Being adrift in life happens to many of us, a lot of the time in life. It seems to happen when we wander off the path of some journey we were taking. Or when we are moved out of our comfort zones. Adrift means a state of confusion for the brain; it doesn't know what to do with uncharted territory.

Being adrift is just part of the game of life. Contrary to what we may feel, life is random, and we are going through time bouncing off lots of things. Many of us look like the random dot in the illustration below. While others show a more directional path.

What causes some to move like an amoeba on a microscope slide while others seem to have it all figured out? It's all about what we value and how we plot our course.

One of my most favorite yet challenging life activities is off-road rally events—the Queen of them all, the Rebelle Rally (www.rebellerally.com). Imagine over a week without any electronics. Going from Northern California through several states and ending up close to the Mexican border at the Imperial Sand dunes in Southern California. All of this, with just paper maps, orienteering skills, your navigating partner, and your off-road vehicle. Sound challenging? It is, AND it's very easy to get lost, just as in life.

In a rally, we may find ourselves in the middle of the vast Imperial Sand Dunes of Southern California. Imagine it's a beautiful blue sky day, winds are blowing sand into your ski goggles, and you are surrounded by tall sand dunes that obscure your view of where you want to go. All around you - in every compass direction - you can see the tops of ridges and mountains in the distance. Your destination could be in any direction but not as far as the ridges you see. Looking down at the map, we don't know where we are, but we can see an X on the map, our destination. To make things worse, if we knew where we were, we couldn't just decide to go in a straight line to our destination; the massive dunes are in the way.

First, we figure out where we are by finding recognizable mountain peaks in the distance and match them to peaks we can see on topographic maps in front of us. Using a compass to estimate a heading to the peak, we plot the three lines on the map by picking three peaks. We just used triangulation to figure out reasonably accurately where we are on the map. We decide that mountain #1 is the direction we will go; it's generally in the direction of our X., but we will have to stay as true to the compass bearing as possible.

The illustration's point is to show that whoever this person is and whatever their values are, they value the concepts in the red areas. If this fictional person is going 180 degrees away from the red zone, they aren't living their values; they are off course. If this person is bouncing around all over the compass, they look like the first illustration's wandering path.

Recently, I had a conversation with my best friend, who is struggling with a relationship and real-life feeling of being adrift. I told her how we keep from being adrift in the middle of a sand dune complex and equating the compass headings as our compass and the big X we want to reach our goal in life. Using the compass as the possible directions but values instead of compass degrees, we are always at least on a path and one that rings true to us. We don't know if we are at our destination until we reach it, and we can't see the path in front of us. But we have this compass of values we can lay over the map. With a vague sense of where we want to go, we pick the mountains in the distance periodically and always make sure we move the way we want and in the direction we want.

The key for her was, she wasn't living her values, nor was the relationship letting her. No matter how much she loved this person, the relationship was keeping her adrift. By thinking about where she wanted to go with her life and what she values most, she could see a path start to take focus in front of her. Of course, it took courage to take a step on the track even if she can't see the whole thing. But she now knows she's on the right path and in the right direction to get to where she wants to go.

Resources:

• Find out what you value most! https://www.discoveryourvalues.com/

• Learn about the Rebelle Rally https://www.rebellerally.com/

With the 2019 Rebelle Rally over and Rally Hangover ramping up, I relish at the bluesy feelings that lead to interesting insights.

This year I played with some interesting mindsets for the rally. I have to call myself out on one of them right off the bat. Because I haven’t yet mastered this idea. The idea is simple, don’t focus on the results, focus on the process. Elise, my navigator, and I made a pact to not look at the standings each day as we rolled into basecamp. It went fine the first few days, and then I accidentally saw the standings. Weaving my way back to Elise through the communal tables of basecamp, I asked if she wanted to know where we were in the standings.

”You looked?” Elise glanced at me with curiosity. “I accidentally looked, while searching for our enduro results from today.” I really didn’t mean to look, but I did. And I was excited, 14th place of 40 teams. We both promised to not care. But a few more days went by, and I purposefully looked. It was at Cougar Buttes in Johnson Valley that I couldn’t help myself. We were in 13th place. My excitement was hard to contain. Unfortunately, my mindset shifted. The exact thing we hoped to not do was happening, I was thinking about what we could do with this information going forward. The risk was a change to our consistent process.

