Galactic Adventures

Hello, STORYTELLERS! Welcome to the 32nd issue of Galactic Adventures -- our community-focused, community-informed newsletter. 

If you would like to see your photo or story featured in Galactic Adventures, please send an email to emma.walsmith@storytelleroverland.com. We love to hear from you! 

I have a different kind of story to tell. And it's a journey that’s been difficult, and not the adventure that we normally think of as being typical in our STO community.

It all started over a year ago with a foot injury, turning into knee and other joint issues that made my body feel like it has been angry and invaded. Multiple doctor visits to GP, physical therapy, rheumatologist and Podiatrist had me thinking that something bad was happening to me. I felt something was wrong, my whole body did not feel well and I kept telling all my doctors that I wasn’t well and my suspicion was I had Lyme disease. Previous to these symptoms I had tick exposures, 5 that I knew about. The symptoms of infection typically would be a bullseye rash, fever, headaches and an over well feeling of not being well. That never happened to me so I thought I was “out of the woods.” But with more and more research I gave my chances of exposure at 98%. It all made sense to me but not my doctors so I pushed to get referred to an Infectious Disease clinic.

I had joint pain all over, had a hard time getting out of bed, sitting in a chair for any length of time, I could not sleep more than an hour at a time, forget about even walking our doodles around the block. If my knees touched each other at night it would be terrible pain. I was getting into a really dark place in my mind, getting worse every day and it was moving all around my body. Is this how I was going to be from now on? I had to do something so with lots of love and support from my wife Greer and research support from my STO wives Robin Burke and Debra Wilson we found some choices to where I could find some help. Options are going to an Infectious Disease doctor where treatments would be antibiotics over and over again. This would kill your body defenses and no guarantee to kill the Lyme. The other option we found was using a holistic approach and sure enough there was a renowned clinic relatively nearby in Clearwater, FL and also near my great friend and STO owner Scott Tydeman.

A couple of calls later we decided on the holistic route. But first I needed the confirmation that I do indeed have Lyme. This was confirmed with additional testing at the clinic along with diagnosis of co-infections of heavy metals and mold. Treatments would be 5 days a week for 12 weeks consisting of blood treatments and super vitamin infusions, hyperthermia Ozone and Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments along with a host of others. All in all after lots of ups and downs I have recovered pretty well. I will always have this terrible disease but as long as I continue with my Paleo diet along with a daily extensive supplement routine my body should take care of itself, hopefully without many flair-up’s. I have learned so much.

My message from this all is I would not wish this on anyone and since most of us in the STO universe spend lots of time in the outdoors, be aware. If bitten, remove the tick and get treatment right away. Lyme disease is becoming a very serious complicated medical issue and hopefully will get more attention. Most people have been misdiagnosed thinking they have MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and pretty much anything else you can think of. The symptoms are not the same for all and most have gone years without a proper diagnosis. I was lucky. I pressed for answers and caught it relatively early.

The second part of this crazy journey was having the ability to use my 2021 Stealth “Chuckwagon” as my home base during treatments. At my first appointment with my advisor I pointed out the window and said, "See that beautiful rig out there? I need to be able to spend my days and nights there during my treatments. It is my home, my comfort, the place where I always feel like anything is possible."

The "OK" was given and it was the best thing for my mind, body and soul throughout the coming weeks. Knowing I could just go escape for a few moments, take a nap, take my supplements, have a meal and go to bed in my own comfort zone was absolutely priceless. Our home was a few hours away so I was able to take the trek home when I could as well.

If we haven’t met yet, we’re Rich and Cara. Last November, just a few weeks after getting married, we hit the road full-time in our camper van as part of our honeymoon adventure to ourselves. It’s wild to think we’ve been rolling for 355 days, chasing snow, exploring spring blooms, and discovering all the small, meaningful moments that make life on the road so unforgettable.

This past year has been wild, fun, and full of adventure. One of the things we’ve loved most is the Storyteller Overland community, the stories, spontaneous meetups, and friendships that make van life feel like more than just the places you go. Along the way, we also launched our little corner of the internet, Start Your Someday, to share the ride.

Our van even had a little “electrical adventure” of its own at Overland Expo in Colorado earlier this summer. It reminded us just how much we value this community, even when the road throws a curveball. That moment sparked two new projects that now define what we do:

Start Your Someday: our YouTube channel, social media, and now monthly newsletter. It’s a space to slow down, reflect, and tell the stories behind the photos, the real in-between moments that make van life meaningful. I’ve never been a painter, but storytelling has always been my way of capturing the beauty, chaos, and wonder of life on the road.

The Digital Campfire: a casual virtual monthly meetup where we swap stories, share travel plans, and keep the road-life spirit alive no matter where we’re parked.

We’re keeping it simple, fun, and connected, just like any good campfire should be.

So here’s to you, the Storyteller Overland community, STORYTELLERS. Thanks for inspiring us every day to keep driving, keep dreaming, and most importantly, start your someday.

If you would like to participate, get the invites, or support our little piece of the internet, you can sign up for the Start Your Someday Journal to get stories, updates, and Digital Campfire invites delivered straight to your inbox:

Join the Journey

We hope our paths cross on the road soon.