A Month of Exploration: The Allegheny Audible, Impromptu Travels, & Tom Woods' Badlands Off-Road Event

Hey All!

It's been a minute since I last checked in. I've been swamped personally and professionally. I don't have an update on my professional side yet, but I've been in nonstop interviews, and I'll leave it there for now. As for my personal side, it's been a whirlwind of travel. Let's break it down below!

The Allegheny Audible

In early March, IKO Overland and Indy Overlanders planned a joint event at Land Between the Lakes. However, Mother Nature intervened, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the official event for safety reasons, after discussions with the IO and IKO Admins. Although that particular outbreak didn't impact LBL, the subsequent ones did, and recovery is still ongoing. In light of the change in plans, some of us sought alternative options and decided to explore the Allegheny National Forest in NW Pennsylvania. It was a relaxing weekend, both literally and figuratively. Snow was still present when the recon group arrived, but we managed to secure a couple of spots for the group. Most of us stayed around the camp on the first full day, but that night, Sam & Taryn, Matt B, Dave, and I captured some photos of the lunar eclipse and Blood Moon (pics below)! The following day, we explored the areas near the dam, reservoir, and Warren, PA. Fortunately, no severe storms or winds reached us by the time we departed at 8 am on Sunday, but the drive back was quite entertaining! Overall, it was a fantastic weekend spent with friends.

The Impromteu Adventure

Late in March, I considered traveling to Florida to visit family. My grandfather was scheduled for a heart operation, which unexpectedly turned into a mandatory triple bypass. I was relieved I decided to go before this unfolded. I left on Sunday before the tornado and flood outbreak from April 2nd to 7th. However, due to the weather the next day, I had to stay in the Gatlinburg area for two nights before continuing to Florida. It wasn't a waste, though. My wife and I enjoyed Gatlinburg and the park before embarking on the 10-hour drive to Orlando, where we were greeted with breathtaking sights on US-441. We continued to Orlando, where I dropped her off with her sister, and I proceeded to Southern Florida to be with my family. I spent the next two days with them, and the look on my grandfather's face made it all worthwhile, as he had no idea I was coming. I bid my farewells to begin my journey back. I met my wife and sister-in-law in Fernandina Beach, where they had briefly lived during childhood. We explored their favorite spots. Coincidentally, I had a friend who had just moved there, and after discovering this, we met up. Afterward, due to the ongoing rain and storms to our north, we decided to end the trip there. We drove to Knoxville on Sunday and continued all the way home on Monday.

Overland & 4x4 Meetup @ Tom Woods Toyota & Badlands Offroad Park

My last update is that I'm heading out tomorrow for the Event at Tom Woods Toyota and Badlands Offroad Park. I'm excited to meet Aaron from Half Clean Jeep and KGXpeditions, along with the Crew, and I anticipate seeing many other friends and new faces too. If you're nearby, come by Tom Woods Toyota on Saturday, April 12th!