Truthfully, I wish I hadn’t looked. The mindset of living by our process/strategy was working, and looking at the results only created doubt. The end results in business and competition do not matter, it’s the small things you do over and over, your process, that matters. Those little things that comprise your process are the only things you can control and learn from, making your ax sharper. That process leads to success.

Starting the rally this year, I did a long-standing tradition of making notecards of inspirational quotes to pull out when we needed them the most. In the end, these were not the quotes we needed, but they served well to remind me what our purpose was or principles to hold on to no matter what. As you read through these, remember that by the end, the only thing that mattered was principles and process. How we would compete and what our steps would be each day. But when you are tired and have made mistakes, these also served well.

We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. ~Maya Angelou

It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up. ~Vince Lombardi

Push harder than yesterday if you want a different tomorrow. ~Unknown

Never, never, never give up. ~Winston Churchill

Success is not final, failure is not fatal, its is the courage to continue that counts. ~Winston Churchill

Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid. But that doesn’t change the truth that I am brave. ~Brene Brown

Relax, it’s just a drive in the desert from Point A to Point B. ~Emily Miller

Courage is more important than confidence. ~Kris Vockler

You did not wake up today to be mediocre. ~Unknown

Confidence is the belief and feeling that things will turn our well because you are willing, worthy, and capable. ~Brenden Buchard

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve; the fear of failure. ~Paulo Coelho

I made it through the darkest part of the night and now I see the sunrise. ~Macklemore

It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. ~William Henley, Invictus

Easy choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life. ~Jerzy Gregorek

We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are. ~Talmud

Next post, I will go into more about minsets and principles but for now, it’s all about the process. Not to be forgotten, more on growth in crucible moments and the Rebelle Growth Framework I’ve been tossing around in my head.

How about you? What strategies-mindsets-principles did you come into the rally with? Did they serve you well? Will you make changes next time?

Last night I had a blast presenting my story and experience with the Rebelle Rally. I was in front of a large group of rugged NW men and women Jeepers. After, I realized I'm still bursting at the seams to tell my story and experience. The most prominent themes around that always gravitate to how much the Rally changed me. It may be a competition, but it's really a transformational tool for a person.

There are four main types, as I see it, who compete in the Rebelle; The Competitor, The Adventure Seeker, The Confidence Seeker, and The Challenger.

The Competitor is obvious, these women have lived motorsports their whole lives, and the Rebelle clearly provides as one of the events for their drive. The Adventure Seeker is one I relate to often, and the Rebelle also hits the marks for these folks. But it's The Confidence Seeker and The Challenger that excites me the most. More to the point it's that the Rebelle provides a beautiful venue for those seeking to change their lives. The Confidence Seeker is rather explanatory, these are people who find the connection to the Rebelle building confidence in many things. Could be offroad driving skills, mapping skills, but it could also be general confidence in life. The Challenger is similar to the Confidence Seeker, The Challenger is one who knows growth comes from adversity, so they seek it out.

Personally, I went for finding Adventure, but I found challenge, growth, confidence, and increased leadership skills. When I'm telling stories of the Rebelle, I can feel my whole being light up when I get to the parts about how it changed me.

As of late, I've been thinking a ton about how much the Rebelle serves as leadership development and could serve corporations well, as part of their personal growth and leadership programs. Being the geek that I am, I've been roughing out something I call The Rebelle Growth Framework (RGF). Which is basically a framework or formula for success in all for of the competitor types but really important for the Confidence and Challenger types. The Framework can be applied in many moments in life where you are faced with being in what's called a '"crucible" moment. More on this later I'm sure, but it's been rattling around in my head, so it's time to put it to text.

It’s not really much of a secret how much the Rebelle Rally, Emily Miller (Rebelle Founder), the Rebelle Staff, and all the participants of the Rebelle mean to me. You can read some other things I wrote about this event and these people, here, here and here oh and here. This year, I am very excited to see companies like Honda and Nissan continue to not only step up and put teams in the Rally continue to emphasize how important it is to seek to promote more women in the STEM fields. If you aren’t familiar with what STEM means, it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Often difficult fields for women to seek degrees and careers in for several reasons, none of which are due to aptitude or ability. 

This year I am not able to compete due to a busy work travel schedule. But I couldn’t let that stop me from feeling a part of the 2018 Rally. I’m very excited to pull your attention to two teams I and Team Fast ’n Curious have invested in. These are women facing personal challenges and their own doubts and fears about competing in the Rally. What makes them stand out is in the face of some very real challenges, they seek to help and inspire others through their efforts. They seek nothing in return other than for more opportunity to help others. This inspires me. 

