THIS is what OB is all about!

[sabjku]

This may not be the best place for this post, but figured it was worth people seeing.

Just as many of you have also said, the reason I joined Overland Bound is because the site immediately made me feel welcomed and I could see that there was so much more of a community feel from the whole platform that @Michael has created, and from what the other OB contributors and members provide here, more so than any other automotive forum/site I've ever been a part of. And here's my proof!

Long story short, I was in Mexico City this past weekend for a friends wedding. I flew there, so had no vehicle, or the time to really do anything other than wedding stuff. With that said, I jumped in the Regional section for Mexico, saw some posts from @Jeepsies about planning a trip to Mexico, and just casually posted that I was actually in Mexico City at the time. A few moments later @ChepoCDT messaged to see where I was staying, and coincidentally, I was about 2 min's away from him! What are the odds in a city of only 20,000,000 people!

The next day, Chepo picked me up in his well built Tacoma, and took me out on a grand tour of his city, and introduced me to sites and history that I never would have been able to experience had it not been for Overland Bound. No, it wasn't overlanding(or was it!?) through the beautiful mountainous regions surrounding Mexico City, but it was an experience that I wouldn't have received without OB.

I just wanted to post an official THANK YOU to @ChepoCDT for his kindness and willingness to take time out of his schedule to show me around his beautiful city! You rock brutha! I'll post a couple of pics from my phone.

 

[sabjku]

 

[PB&Me]

FANTASTIC! Love hearing these stories and big kudos to @ChepoCDT! What a great "pay it forward" story

 

[Chadlyb]

This is why I'm here. Not the mods, expos, cool patches or stickers. THE MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY OF OVERLAND BOUND!!! Thank you all...

 

[sabjku]

This is why I'm here. Not the mods, expos, cool patches or stickers. THE MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY OF OVERLAND BOUND!!! Thank you all...

Agreed.....BUT, I am growing fond of patches

 

[Joey83]

Yes, patches are cool!

 

[Hourless Life]

Thanks for sharing the story. We are looking forward to meeting @ChepoCDT in January of this year and spending a good amount of time in the area in which he lives. I too love this forum and the camaraderie that it builds. We're making final preps now for our 2 month trip into Mexico! So stoked!

 

[Luis Merlo]

so awesome to see !

 

[ChepoCDT]

@sabjku ! It was really cool to have you here, and it was awesome that we could get around the city for a "quick" tour! I'm glad that you liked it!

As we discussed, OB is a great community, that's why I joined! everyone makes you feel like home and I'm sure most of the members would do the same!

There is no better way to get to know a city than with local people!

We had a blast, it was a really great time and now I'm looking forward to visit you!!!!

@Jeepsies now we got to check schedules so we can meet and go hit some trails with the other Mexican guys!

 

[Hourless Life]

@sabjku ! It was really cool to have you here, and it was awesome that we could get around the city for a "quick" tour! I'm glad that you liked it!

As we discussed, OB is a great community, that's why I joined! everyone makes you feel like home and I'm sure most of the members would do the same!

There is no better way to get to know a city than with local people!

We had a blast, it was a really great time and now I'm looking forward to visit you!!!!

@Jeepsies now we got to check schedules so we can meet and go hit some trails with the other Mexican guys!

@ChepoCDT I sent you a text did you get it? Also hit you with a friend request on Facebook. Take a look bro so we can connect!

 

[old_man]

If you are ever up in Colorado, check in and I will show you Colorado like a native. We can have some BBQ and have some fun.

 

[Gryf]

Awesome story!

This is exactly when I expect from a community based on passion for exploration.

 

[Eric Neal]

Way to go ChepoCDT!!

You represent this group well and you've represented yourself and all Mexicans with character and commitment.

As things stand right now it looks like my wife and I are driving down to Michoacan at the end of January 2019 to spend a month or more helping our friends in their business guiding tourists on Monarch butterfly tours in the mountains along the border of the State of Mexico and Michoacan.

If we find any spare time while we're in-country I'll send a note and maybe we can connect.

I send my warmest regards to you and your family during this upcoming holiday season.

 

[sabjku]

If you are ever up in Colorado, check in and I will show you Colorado like a native. We can have some BBQ and have some fun.

I will absolutely keep you in mind! I'd love to make my way out there by vehicle as well, as I've never done it before and Colorado is such a beautiful state.

