyond the usual, to step out of our comfort zones and to experience what was out there instead of relying on the newest National Geographic special. With this desire to flee came a profound yearning to talk and learn from each other, to share ideas and swap stories. Every night a motley crew of jovial wanderers gathered at camp, each receiving a welcome hug or handshake even though we had only met just hours before. Wine flowed as the story tellers took turns in a round-robin of tales; bursts of laughter ensued as the stories became more and more unbelievable. On the final day as we made our goodbye rounds, tearful embraces were met with promises to stay in touch. But it was Jack, his face awash in tears, that proved to us that we had found our family; little man didnt want to leave. He, too, had found his tribe. It was a long ride back to the burbs. By now, you can imagine our excitement as May 17 could not come fast enough. As we pulled into Mormon Lake, we were immediately greeted by our family: Jeff

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Simpson, Lorraine Chittock, Alison DeLapp, Nicole Espinosa, Paul Smith, Carla King, Jonathan Ehly, Ted Simon, Rene and Colette Cormier, Simon and Lisa Thomas, Bill and Susan Dragoothe list Simon and Lisa Thomas (www.2ridetheworld.com) celebrate could fill an entire page! 10 consecutive years on the road with their bikes on display at the There were hugs all Touratech booth. around as conversations sprung up and attempts to set up camp were rides. No joke! Simon tossed his keys to put on hold. Catching up with our tribe was Terry, and who was Terry to say no. I think our first priority. Not only were we celebratI heard Terry giggle as he sped by on the ing our second year as presenters, but Terry enormous beast. Soon after, it was my turn and I were celebrating our 20th wedding to take Lisas for a spin. Oh, I remember the sound of her exhaust when she and Simon had been at our home just five years previTHEY HAvE brOugHT ous. It was pretty insane and hard not to give it a twist a little too often. With promTOgETHEr TrAvElErs ises to reconnect very soon, it was time to frOm All pOiNTs ON roll. Its such a comfort when you find your THE glObE TO gATHEr tribe. Roseann and Jonathan have done ONCE A YEAr iN A more than share the overlanding world with the masses. They have brought CElEbrATiON Of THE together travelers from all points on the wOrld ANd All iT globe to gather once a year in a celebration of the world and all it has to offer. How HAs TO OffEr. extraordinary is that? So, where are we headed next? Who knows! From what I hear, no matter where anniversary. What better place to celebrate we end up, a member of our tribe will be than with our OX family! With permission waiting there with a soft place to land. from Roseann and Jonathan Hanson, OverCheers. land Expos founders and all around super heroes, we threw ourselves a Friday night shindig. As our friends mingled and noshed over tri-tip and cakes, Terry, Jack and I looked around the room, very aware of how blessed we were to be part of such a remarkable group of wanderers. When this years OX came to a close, we were once again faced with the sad face of one Mr. Jack. We had even stayed and camped an extra day and it didnt matter. Overland Expo was coming to a close, and it was time to head back north. But not without a turn or two on Simon and Lisas insane Carla King and Anthony Sicola catch up on past and future
global ventures.

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