Team #1: Team Unbroken Journey #183

Channel & Marie, two women who give meaning to Texas Tough! 

DONATE TO TEAM #183 UNBROKEN JOURNEY

From their GoFundMe Story page: "Unbroken Journey is a 501.c.3 non profit organization. Our mission is to provide support to cancer patients in their quest to live more fulfilling lives through adventure sports, while raising money for ThriveWell Cancer Foundation, a local cancer support organization. This year's team is Team #183 with Marie Campbell & Channel Williams as our competitors.  They’ll be heading to Northern California in a few weeks to participate in the 2018 Rebelle Rally challenge. Please check-out  www.rebellerally.com to find out more information and watch them via satellite feed as they go offroad for approximately 1200 miles navigating with only a compass and map. The Rebelle Race begins on 10/11 and ends 10/20 in San Diego.” Please help them by sending a few dollars to their GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/unbroken-journey

But there is more to their story. Some words from Channel, who this past week was in the hospital with double pneumonia.

"On this day 5 years ago I was diagnosed with Lung Cancer that would eventually turn into Brain Cancer that would eventually hang a title of Terminal over my head. I’m not doing this to prove anything. I’m doing it because I CAN! Cancer no longer gets to steal from me. I won’t blame cancer on the ending of the 5 year marriage, we both had our parts in that demise. So, it’s time to get busy living. Our team name.... Unbroken Journey, means to come back whole! I’m planning on it!”

As they drive from Texas to Northern California to start the Rebelle, they are hosting meet-ups with those struggling with Cancer and those who have survived. They are bringing each and everyone one of them along for the journey. After all, what they are doing is for others. And themselves. 

I need you to hit their GoFundMe page and donate. This donation helps them with the costs of the Rally and allows them to further their mission to help others. 

• Team #183 Unbroken Journey bio on the Rebelle Rally website

• KSAT ABC 12 - “Patient fighting cancer battle encourages others to be thankful for blessings every day.

• Pieces 2 Peace - Read more about Channel Williams and her book

More on team #2 soon…

I want you to know more about the Rebelle Rally, the team who made the idea realized and the teams competing. Some are proving to themselves they can take a challenge, while some are fighting for their lives and others lives. The Rebelle Rally is a challenge, an event that requires problem-solving, practice, and performance. The results of the Rally are varied around each of the participants, some find growth, great friends, and courage they weren’t sure they could muster. 

Exploring is in our blood, our genes. Realizing not everyone likes to venture into the unknown as a species, we explore. Maybe it's because the iron in our blood was born of the Big Bang. Pumping through our veins is the stuff of comets, planets, and stars. 

We do not have to go to the stars to explore, there's plenty to find here on Earth. A recent trip outside Death Valley revealed a little-known secret of a commonplace. The common part is a spring. One of many that litter the landscape. What revealed itself to us was a dwelling used by pre-historical man, current era Native Americans, and early 19th century Europeans on a quest for ore. 

Geoglyphs are rock features or removed land with the intent to produce a design or pattern. Used by early and modern humans, the reasons aren't always obvious Some mark locations of water and possibly game while others are a complete mystery. One of the more famous and mysterious of geoglyphs on the planet are the designs in the Peruvian Nazcan plains. 

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Here's March's wallpaper! Are you a rebel?

2560 x 1440 | 1680 x 1050 | 1440 x 900 | 1280 x 800 

Haven't had a chance to use it yet but my new Battle Board just arrived. (https://battleboard.us/) It may be a bit small to be a good kit for the Rebelle Rally (http://rebellerally.com). Our maps are huge for the rally. We do fold them down to be more manageable from the co-pilot's seat. Having all your pens, rulers, scales, and maps in one spot is a huge bonus. Losing any of your tools can be a disaster. I'm looking forward to testing this kit out and report it here when I'm done. So far, very impressed with what they have created.

Cheers.

Here's January's wallpaper! Hope this finds you exploring to "unknown lands." 

