Proven Overland Magazine Issue One | Page 11

Inevitable encounters with annoying car freaks also took place. Before even properly in- troducing themselves, they would just yell bluntly in your face: ‘What’s your mileage?’ Or ‘How much did it cost’! I often wondered if it was a question or an assault and would give them the benefit of just lifting an eyebrow. Those types will react to anything that looks like a properly engineered 4x4 truck. They don’t care about who you are or where you’re going. This is also where I’m getting exactly to my point. “So when you are considering a certain type of vehicle, also think of what you would want to communicate. Who do you want to attract to your journey.” We are now more convinced than ever that custard is the perfect coating for an over- land vehicle. That Tibetan prayer flags or funny charms go a long way when outfitting your ‘rig’. And that a little personal detail can trigger a new conversation, much more than driving an untouchable custom outfitted Unimog with separate high cabin and tint- ed windows. So when you are considering a certain type of vehicle, also think of what you would want to communicate. Who do you want to attract to your journey. Just like clothes, shoes and homes, your house on wheels can tell an awful lot about who you are, or what you want. And you never get a second chance to make a first impression.