Adventure Overlanding: How an Expo & Mindfulness May Transform Your Ride

Adventure begins where the pavement ends, but the real journey happens within. Drawing inspiration from iconic action films like James Bond and Mission Impossible, I've discovered that the heart-pounding excitement I seek isn't just found in movie theaters—it's waiting on dirt roads and mountain passes aboard my BMW 1250 GS Adventure.

The Overland Expo recently returned to Loveland, Colorado, bringing together a community of explorers who understand something profound: getting away from the 24-hour news cycle and constant digital connectivity isn't just enjoyable—it's essential. While overlanding typically involves massive vehicles equipped for extended self-sufficient travel, the mindset shares remarkable parallels with adventure motorcycling. Both offer pathways to mindfulness in a world that rarely slows down.

Mindfulness transforms motorcycle adventures from mere trips into journeys of personal growth. Rather than focusing solely on destinations or perfect Instagram moments, truly mindful riding means noticing the subtle sensations—the changing patterns of wind, the vibration of your engine, the play of light across the landscape. When unexpected challenges arise, as they inevitably will, this present-moment awareness helps you respond with resilience rather than frustration. The self-reliance developed on remote roads builds confidence that extends far beyond your adventures. So before reaching for your phone at that breathtaking vista, take a moment to simply be there, letting the experience sink deeply into your heart. The freedom of motorcycle travel isn't just about where you go—it's about the space it creates for self-discovery and deeper connection to the world around you. One mile, one breathtaking view, one quiet moment at a time.

Episode Transcript

Ron (00:00):
Some of my favorite movies have been the James Bond series,
the 007, you know, and also theMission Impossible films, the
ones with Tom Cruise On my wallin my office.
Actually, right behind me rightnow is a movie poster of Daniel
Craig from 007 on a TriumphScrambler XE motorcycle from the

(00:24):
movie no Time to Die.
I love those movies.
I think they're the coolestthing.
I leave them with my heartpounding and, in a small way
perhaps, I try to emulate thatkind of excitement when I'm out
on my motorcycle Now, especiallywhen I'm out on my BMW 1250 GS

(00:44):
Adventure.
Maybe you do too.
As I'm sure you know by now ifyou've followed this podcast, I
love the wide open spaces.
Especially these past couple ofyears, since I got that GS
adventure, I spent a lot of timeout on dirt roads.
Anyway, getting out like thatand hanging out with others who

(01:06):
also love the great outdoors andlove to have an adventure well,
that's my thing.
It's people like that I reallylike to hang around with and
those kind of people.
And that kind of event has cometo my hometown once again, here
in Loveland, colorado.
Have you heard of the termoverlanding, or perhaps heard of

(01:31):
the Overland Expo?
The Expo, as I said, has comeback here to Loveland, colorado.
I was out there this afternoonand, having attended in the past
several years and again Iattended today, which was
opening day this afternoon, andI've participated in a couple of
the seminars, and I just havealways come away with a huge

(01:53):
smile on my face Because it's anentirely different view of life
, I think.
I think this whole overlandingthing and the people's people's
lives that have been transformedwhen they discovered that
experience, well, that's justdifferent, and I just like the

(02:15):
people that are associated withthat kind of thing.
Well, while overlanding istypically associated with this
huge, crazy, expensive rigs thatyou carry yourself, your family
and all your friends and youcan go on any terrain around the
world for months at a time, butI'm convinced, too, that there
are direct parallels between theoverland adventure movement,

(02:39):
with these big rigs, andadventure motorcyclings that so
many of us love to experience.
So is overlanding the samething as adventure motorcycling?
Well, maybe, but one thing Ican say for certain it's
completely amazing, and I trulybelieve that getting out,

(03:01):
getting out into the country,away from the busyness of this
world, away from the 24-hournews cycle, going out to see the
stars, listening to just thesounds of nature.
My friends, it's more importanttoday than ever.
I truly believe that let's talkabout it.

(03:24):
Thank you for joining me today.
Recorded in beautiful Loveland,colorado.
Welcome to Peace, love Moto, thepodcast for motorcyclists
seeking that peaceful, easyfeeling as we cruise through

(03:44):
this life together.
Are you ready?
Let's go?
Okay.

(04:05):
So overlanding and I'm using airquotes here overlanding is
vehicle-based, okay, that one'sobvious.
For us, overlanding typicallyinvolves a vehicle equipped for
extended travel and camping, andfor us, as motorcycle riders,
that's going to mean larger gastanks, beefier suspension,

(04:27):
rugged luggage racks and allthat good stuff, right.
But I really want to talk aboutsomething that's becoming more
and more a part, it seems, ofthe overlanding mindset, and I
think it's great.
It's the practice that pairs, Ithink, really well with both

(04:47):
the overlanding experience witha large vehicle and an adventure
riding by a motorcycle, andthat's mindfulness.
I heard about that today andsaw evidence of that today.
You see, like I've said, inthis fast paced world, it's so