2560 x 1440 | 1680 x 1050 | 1440 x 900 | 1280 x 800 | iPhone 6,7 (1344 x 750) | iPhone 7+ (1344 x 750)

BioLite CampStove

This is a seriously cool camp stove that we have been using more and more. It uses twigs and other biofuels you can find around you, instead of lugging around gas canisters. Even for day trips, I'll bring freshly roasted coffee and a french press so I can get a perfect cup of coffee. This does the trick. Works perfectly for long trips to head up pots and pans quickly. Don't forget the awesome BioLite KettlePot that goes with it!

Suunto KB-20/360R G Compass

Yes, we all have GPS so why do we need a compass? Simple, electronics fail. Every hiker, hunter, or off-roader should have maps of the area they are in and a compass in their kit. This will not replace your regular compass but for navigating by map, this bearing compass is great for quick readings and off you go.

Maxpedition Fatty Pocket Organizer

Not really a "pocket" organizer as this well made pouch is big enough for all your pens, pencils, knives, flashlights, cables, cords and anything else you don't want to rattle around in your Jeep. Molle system so it attached to any other gear back using the same. We use several of these and give them out as gifts they are so useful. 

Kershaw Ken Onion Blur Folding Knife

This is the newest knife we have started using. Two things we really love about this, the textured grip and how much the knife springs open. Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to thumb your knife open when you need it. 

5.11 Tactical Radio Pouch

Another simple little gift you can give, a radio pouch. All of us who off-road have cell phones, HAM radios, CB radios and if we haven't upgraded to fixed models, they are flying around in our rigs. In an emergency, you want your communication devices next to you. Strapped to your backpack or bag via the Molle system is best. Simple yet perfect little gift for any gear hound.

Promise, we use and love each of these. Use the links provided to help support us. All funds through the above affiliate links go towards helping Team Fast 'n Curious on the road to the Rebelle Rally 2018. 

A recent trip to Death Valley was my first time to test and try my custom made Ruger Off-road trailer with CVT roof top tent. Why I went this route, as opposed to everything on the Jeep, was to add greater capacity without greater risk of being top heavy. Because I still have a child needing a booster seat, I can't remove the back seat in the Jeep. This really limits how you can configure the interior of a Jeep for overlanding. Even laid flat, the back seat takes up some important real estate. 

Next, the best thing was to get a trailer. I picked Ruger Trailers because of both their quality work and less cost than much of the competition. What you see above is 32" tires, leaf suspension, with added shocks and electric brakes. The top opens via pistons but you still have to muscle it up to start at the CVT Tent is close to 200 pounds. Ruger does an amazing job of adding platforms and attach points for all the bits I still need to add, such as; natural gas tank and dual battery box and inverters.

Pulling the trailer long distance wasn't a bad experience. My lifted Jeep with fender flares and bigger tires already buffet the wind like a large lego piece. Add the trailer and it does add to sway in high winds. Overall, the highway handling was a dream, once I got used to how much the wind pushed on me. 

The trails I pulled the trailer on were not difficult, mostly dirt roads with ruts and double track with many perpendicular washouts to go through. There were a few times while going too fast, I was sure the trailer would flip. It didn't and now I feel it would take quite a bit to flip it. With tires aired down and the addition of the shocks, this trailer keeps on rolling. A must for any off-road trailer is the Max-Coupler, a hitch that allows full range of motion between your Jeep and the trailer. The only drawback, you will go slow. Departure angle becomes a greater concern because you now have an extension on your rig. Protecting the coupler is very important and quite a vulnerable area as your rig comes out of a ditch and the trailer in. 

Setting up camp was easy, open the top and pull out the organized action packers. Then pop the tent up, just that easy. It took me a few times to get the hang of the ladder, but that was it. An extremely comfortable tent up off the ground. Very happy. Taking camp down is equally as easy, proven by a night of high wind and rain on a playa that had us dashing to get to solid rock at 2am. Everything was down and buttoned up in about 10 groggy minutes. 

Pulling a trailer over rough terrain is a new skill to learn. This link on "Tips for Overlanding Safely with a Trailer" is a great resource. Being aware of a third set of tires can be a bit tough but it is a skill. All-in-all, I am very happy I got it and it adds a new level of pleasure to get to the middle of nowhere. Will I take it on all trip? Probably, not. It would be nice to have enough skill to take it up some very difficult trails. But then again, I have enough trouble with four tires. 

Here's December's Wallpaper, various sizes and formats are below. Hope you enjoy!