 

[Billiebob]

This may not be the best place for this post, but figured it was worth people seeing.

Just as many of you have also said, the reason I joined Overland Bound is because the site immediately made me feel welcomed and I could see that there was so much more of a community feel from the whole platform that @Michael has created, and from what the other OB contributors and members provide here, more so than any other automotive forum/site I've ever been a part of. And here's my proof!

Long story short, I was in Mexico City this past weekend for a friends wedding. I flew there, so had no vehicle, or the time to really do anything other than wedding stuff. With that said, I jumped in the Regional section for Mexico, saw some posts from @Jeepsies about planning a trip to Mexico, and just casually posted that I was actually in Mexico City at the time. A few moments later @ChepoCDT messaged to see where I was staying, and coincidentally, I was about 2 min's away from him! What are the odds in a city of only 20,000,000 people!

The next day, Chepo picked me up in his well built Tacoma, and took me out on a grand tour of his city, and introduced me to sites and history that I never would have been able to experience had it not been for Overland Bound. No, it wasn't overlanding(or was it!?) through the beautiful mountainous regions surrounding Mexico City, but it was an experience that I wouldn't have received without OB.

I just wanted to post an official THANK YOU to @ChepoCDT for his kindness and willingness to take time out of his schedule to show me around his beautiful city! You rock brutha! I'll post a couple of pics from my phone.

THIS IS OVERLANDING !!!!

I love these discussions because they challenge me to grow, to listen, to undrstand what I do.

Heres from my the heart. Overlanding for me is not a physical thing. It is an emotional, cultural, social growth thing. Yes, maybe you need build something to make that emotional, cultural, social growth thing easier...... even possible. But ultimately the adventure is not about the equipment, or the journey, or the scenery, it is about personal challenge with foreign cultures. Many which exist within our own country. If you have had a sheltered life in Alabama and you travel to California or A sheltered life in Ohio and yountravel to Colorado.... you are overlanding.... even if you fly on a commercial flight. BUT if you can say "I don't want to go there because they live there" you are not an overlander. IF you find overlanding while attending a wedding, Overlanding is about accepting the challenge to work with and accept cultures you don't understand. It is about going out to discover those people. It is not about building a vehicle to cross continental divides. It is about building a way to communicate with and understand those you are afraid of, those you don't understand, if you are an overlander, you welcome uncertainty.

If the opportunity jumps at you .... and you say YES !!!! You are definitely an overlander. Kudos to you sabjku !! This was definitely the right place to post !!!!

The worlds first overanders hundreds of years ago were about establishing trade routes, working with challenging conditions but even more about working with challenging people and "Gitting It Done". Nothing has changed, Overlanding is still about positive personal growth.

Kudos to you sabjku

 

[Hourless Life]

@ChepoCDT and his band of merry men are the real deal. We had a blast with them in Mexico. And you are right my friend, this is what OB is (or should be) all about. So thankful to @Michael and @Corrie for putting this together. ~ Eric, Brittany, and Caspian

 

[RoarinRow]

Awesome story!

 

[Dilldog]

The only other message board I have ever been a part of that has the same "feel" as OB was the ADVRider board. I think what it comes down to is both groups tend to be populated by true enthusiasts, people who dont much care about where youre from or what you really do, all that matters is that theres this shared passion for exploration.
I also think that keeping it non brand or model specific helps too. A diverse population is a stronger population, and with diversity comes a greater willingness for acceptance.

 

[sabjku]

@ChepoCDT and his band of merry men are the real deal. We had a blast with them in Mexico. And you are right my friend, this is what OB is (or should be) all about. So thankful to @Michael and @Corrie for putting this together. ~ Eric, Brittany, and Caspian

I wish I would have had the time to enjoy all that you enjoyed in Mexico! @ChepoCDT and his crew are the real deal!

 

[sabjku]

The only other message board I have ever been a part of that has the same "feel" as OB was the ADVRider board. I think what it comes down to is both groups tend to be populated by true enthusiasts, people who dont much care about where youre from or what you really do, all that matters is that theres this shared passion for exploration.
I also think that keeping it non brand or model specific helps too. A diverse population is a stronger population, and with diversity comes a greater willingness for acceptance.

Couldn't agree more! @Michael and @Corrie have definitely created an anomaly when it comes to an automotive forum, and I mean that in the best way possible!