Hello, STORYTELLERS! Welcome to the 22nd issue of Galactic Adventures — our community-focused, community-informed newsletter.
This issue's featured photo comes to us from MODE Owner, Dale Drowne.
Galactic Adventures
ISSUE 22 | May 30, 2025
🚐 Start Your Someday:
A Love Story on Four Wheels
Cara and Richard, BEAST MODE Owners
The best part of being part of the Storyteller Overland family? Without a doubt ... the
community. It’s a beautiful constellation of dreamers, doers, explorers, and storytellers from every walk of life. Each person brings a unique story, a different “why” for choosing life on the road. And today, we’re grateful to share a page from ours.
We’re Cara and Richard... two recently married tech professionals turned full-time digital nomads, currently honeymooning around the U.S. in our 4x4 BEAST MODE van, affectionately named Huck (short for Huckleberry, naturally). We like to say this is our “rolling love story”... a journey sparked by curiosity, shaped by adventure, and guided by a desire to live life with intention.
How It All Started
To trace the beginning of our van life dream, we’ve got to rewind to 2019. Picture this: March, Saint Patrick’s Day, rainy Irish roads ahead, and the two of us in a right-hand drive SUV, shifting gears with our left hands, navigating narrow lanes with wide eyes, and laughing through every wrong turn.
We had no real plan, just a shared desire to wander. We slept in the front seats, used brown paper grocery bags as makeshift window shades, and woke up to foggy coastlines and castle ruins. It wasn’t glamorous but it was ours. And somewhere along that muddy, magical route, the spark was lit.
Fast forward to 2020: the world hit pause, work went remote, and we realized there would never be a “perfect time” to chase this dream. So we stopped waiting. With a lot of love (and a lot of help from Richard’s dad, Ron), we built our first van, Goldie and headed for the mountains.
What started as a weekend turned into a season. We were hooked.
Life on the Road
Since 2021, we’ve been chasing snow and stories in equal measure. Winters are for mountains, our self-dubbed Snowboarding Extravaganza where we carve fresh lines by day and reconnect with friends and family by night. Summers? They belong to rivers, lakes, and fly fishing lines.
We hit the road full-time this summer in Huck, with a new goal: soak in every drop of wildness we can. We’re deep into fly fishing (Cara’s forever obsession), paddleboarding (her new one), and hiking wherever the road leads us, especially through the Tetons and now with plans to venture to the PNW.
This summer, we’ve made it our mission to attend every STO event we can. Because for us, the magic isn’t just in the landscapes, it’s in the people. Every meetup reminds us why this community is so special: it’s built on real stories, deep connection, and a shared love of the open road.
Why Start Your Someday?
We launched our social media channels with a simple mantra: Start Your Someday. It wasn’t just a cute tagline. It was a promise to ourselves, and to anyone watching. We’ve all heard it before: “Someday I’ll travel.” “Someday I’ll try something new.” “Someday I’ll live differently.”
But here’s the truth: Someday doesn’t come unless you make it happen.
We’re not influencers. We’re not trying to sell anything. We’re just two people (and one
awesome van) showing what life looks like when you stop waiting and start living.
So here’s to you... the Storyteller Overland community. Thanks for inspiring us every day to keep driving, keep dreaming, and most importantly to start our someday.
We hope our paths cross on the road soon.
With love and wanderlust,
Cara, Richard & Huck
☀️ Rigs & Reggae
Christine Coleman & Peter Perales, MODElt Owners
Christine and Peter, the spirited duo behind Pino’s Adventures, are the heart and hustle behind Rigs & Reggae—a unique celebration of vanlife culture and reggae music on the Oregon coast. What began as Whiskey & Reggae PNW has evolved into a soulful gathering where overlanders, makers, and music lovers come together for connection, creativity, and good vibes.
Now entering its second year, Rigs & Reggae returns stronger than ever, thanks to Christine and Peter’s dedication to building a community rooted in adventure and inclusivity. Their passion for the road, the rhythm, and the people shines through in every part of the event.
Come join the party July 31–August 3 in Toledo, Oregon—a laid-back harbor town where reggae beats meet riverfront rigs. You won’t want to miss it.
🎟️ Tickets + details at pinosadventures.com
Happenings at the HQ:
Team Member Spotlight on Glenn West
This month, we’re honored to recognize someone whose impact runs deep here at Storyteller Overland—our May Team Member Spotlight is Glenn West, Quality Production Specialist for MODE. As Glenn prepares to retire at the end of this month, we want to take this moment to recognize not just the work he’s done, but the person he’s been to all of us.
Glenn’s discipline, craftsmanship, and deep well of knowledge are legendary. He’s been described as someone who has “forgotten more than most of us will ever learn,” and that says it all. Whether it’s woodworking, leathercraft, or the fine art of cigar appreciation, Glenn brings a level of mastery and authenticity that elevates everything—and everyone—around him.
When Glenn joined the Quality team, some may have expected a grumpy gatekeeper of perfection. But what we got instead was a dedicated coach, a thoughtful teacher, and a true craftsman who led with both standards and support. He listens before he speaks, offers wisdom without ego, and always looks for ways to help others grow.
Glenn, your influence has helped shape the culture of excellence we strive for every day. Beyond the tools and techniques, you’ve taught us about patience, integrity, and the power of doing things the right way—whether that’s on the Production floor or in life. Your legacy lives on in every van that rolls out of the building, every team member you’ve mentored, and every laugh we have shared along the way.
Congratulations on being our May Team Member Spotlight and a forever legend at Storyteller.
Enjoy retirement—you’ve more than earned it. Just don’t forget to come back and tell us some more stories!
We’re hitting the road in 2025 and we hope you’ll come with us!
Please note some events require ticket purchase and/or pre-registration.
June 21 - 22
AVE Hood River - Hood River, OR
June 27 - 29
Overland Expo PNW - Redmond, OR
July 26 - 27
AVE Evergreen - Evergreen, CO
August 16 - 17
AVE Bozeman - Bozeman, MT
August 22 - 24
Overland Expo Mountain West
Loveland, CO
Please note some events require ticket purchase and/or pre-registration.
June 21 - 22 - AVE Hood River - Hood River, OR
June 27 - 29 - Overland Expo PNW - Redmond, OR
July 26 - 27 - AVE Evergreen - Evergreen, CO
August 16 - 17 - AVE Bozeman - Bozeman, MT
August 22 - 24 - Overland Expo Mountain West - Loveland, CO
Life's Greatest Luxury is saying YES to the Next Grand Adventure!
We'd love to hear your stories and see your pictures from the road!
Send to Emma at:
Emma.Walsmith@storytelleroverland.com
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