2560 x 1440 | 1680 x 1050 | 1440 x 900 | 1280 x 800 | iPhone 6,7 (1344 x 750) | iPhone 7+ (1344 x 750)

It's no secret, I'm a paper and journal freak.

When I find a certain paper or pen, I buy in bulk. There is something special about handwriting notes. Don't get me wrong; I'm a digital Queen with love for technology. But when it comes to writing, I like to take my time and feel the drag of a good pen across great paper. 

Normally, I'm more about the pen and paper and less about the binding or the journal itself. Heck, I spend a lot of time outdoors and write wherever I am. Small note journals in my Jeep have grease smudges on them. My daily Evernote Journal has coffee rings and ink smudges. It's always about the paper and the pen. It matters. 

A few weeks ago I heard that one of my employees at ICD High Performance Coatings was taking a hobby to a new level. Kati Kavanagh is her name; everyone just calls her "Kav." She makes handmade leather journals in a rustic yet classic style. Once I saw her website, I had to give one a try. SoJo Leather Company.

Boasting high paper quality, I ordered one. A journal turned into three. I really couldn't decide on size or leather color. The paper SoJo uses is on the mark as being quality, testing my staple Lamy fountain pen felt great. Just the right amount of drag with minimal ink bleed. 

I am not usually one to like a leather journal, but these covers are soft and substantial. Each comes with different and well-working leather strap wraps. SoJo offers a beautiful hand and CNC burned artwork as well. The smaller of the three I acquired has nothing on the cover, just a great flap with brass snap. Its purpose will be to sit in my Jeep glovebox for keeping track of service notes.

The second I ordered is a medium size with one of my favorite John Muir quotes hand burned into the leather.

SoJo delivered my journals in perfect wrapping and branding, parchment paper and string. My third journal is the biggest they offer, although I'm sure they will custom make anything you wish, with one of my favorite "Fast 'n Curious" logos. The racing fox logo.

Kav has since left my employ to make a go in this venture of love and creativity. I wish her luck, and I'm happy to see the entrepreneurial spirit in her.

There truly is something special about leather, the way it weathers and smells brings back lots of memories for many people. These journals are special, handmade and packed full of great paper. For off-roading and overlanding, we need something durable to go on our adventures. You are writing down your adventures, aren't you? If not, start today. Find a great pen and get a journal from these folks. 

Website: http://www.sojoleatherco.com/

Picking a race partner is not for the faint of heart. It’s like choosing your life-partner, only for a shorter duration. Or is it? In this post, I will detail a few tricks I’ve learned over the years in putting together great teams. All apply well to picking your next partner for the Rebelle Rally or any off-road event.

So, why would it matter to pick well? Can you go out and grab a warm body, add some training, then do this thing? Of course, you can and it might work well. Spending some time picking the right person will produce significant benefits.

In this year’s Rebelle Rally I was fortunate to have a family member and trusted friend by my side. Many petitioned to be my navigator and even a few I sought out because I felt they had skills I lacked. My greatest hope was Char O’Day would say yes and join me. I had a desire to spend more time with her and grow our relationship. We had already established a fun off-road relationship due to many adventures in the dirt. And of course, she’s known me since birth.

The rally may not have gone so well, had I not picked as well as I did. Some teams dropped from the race early. A difference of opinion and not meshing well happens all the time.

So, what is the key to picking a great teammate?

• Vetting out each other is vital; where do skills lay and who knows how to navigate and drive? Those are simple; you go find out. The more difficult aspect is, how willing is this person to learn? How willing are you to learn? If you think you know it all, or your potential partner does, that should be a red flag.

• Do you fit well together? Spend some time together, get outside and wheel for a weekend. See what it’s like to camp together, ride along, and see how each other handles stress. If you are a gregarious and funny person, do you want a wallflower sitting next to you? Maybe you do, but the key is, does this combination fit?

• Can you grow together? Close to how willing you are to learning but more than that. Are your goals aligned? Like any great relationship, can you see both of you embracing the ups and downs of racing?

• Are you picking someone who could fill in where you are weak? It’s the #1 advice given to entrepreneurs, surround yourself with people better than you. This may take some getting used to, especially for entrepreneurs and rally drivers. If you don’t know where you are weak, you better find out quick.

These points are simple and may sound obvious. Think with caution about picking a partner who lives across the country. Will both of you have time and resources to be together as much as possible?

Skills are acquired, and experience found. Being able to hold respect and compassion for your race partner in the face of stress takes practice.