(05:08):
easy to get caught up in thedoing world.
It's so easy to get caught upin the doing right, even when
you're going to take a tripdoing the trip, the miles, the
schedule getting the perfectphoto.
But overlanding, I think, byits very nature, offers this
unique opportunity to slow downand really be present, because

(05:31):
you've got all the gear with youto be able to just stop where
you are for a while, right?
So mindfulness in the contextof overlanding is the act of, I
think, intentionally focusing onthe here and now.
It's about being aware of whatyou're experiencing, both

(05:53):
internally and externally,without judgment at all, and a
motorcycle adventure, in myexperience thus far, is a
perfect classroom for this.
So how can you incorporatemindfulness into your

(06:22):
overlanding adventure?
Well, you're writing right.
So, instead of thinking aboutthe destination, notice the
sensation of the wind.
You know how you can just kindof feel it, occasionally coming
from more on one side than theother, maybe.
Maybe you feel a tailwind, inthat you don't feel much wind
coming against you at all.
Feel the subtle vibrations ofthe engine.

(06:45):
Now again, the bike I ride mostof the time is the BMW GS, and
it has a boxer engine, just twobig cylinders that go out either
side of the bike.
It feels very, very differentthan other bikes that I've had
and that I've ridden.
Look at the shifting lights andthe shadows on the road ahead,

(07:05):
especially as the day goes by.
Listen to the hum of your tires, especially if you're running
on semi-knobby tires.
They sound different, don'tthey, than street tires against
the road, if you can pick up thesounds of nature too.
I know it gets a little noisyout there, but you know, just
slow down occasionally If you'reout on a dirt road somewhere

(07:26):
where there's nobody behind you,nobody in front of you.
Just slow down, step up on thepegs, get a good look all around
you and when you're at camp,the moment you shut off your
engine, there's a new quiet thatmay just settle in.
Take a moment before you evenunload your bike, take a few

(07:47):
deep breaths, feel the cool air.
That simple act can anchor youto the present and maybe release
tensions that you had throughthe riding day.
And when your plans go wrongwhich they do sometimes just

(08:07):
chill right, unlike highwayriding, where you know exactly
where to exit and exactly, orvery approximately, when you're
going to arrive at yourdestination.
Well, overlanding or adventureriding it's more about planning
for the unexpected, planningthat things may not go as

(08:28):
planned and, most importantly,planning not to panic.
I know that's easier said thandone, but planning not to panic,
rather just plan to go with theflow you know out on these
adventure rides.
It's all about self-reliance ina lot of ways.
Right, you're going out onplaces where not a lot of people

(08:50):
are going, so something happens.
You may be on your own for alittle while, so it's a mental
game too right.
A flat tire, an unexpected roadclosure, a sudden downpour
these are moments that can causestress, but they don't have to.
A mindful approach allows youto step back from that

(09:13):
frustration.
You can acknowledge that thesituation isn't going to consume
you right.
Focus on the task at hand,whether it's patching a tire,
finding an alternative route ortrusting your own ability to
handle it.
Whatever's coming along, youcan handle it, and when you do

(09:35):
that, you're not just fixing aproblem, you're building
resilience, a confidence thatmay just stay with you for the
rest of your life.
Maybe just one more tip, justsomething to think about,
because actually I think it'sbecoming an epidemic these days.

(09:57):
We're all guilty of it, right?
We get to an incredibleviewpoint and the first thing
that we want to do is pull outour phone to get a picture.
Well, while capturing a memoryis great, and we need to do that
a mindful approach reallyencourages us to first take in
the view with your own eyes, letthe moment sink in, and then,

(10:23):
if you want to take a picturebut first let it settle in in
your head, let it settle inmaybe in your heart too Then
grab that photo.
Better yet, just be there.
Just be there and sit with itfor a while.
Let that view, let thatexperience just soak into your

(10:45):
heart so that you can take ithome with you.
I'll begin to close with this Ithink the freedom of
overlanding on a motorcycle isnot just about the places you go
, but it's more about the spaceit creates for self-discovery in

(11:12):
your mind and your heart, andmaybe it builds a deeper
connection to the world aroundyou.
I think we all need that.
By incorporating mindfulness too, you're not just taking a trip.
You're embarking on a journeyof personal growth.
You're embarking on a journeyof personal growth One mile, one

(11:33):
breathtaking view, one quietmoment at a time.
So if you're an adventuremotorcyclist with a thirst for
exploration, a love for thejourney and a desire to connect
with a vibrant community, theOverland Expo and events like

(11:55):
that may be just something youneed to check out, because, in
my experience.
Whether you're looking for thelatest gear, seeking inspiration
for your next adventure orwanting to learn new skills,
you'll find it at those kinds ofevents, and I'll say this too
If you're lucky, you may make anew friend, or two People who,

(12:17):
like you, love getting into theoutdoors, feeling free, and who,
maybe, who happen to enjoyJames Bond and Mission
Impossible movies.
A new friend.
What could be better than that?
So, my friends, thank you somuch for listening.

(12:39):
Until we do visit again, I wishyou peace and I wish you love,
thank you.