This fall, this November 3rd in the U.S., there is much more at stake than simply who will reside in the White House in Washington for the next four years.  It is about the soul of the nation, about the future of public lands, wild and beautiful landscapes, our lands.  A new film by Patagonia Films premiers on the 25th of September, 2020, @ 5 pm PDT on YouTube.  With Executive Producers Robert Redford and Yvon Chouinard, Public Trust. The Fight for America's Public Lands, presents an authentic, factual and passionate plea for the protection of public lands.  The film considers three environmental conflicts, including the proposed mine in the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wildness (BWCA) in Northern Minnesota, a very special place.  I have been of fan of public lands in the U.S., including the BWCA, for many, many years, having visited at least 22 national parks, at least 53 national forests, plus countless other protected areas, including national seashores and lakeshores, state parks and recreation areas, anywhere where I could camp, explore, and experience the natural world.  So please watch and support the fight to protect public lands.  These are special landscapes, and they are at risk, under extreme threat and we must act now.  If we do not, then in the blink of eye, they will be gone.

Is a sad time, though really not that sad, considering what is going on in the world, but sad for me.  I am selling my van, the Big Nandu is up for sale.  I listed it last week on Facebook Marketplace, free posting, up to 20 photos, hard to beat.  And after only one week, there have been 2,767 listing views, 56 listing saves, 37 listing shares, just a ton of interest.  I am currently in Pennsylvania where my van is located, and I'm gotten messages of interest from people as far away as West Texas and Reno, Nevada, plus more regional folks (e.g., WV, OH, NY, MD, and of course PA).  I had always planned to sell my van after I got back from South America in 2017, buy another 4WD vehicle, get another job, and continue on with life.  Well, it has taken me longer than planned, but the time is now, my van is up for sell, and I'm sure it will be sold in the near future.  I spent many a night sleeping in my van, and drove almost 70,000 miles, in almost 40 states in the US, and in four countries outside of the US.  I only technically broke down twice, both in the US (and both times the same problem, tension arm pulley went, threw the belt, bad news but easy fix).  I did replace the alternator in Bryce Canyon City outside of Bryce Canyon National Park, got "stranded" in Cabo in Baja California Sur for 8 days getting my bearings replaced in the rear differential, and had a flat tire (not really flat, but a leak serious enough to demand my attention) and a visit to a gomeria in Argentina.  My van has been very, very good to me, and I'm sad to sell her, but it is time to say chao, and move on, to another adventure  vehicle.

Many who have expressed interest in my van have asked why I'm selling it.  Well, for me, there is one simple answer to this question: I just can't get to some of the places which I would like to visit, I need something more capable, I need 4WD.  My van is RWD, and I can't count the number of times I had to turn around, in South America, in the Western US, Florida, the Baja.  I traveled alone, and I just couldn't afford to get stuck.  I need something which will allow me to explore more deeply into the wildlands of the US, and the world, plus I'm hoping to get up to Alaska next summer, assuming the Covid subsides, and I can drive into Canada.  So, after lots of research, talking to others, thinking about what I want, and need in another adventure vehicle, I opted for a 4WD pickup truck, a Nissan Frontier (King cab, so 2-door, but with a 6 foot bed).  The idea is to add a slide-in, pop-up camper such as those sold by Four Wheel Campers out of Woodland, CA.  These are well-designed and engineered, offer reasonable accommodations, a low profile, often light weight, and while a bit expensive, they seem to be a great way to go when mounted on a 4WD truck.  I want to be quick and nimble, and capable of off-road travel, though true overlanding is likely not in my future.  I already miss my van, but it is time, it was always part of the plan, it is now time to sell.  I hope to post much in the future, me and my new adventure vehicle, exploring more of this incredible planet, more outdoor adventure.  But now is time to say good-bye, I will miss my old friend, my trusted, and dependable companion on many an outdoor adventure.
​