I've had the Nebo rack on my 2014 Jeep JKU since march of 2017. It needed some dwell time on my rig before I wrote a review. 

The Nebo roof rack is a product by TeraFlex Suspensions, one of my favorite Jeep aftermarket product manufacturers. 

The search for a roof rack took a while; my needs were specific:

• Sturdy enough to withstand a long life of overlanding.
• Sturdy enough to last the Rebelle Rally.
• Easy to install.
• Ease of attaching gear for the trail.
• Look as if it came from the factory.

After about six months of searching and evaluating rack systems, I learned that there are many systems out there. Many are solid and tried and true to what I needed. They always seemed to be lacking in being streamlined. Meaning, they had supports bolted into the outside of my rig, making a cage over the full length of my Jeep. 

Close to the end of the research period, TeraFlex came out with the Nebo rack. It hit most if not all the marks; appeared sturdy with supports going through the roof to your crossbar. TeraFlex mostly makes "installs" easy with excellent instructions and videos, appeared to have many ways to attach parts, but most of all it looked great. It looks like it came from the factory as an OEM part.

Let's talk about installation; it wasn't easy. Not going to lie, even Dennis Woods assures us in the install video below to breath and relax. It's not a job for one person; you have to remove your hardtop repeatedly. There were three of us on the install and a forklift. Forklift isn't required of course, but it sure was nice in moving the hardtop around. Several hands can take the top off and on just fine. 

Careful attention needs to be placed in drilling holes and properly seating screws to the supports inside on your Jeep. Leaks were my greatest fear, screwing up a fiberglass hard top is just money to get a new one, but a leak is a bad case of, well, you know what I mean. Luckily, TeraFlex did an outstanding job of crafting a product with rubber grommets and other water mitigation ways. So far, I've had zero leaks and I've shaken the rack to some pretty good extremes. 

You will want to take your time, measure twice and drill/cut once. Do not cut any corners; leaks are at stake here!!

When it comes to attaching other gear to the rack, I'm still in the middle of the road on this. The rack system uses some awesome aluminum slats and has many T-Slotted rails to add gear. You can buy sets of T-Slot screws and tie-down rings, from TeraFlex. However, it hasn't been a super easy thing to find at my local hardware store. So, not awful but not super handy. Buy a few packages of T-Slot screws and other fasteners from TeraFlex so you can have options when you want to attach that shovel, hi-lift, and tie-down rings. Be mindful when you go to attach bike racks and kayak racks that you are attaching them to T-Slots. Some bike racks will need to be attached by placing a crossbar across the side rails, making the rack even taller than you may expect. In the end, it did live up to being very versatile in attaching other racks and parts, just be prepared. 

When it comes to aesthetics, TeraFlex nailed it. This rack looks awesome. It looks like it came right from the factory floor. 

Here are a few more shots of the rack.

For the 2017 Rebelle Rally, we didn't need to use the rack for cargo space as we tried to keep weight as low as possible. As you can see, we attached an ARB awning and dune whip. We have had boxes lashed to the roof rack, and it is solid, no doubt about it. On the ARB awing, we struggled to find a way, to attach it well. I'm betting someone has found a better way but we tried the ARB brackets as well as several other methods with no great luck. In the end, we had to have a special bracket made, more on that in the future. But due to all the T-Slot channels, we had places we could get creative. 

Pros:

• Stylish OEM look!
• Extremely study, no leaks or squeaks after months of good use.
• Many attachment points if you are prepared for using T-Slots.
• Excellent installation instructions.
• Many installation videos by TeraFlex on YouTube. 

Cons:

• Probably an all day installation effort.
• Not a solo installation job.
• Drilling into your hardtop roof. 
• Not a great way to attach a ladder for getting on the roof.

In the end, I'm very happy so far with the rack. TeraFlex has lived up to their name in producing high-quality parts for Jeeps. It looks sleek and has lived up to every bit they said it would. I would install this on my rig again and recommend it to anyone. 

Until 2018! 

My journal was lost somewhere around day 1 of the Rebelle Rally. Yes, day one. Which meant I was scribbling thoughts on everything. Tucked back in my journal were cards I created just-in-case we needed them. Thankfully I already use these quotes on a daily basis and could recite them as needed. Turns out, we didn't need them, we had each other. We very quickly learned how to rely on each other and use each other talents. But here they are, they still helped.

