Me me me me

[onlymark]

(Mods, put this where you will)

Quite a few years ago a number of us frequented the Lonely planet Thorn Tree forum. Some of us still do.
There would sometimes be posters asking about a particular way to travel - an organised overland journey. This is where a group of people travel together, usually in a vehicle designed for the terrain, and from point A to up to several thousand miles away, to point B.
These journeys could take anything from just a couple of weeks to six months.

Many of you know this, but by now some don't - this is what my job used to be. Leading/driving/guiding the expedition members. I did this for many years, from the UK through to Nepal, from the UK to the south of Africa - and vice versa and all around.
Because of this I posted a few answers to the questions. Some not always helpful. But I also had a bit of fun and made some quite long posts.
These longer posts 'rang a bell' with many who had already done overlands and I was asked to put them together on a website for easy reference.

Eventually the website lapsed, I didn't want to pay for it any more even though several TT members still pointed it out to others.
It was mentioned again recently and I thought, why not, it appeals to my vanity. But this time it's on a free web hosting site, so who knows how long it'll stay there for.
Anyway, if you know or have an idea what these 'Overlands' are and if you have maybe been on one or are a little curious as to the sorts of people who travel in a group of up to twenty for many weeks at a time through Africa/Asia in their own little bubble (a truck) then this short website might give you a clearer picture.

There is also a random gallery of by now quite old photos on the back, before digital I'm afraid.

overlanding101.weebly.com/

[Deleted]

These trips are always fascinating, and thousands of people still dream of doing them.

[cheerypeabrain]

Mark! I've just been howling with laughter ('specially the 'toilet' advice)...tears were running down my face as I read it....my beloved came scurrying over and he read it too...I am going to send a link to several of my mates if that's OK. A few of them are adventurous types and have been on this sort of journey. I wouldn't last more than a day.....but OH has done similar (especially when working in the Yemen)....splendid. Thank you dearie...cheered me up you did.

[mich64]

I think you might miss this profession Mark. The photos showed so many smiles and the people look so happy and relaxed. Your narrative was difficult for me but judging the response from Cherry you are quite a gifted person when it comes to wit when describing your adventures.

I imagine having children has made this profession unavailable to you at this point in your life. I did enjoy the pictures and I do admit this would be to adventurous for my abilities. It seems what I would imagine as a survival vacation. My admiration to your abilities.
Cheers,
Mich

[bixaorellana]

“Look Ma!! I can fly!!!”

;D ;D You sure can, Mark!

That's a wonderful site. In amongst all the practical advice, the anecdotes, & the tongue-in-cheek fun is the important message to anyone contemplating such a trip, or any trip outside the comfort zone: Get a clue!

[onlymark]

Cheery, link away, it's only for fun anyway.
Bixa, At least it looks a lot better than the attempt I did that was rarely seen several years ago.
Mich, don't sweat it. You're doing good to even attempt to understand it.

[bjd]

I enjoyed reading that, Mark. How long did you act as a leader? These were the Cairo-Capetown trips?

I can sort of understand going on an organized trip like that through Africa, where the idea of finding your way around, getting visas, etc might seem daunting. I certainly wouldn't do it in Europe or even in S America. But I'm not good at being in large groups. My one and only attempt was London to Istanbul when I was 19, on my first trip abroad.

I see too that you were driving a Bedford truck. A while ago I read a book by Rory McLean, where he follows the Istanbul-Kathmandu route taken in the late 60s-early 70s. Interviews a few drivers who did the route in Bedford trucks -- those must have been solid vehicles!

[onlymark]

I did it from the early nineties to 2001 when the company went bust. Otherwise I might still be doing it now.
Cairo to Capetown was only one of the trips. I started out going between London through Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India and to Nepal (and v.v.) with various detours through Jordan and Syria into Egypt. Then from London to Capetown (and v.v.) via the west of Africa, through the middle and to the east and then south.
A lot of trips were seasonal and I'd do time just in India or going between Capetown and Nairobi for instance.

The Bedford was chosen as it was often just a shortlist of one. In the UK they were ex-military and cheap and the only vehicle available as a four wheel drive to do the job. And they weren't that good, but beggars couldn't be choosers. Many of the British companies got rid of them as soon as there was a viable alternative - Mercedes.
The advantage was that they were reasonably robust but quite simple and easier to repair than most.

[bixaorellana]

You must have had to do a fair amount of on-the-road repairs and tuning. Considering some of the terrain you crossed, were there ever giant problems -- broken axles and the like?

[onlymark]

A lot depended on the 'skill' of the driver, but some things were unavoidable. Over all the miles I did have some major problems like wheels falling off the trailer but usually I could limp to where we wanted to be and then spend the night in repairs.
There were times I drove and did the stuff all day and then worked into the early hours on repairs.

Usually at the end of a longish trip you had a week or two to fully service the truck and get it back to full fettle. But I tended to spend the last week of the trip doing all this so I could have virtually a week off apart from overseeing someone cleaning all the tents and kit.

[onlymark]

And all for $100 a week.

[bjd]

I assume that was spending money -- that food (such as it was) and accommodation (the tent or the truck) were covered? So you could occasionally buy a new t-shirt.

[onlymark]

Everything was paid for out of the trip funds, which I controlled. As long as I didn't go over budget and my books balanced ok and there were no obviously extra expenses than I saved the whole wages each week. Every time I returned to the UK, which could just be once a year, my books were examined and signed off.
I was even allowed two beers a night (which I never had anyway). All food, travel and accommodation was paid for.

I did a simple calculation when I first started and understood I could save more money doing this low paid job than with my normal employment and having living expenses.

[Deleted]

I think we have just found the theme for the Anyport connect-the-dots pissup whereby Mark will drive a bus to the city of each and every registered member, who will then of course provide accommodation to all of the members along for the ride. Unfortunately, there is precious little bus parking in Paris.

[onlymark]

I'll park out of the city in the bus after dropping you off then make my way back in again. Apparently Paris does have public transport, non?

[hwinpp]

Good one, Mark. In gallery 2, is that Bam after the earthquake? I thought it had been completely levelled, looks remarkably well preserved.

And where's the pic taken next to the Taj?

[onlymark]

The Bam pictures were taken before the earthquake. It does go to show how old some of them are. The quake was in 2003, I was there in 94, 95, 96 and 97.

The one next to the Taj - I'll have to get back to you on that. I can't remember, but I should as I stopped there often enough. It was in India, somewhere west of Varanasi (maybe a long way west), on a small river with a set of temples and a fort on fairly flat land. It was just an overnight stop for us.
Too much info I know as I think you were just wanting to know the general country/area. But it helps me try and remember.
I drove between Nepal and the UK about eleven times and stopped there every time. It'll really bug me now.

[thill25]

Really cool post Mark. Enjoyed what I read on the link...Gonna go back and check out the Gallery and Diary when I hae some more time. That looked like a ridiculously fun and exhausting job. I can't even imagine going that month, after month, after month with only a week break between trips. Whew...

[onlymark]

You should see me now! I look early fifties but I'm actually just twenty eight.

[hwinpp]

Lucky you.

Just a year younger than me

[onlymark]

Yeah, right

[Deleted]

I could be your little brother then.