When I sailed to Australia, I had Land Rover dreams.
Shortly after arrival, I stepped on the dock, rented a car, and started looking for a Defender.
The outback beckoned, and I wanted to experience it in a Land Rover. I had already traveled in Arabia with three different Defenders, and I was itching to go walkabout Australian style.
We made several trips to Brisbane looking for Rovers, but Defenders were in short supply, and those that we found were overpriced and worn out. Finding my dream machine was going to take time.
Eventually, I found a long wheel base Defender 130 in Caboolture that had the right price and passed mechanical muster.
I was now in business. I was the proud owner of a white Crew Cab Pickup with a covered pickup bed. It was rough around the edges, but that's what you want in an expeditionary vehicle. There were the usual bumps and scratches in the panels, but the chassis rails were sound and free from rust.
A massive bull bar graced the front of the truck; it was so big we could use it as a platform from which to shoot video while driving through the bush.
It also sported a long range fuel tank under the truck. Inspection revealed that the manual transmission was in good shape and the 300 tdi diesel ran fine. With some new tires and a few upgrades, we would have an awesome expeditionary vehicle.
We installed Black Widow sliding drawers in the pickup bed giving us a secure place to store valuables and protect them from ubiquitous red bull dust.
We also added two spare tires and installed a roof rack and roof top tent.
This picture shows the white Defender at Alice Springs in the Red Center of Australia. We are half way through a month long trip to the outback.
So far, I've owned six Land Rover Defenders.
Six times I've lived as if my Land Rover dreams are possible, and six times I've worked to make them happen.
I am living proof that Land Rover Dreams can come true.
Awesome music video that captures the essence of what it's like to sail offshore in a catamaran around the world when conditions are less than perfect. David Abbott from Too Many Drummers sings the vocals, and he also edited the footage from our Red Sea adventures. This is the theme song from the Red Sea Chronicles.
Sailing up the Red Sea is not for the faint of heart. From the Bab al Mandeb to the Suez Canal, adventures and adversity are in abundance. If you take things too seriously, you just might get the Red Sea Blues.
If you like drum beats, and you like adventure, then have a listen to the Red Sea Chronicles Trailer.
Flying fish assault Exit Only in the middle of the night as we sail through the Arabian Gulf from the Maldives to Oman. And so begins our Red Sea adventures.
Sailing through Pirate Alley between Yemen and Somalia involves calculated risk. It may not be Russian Roulette, but it is a bit of a worry. Follow Team Maxing Out as they navigate through Pirate Alley.
Stopping in Yemen was just what the doctor ordered. We refueled, repaired our alternator, and we made friends with our gracious Yemeni hosts. We also went to Baskins Robbins as a reward for surviving Pirate Alley.
After you survive Pirate Alley, you must sail through the Gate of Sorrows (Bab Al Mandab) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Gate of Sorrows lived up to its name with fifty knots of wind and a sandstorm that pummeled Exit Only for two days. Life is good.
Captain Dave and his family spent eleven years sailing around the world on their Privilege 39 catamaran, Exit Only. During the trip, the crew shot 200 hours of video with professional cameras to show people what it's like to sail on a small boat around the world.
The Red Sea Chronicles is a one hour and twenty-two minute feature film showing their adventures as Exit Only sails through Pirate Alley in the Gulf of Aden and up the Red Sea. The professional footage documents their experiences in Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, and the Suez Canal. It chronicles the rigors of traveling in a remote section of the world rarely visited by cruisers. Exit Only dodges Yemeni pirates, fights a gale and sand storms in the Bab al Mandeb at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The crew explores deserted islands on the western shores of the Red Sea, and learns to check the cruising guides for land mines before venturing ashore.
The Red Sea Chronicles also has outstanding Special Features including an Instructional Video on Storm Management that tells sailors how to deal with storms at sea.
And don't forget the two Music Videos: "The Red Sea Blues", and "Captain - Save Our Souls".
The Red Sea Chronicles is a first class adventure that stokes the sailing dreams of both experienced and wannabe sailors alike.
Join Team Maxingout as they sail through Pirate Alley and up the Red Sea
See what it's like to cruise on a catamaran before you spend a bazillion dollars purchasing one
After watching the Red Sea Chronicles you will be able to see yourself sailing on the ocean of your dreams
Although I like the feel of a paper book in my hand, I love trees even more. When people purchase an eBook, they actually save trees and save money as well. Ebooks are less expensive and have no negative impact on the environment. All of Dr. Dave's books are available at Save A Tree Bookstore. Visit the bookstore today and start putting good things into your mind. It's easy to fill your mind with positive things using eBooks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can pull out your smart phone or tablet and start reading. You can even use electronic highlighters and make annotations in your eBooks just like paper books.