"How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." - Used that one a ton

"Do better than yesterday, that's all."

"If you are going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill

Here was our mantra for checkpoints:

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - Francis of Assisi (Who apparently knew a lot about green, blue and black checkpoints.)

"Achieving starts with believing." No clue who said it but as a child with debilitating dyslexia, my Mom burned this one in my head.

This one goes out to my Dad and the Boy Scouts,

"Pledge your mind to clear thinking." Hated hearing it when I was a kid but has some pretty darn good meaning behind it.

Last but not least:

"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." - Moliere

Oh, and I forgot to tell you what I last wrote in my journal before it was lost to the bottom of the Jeep.

"Crap....what have I gotten myself into?"

:)

Well, it finally happened, the Rebelle Rally 2017. A year's worth of training and prep, culminating in the California and Nevada desert. If you followed along over the year, you know that this is the first off-road rally for myself and my navigator Char O'Day. Our expectations for the rally were rather simple; complete it, don't suck while doing it, and have a lot of fun. Somewhere in the middle, we both looked at each other and said, "we don't suck, holy crap, we've exceeded our expectations.

If you are just joining us in our adventure, the Rebelle Rally is a 1,200 km "ride" through the desert from Lake Taho to Glamis Sand Dunes in southern California. When I say "ride," the quote comes from what Emily Sturges Miller is fond of saying at the starting line: "Relax, it's just a drive from point A to B." But it's more than just a ride, and the Rebelle is more than just a rally. Emily created the Rebelle Rally, a rally she always wanted to have competed in. 

This truly was a life experience, one I hope to relive repeatedly. Much like going to a week-long Zen Buddhist silent retreat. Where you prepare a ton before, wonder in the middle why the hell you did it, but come out the other side with a literal change in consciousness; the post-rally hangover. All the while, you change to a different person in the end. 

For months I had heard about how hard it was to re-enter normal life after the race. Drink lots of fluids and sleep as much as you can; the stress will be taxing. In the end, you are left with a low. What do you do now? Nobody save for your other Rebellers understands the race. Many just think it's a cool camping trip in the desert. Until the see the videos and photos, of tears, joy, sadness, and dancing. 

We eagerly drove to Lake Tahoe, getting there a day early, so we had time to grab something forgotten. We had trained for map and compass work all year, and Char was the stronger of the two of us. What we didn't understand was how an Enduro worked. I think some will fondly know of them as TSD's or Time-Speed-Distance racing. We noticed that many had multiple stopwatches and timers, we figured we better find some, just in case we figure it out. Char and her husband spend hours looking for timers. It was becoming clear that there may have been a run on timers between Seattle and LA. We settled on a small ladies Casio watch with a stopwatch. We would make it work. 

Day 0 we cast off Char's husband Patrick to go feral for a week while we jump into the unknown of what we were about to do. Rally School, more info on Enduro's and rules and how to do this and that. We followed an Enduro roadbook to get from Lake Tahoe to Rally School; we got this. We thought. 

We finished the day with lat & longs, finding checkpoints, setting pace goals. "We have to get all the greens and blues, blacks if we can," we decided. Char and I settled into roles quickly. She mapped, and I drove. So far, the plan is working. Basecamp 1, a score around 76%, and a tremendous amount of accomplishment. We did this once; we can do it six more times. 

Days 1-3 - What the hell did we do? Internet withdrawals are kicking in; a cold beer is now a need each night. Day 2 I started missing my son. Initially, I wanted to see if we could make quick calls home. But after a short while, all those needs were pushed down. Whatever I was doing at work the week before didn't have urgency. I knew my son was safe and happy, and he vanished from my continual thoughts. The sole path becomes your schedule and how to maximize time. From waking up and preparing maps and routes for the day to the evening ritual of putting the rig to bed, eating dinner and passing out in a cold tent in the desert. (No kidding, ice on the inside of the tent and a frozen water bottle outside.

By Day 3 we realize we are pulling in some great scores in the 85% range. We both can feel we are getting better each day and doing Enduro's and maximizing time to route for checkpoints. One night I was so elated over our score vs. how hard we had been working, I burst into tears at the scoring table. Several cool chicks asked me if I was ok that they saw me crying, "I couldn't be better." I remember we turned to each on the morning of Day 4 and both expressed that we are doing it. We are starting to get it, and it turns out we don't suck! A LONG way to go to be good but not sucking was pretty big on our list.

