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Day Three. The last day of Overland Expo 2009.
This was the day I was waiting for...
I got to take The Greasy Beast out onto the 4Wheel Drive course! It's just a beginner course, but it certainly has its challenges... a dip that literally swallows your average Jeep, a series of staggered potholes (each at least a foot deep), and a "dry riverbed" where you have to drive along the sloped edge without tipping over. If you're not used to off-road driving, it can be a bit hairy. Fortunately, I've had off-road training before (in my old FJ40), but my "skills" aside, I have to say, the Defender made it seem like a cake walk. It was almost anticlimactic. Don't get me wrong, it was certainly fun (I drove it over and over again), but the way the Defender is geared, the high ground clearance it has, its ultra-flexible suspension, and the torque of that Cummins diesel made it a cinch.
But, as much fun as the course was, the highlight of the day was the evening's "closing ceremonies" and banquet. There were over 100 people in attendance, making for a festive crowd. The food was great (or maybe it just seemed great after having eaten "camping" food for three days straight), there was a raffle, a silent auction, and, best of all, Roseann Hanson (the Event Coordinator) announced the winner of the Overland Society Flag Expedition competition.
What is that? Well, I'll tell you...
Expeditioners (many much more adventurous than myself) submitted proposals for an upcoming journey they'll be taking this year. Criteria for judgement was as follows:
- Purpose of the trip or expedition - it should have a purpose other than just a cool trip for the participants - ie. education, conservation, science, discovery . . .
- A realistic budget is encouraged. Bigger is not necessarily better.
- Have you done this before? First-timers are actually preferred. "Professional" adventurers are not necessarily a shoe-in.
- What is the scope? tip: it can be 100 miles from home, or 10,000 - it does not have to be an Amazing Journey, and can have depth in other ways
Details of the competition:
The winning expedition or trip will receive a specially made Overland Expedition flag to take with them on their journey between April 2009 and March 2010. The Flag will have the logo and motto of the Expo, and will serve to inspire its guardians as well as others to explore, educate, and conserve our world.
The Prizes: The winning expedition will receive free attendance at the 2010 Overland Expo (up to $500 value), a variety of gift certificates to outfit your expedition, an expedition wardrobe from Ex Officio, a feature article in Overland Journal, travel stipends, and more.
Passing the Flag: At the 2010 Overland Expo, the team will present their expedition as part of Overland Theater or an evening presentation, and at the Sunday Banquet they will pass the Flag to the next winning expedition . . . so the Journey continues.
Guess who won? :-)
Yes. I was shocked, to say the least. Of course I hoped I would win, but, with the incredible amount of experience in overlanding from all the people in attendance, I didn't think I had much of a chance. Silly me.
Now, I'm normally a good speaker in front of crowds, but this honor caught me totally off guard, and I didn't know what to say. Everything was happening in slow motion, and, before I knew what I was doing, I found myself at the podium accepting the Overland Expedition Flag from Roseann.
As funny as it sounds, I actually had to ask the audience to allow me a moment to compose myself so I could tell them about The Vanishing America Project without falling apart.
Being the first winner of this competition is a tremendous honor indeed. There will likely be other expeditions from future Expos that will be better than mine, but since I'm the first, I have to set the standard. And, if you had the opportunity to meet these wonderful people, you'll know that they expect (and deserve) the best.
(Is this where I insert the acceptance speech? I know I joke a lot, but I really mean this. Okay, here you go...)
"I am honored and delighted to be the first Flag Carrier for Overland Expo, and I will make certain that the Overland Society gets the very best from my travels. The flag will be proudly displayed on the Land Rover and on BABS as I travel from state to state searching out stories of a Vanishing America and relating those stories to kids around the country so that they will grow up with an appreciation of, and a chance to enjoy, this fantastic world in which we live."
See you on the road!
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