Mary Hannah of Expedition Rove
“So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. What we really want seems impossibly out of reach and ridiculous to expect, so we never dare to ask the universe for it. My father could have been a great comedian but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. When I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job, and our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”
Before taking things on the road, I worked in the magazine and media world for brands spanning the the travel, outdoor and motorcycle industries. We just completed our first 25,000 mile long-term overlanding trip, from California to Argentina (and partially back up) and we’re now gear up for phase two: South Africa to England. It’d been a wild ride and looking forward to continuing the explore the world by vehicle.
Who or what inspired you to choose independent vehicle travel as your mode of transportation?
When living California we were away almost every weekend exploring the West Coast. Slowly but surely we converted our Land Rover from a grocery-getter to an overland rig, and the more we built it out, the more we wanted to be exploring in it. So, it was almost a natural progression over the two years leading up to our first long-term trip. But, if I was to say I was 100% on board with the idea of doing a long-term overlanding trip, at first, it would be a lie. I was a little bit terrified, to be completely honest. The thoughts of driving through some of the countries that were on our route just didn’t seem worth the risk to me. Beyond that, I didn’t want to put my career on hold.
Ultimately, the thought of Andy (my other half) going on the adventure of a lifetime while I was stuck behind a computer desk, drove me to put my fears aside and figure out how to build a business that we could take on the road with us. We’ve since driven through 18 countries by vehicle together and had the opportunity to work with some incredible brands at the same time.
Everyone always asks a traveller what their favorite country is. Do you have a favorite country? If not, what is a place that is special to you?
This one surprises everyone, including myself...but Colombia stole my heart. Ironically, it was one of the countries I was the most nervous about driving through. But, it proved me completely wrong. It’s the perfect mix of colorful, culture-rich towns, sunny Caribbean escapes, and awe-inspiring South American landscapes (hello, Andes!). I absolutely fell in love with it there. After Colombia, Panama and Ecuador are both in a tie for second for this title. The people were absolutely incredible, and they’ll both always hold a very special place in my heart.
Travelling has taught me…
You can get through pretty much anything if you’ve got grit and patience. There’s going to be a lot of hard moments on the road - whether it’s vehicle breakdowns, shipping fiascos, language barriers, the list goes on. Almost all scenarios can be overcome with grit and patience. Patience to keep you sane and grit to get whatever it is, in front of you, done.
Overlanding sucks sometimes because…
Vehicle maintenance, lack of showers, delays (shipping, border crossings, visas, etc), and bad weather. Those are the biggest downsides, but ultimately, those are outweighed by the freedom that this type of travels allows.
I am a badass woman because…
I go full throttle after my goals and dreams, and I’m not afraid to break down boundaries or stereotypes of what women can and can’t do.
One of the most common questions we get is about finances. Do you have any tips, tricks or advice on this topic?
We’ve been asked quite often about how we can afford our travels. In short, it’s not some secret sauce. And it really is attainable for anyone that’s willing to put in the work. Here’s a few things we’ve done that helped:
We got rid of our debt. We didn’t want to do a trip until we could actually afford it (in cash), so getting rid of any debt was step one.
We prioritized what we needed and attached numbers to it all so we can wrap our heads around the budget for the route. We write down every single piece of gear or equipment that we’ll need, as we think of them. And then we estimate (generously I might add) fuel costs (look at the fuel prices in the country you’re going to!), unexpected mechanical issues, shipping, food, hotels, etc. This is not to overwhelm us, but rather to prepare us. Once we get an idea of what it’s going to cost, we can assess how much we’ll need to save/earn to be comfortable on the road. This is also a good way to see if you need to adjust the route to better fit your budget.
We figured out a sustainable way to make income while on the road. This isn’t as tough as it may first sound, you just have to get creative.
Get a good credit card. You may be like wait what that seems weird considering tip #1, but you’re going to be spending a bunch of money on the road and leading up to the trip so you may as well cash in on it. You still have to pay it off each month but getting a good credit card with great rewards means you can get free flights, hotels, etc along the trip helping you to save big in the long run.
How has this experience changed you?
It’s made me realize that you have the power to change your own reality, you just need to make the decision that you’re going to. I was working a 9-5 office job before this, and the moment we decided to take the risk, everything changed. Sometimes it’s as simple as the decision to go. Your will inevitably evolve and change when you start devoting your energy towards a goal.
What do you think is the biggest challenge for women overlanders?
Two things:
1. Safety. Being a blonde I stick out in many cultures. It’s something I’ve gotten used to, but I still play by the buddy system whenever we travel. It worked when I was 5 and it’s still working at 27.
2. Hygiene. Shaving, periods, the works. Our male counterparts don’t have to deal with that on the road. On that same note, I will 100% be getting laser hair removal before my next long-term trip haha.
What are your favorite overland resources (blogs, books, FB pages, etc.)?
iOverlander for camping. And good ol’ Instagram and YouTube to get build or gear inspiration. We’ve also really leveraged Instagram to connect with locals and other vehicle-based travelers along our routes, which has been a huge help and made for a way more fun an interesting trip.
What is a simple life hack you’ve discovered while on the road?
For winter trips.....
If you turn the heaters all the way up and point the vents towards you, it works as a hair dryer. From towel dried to completely dry in under 2 minutes hahaha (in our Defender at least). This was hands down the best discovery on our recent trip to Scotland, where it was freezing outside and the last thing I wanted was wet hair. So simple, yet so effective.
What advice would you give to someone with a dream to travel overland?
Commit to the idea and start taking steps to make it happen. It’ll stay a dream if you let it, but if you act on it you can make it a reality.
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