Honestly, the remainder of the days were a blur of focus and determination mixed with intense bonding with all the other women in the rally. Packs are being made for what we know is a pending finish at Glamis dunes. 

Every night we returned to basecamp we were exhausted but excited. Each night became a little bit sadder as we realized we were one more day closer to the end. A shift had happened. Intense focus and connection with our other competitors had flipped a switch. Even from Day 0, we were repeatedly asked if we had fun or how it was. The answer was always the same, even at the start, "that was an absolutely epic day, we did great." I couldn't tell if I was trying to stay positive or I was really and truly getting high off this. I was getting high off it, not all that surprising.

Somewhere around Day 2, Andrea Bullard, with the Rebelle staff asked me at the finish line for that day how the day went. My response was, " there aren't enough F-words in the world to describe how awesome this day was." But that was every day. Even the bad ones we made mistakes to learn from. It was indescribably awesome to experience, each day. 

Throughout each day we made decisions together, learned how to bolster each other, and quickly jumped when other teams needed support to get back into the rally. Be it mechanical or emotional; it was these moments where we could help others that became the most impactful. There were times we were at risk of losing points but never passed a team needing help. This doesn't always happen in a competitive environment. Our strongest bonds with other competitors came from these events and later in the week; those bonds rang true as we needed help getting unstuck in Glamis.

With the final day approaching, we learn how big and odd Glamis is. Upon arriving at basecamp on Day 6, I needed help finding a slow leak I couldn't plug. Forcing us to stop every hour or two and pump the front driver tire back up to highway pressure. While I'm at it, help to get a bent tie rod back relative straightness. Staff mechanic Nick taught me a new trick in using my winch to do the job. While searching for the hole in my tire, I'm talking to tech director Chris Woo about Glamis. As I'm telling him how strange it feels he chimes in with, "It's the moon, Glamis is like being on the moon." At this point, I'm wondering when the shrooms came out, and I missed it. But he wasn't wrong. It was a hard and foreign place. Spiced up with a 50 mph wind an sandstorm throughout the final day. The bonus is having to use my goggles and scarf. Resulting in what I feel is an epiclly cool pic of myself.

Crossing the finish line on the final day was something we knew and felt was looming all day. At some point, we would run out of checkpoints and have to go in. Discussions of next year, nay debate on why Char needs to be my partner next year, ensued. I had known for days I was doing this again. And, I felt that doing the Gazelle was possible. But the end was coming closer. Greatly wanting a hotel and shower but not wanting it to end. Tired of living in the Jeep - which means my Jeep looked like a tossed salad each day - but knowing that soon the dust would all fly off in a dash to San Diego.

I cried. I held it together pretty good as we crossed the finish line. The hugs and cheers and success. We did it. We completed it. We learned how to finish it and now are starting to see how to work on winning it. But then I cried. In my Jeep, behind the tent city. Char cried. We got our cell phones and called our loved ones, and cried. It was the same for most everyone. It was the most surreal feeling in my life. Feelings I should say because there were a lot of them. 

There were parties at basecamp and a big party in San Diego. 

Then the drive home and the start of that silly post-rally blues. Or "rally hangover" as one of my rally friends says. After a year of prep and days of routine, stress, and focus. I was lost. My focus was on driving home, but my emotional state was definitely in the blue tones. What the heck was going on? It's Wednesday following the rally finish, and I'm still in a funk. However, that funk is being softened by looking for the next event, planning for Rebelle Rally 2018 and buying Jeep parts online. 

The experience was incredible. Our new friendships are deep. Next year, we are playing for top 5. :)

Thank you to the whole staff, you made the trip amazing. It never ceased to amaze me how incredible and accomplished not only the competitors were but the staff as well. Each day I'd be chatting with another staff member to learn they were geophysicists and IMAX cinematographers. To us, they were moral support and medical staff. Mind-blowing. Handpicked well by Emily. Now for Emily, there are not enough "thank you's" in the world to express how much gratitude we had in her presenting an opportunity like this. She's had an inspiring career, and her presence pushes you to do more and be more. I wasn't kidding when I said this was more than a rally, and trust me it is competitive. It's personal and emotional, forming deep friendships with each other. It's life changing if you let it. 

Until next year!

Special thanks to the Intern Lilly Macaruso, always moving and always smiling to make everyone laugh and dance. You are an inspiring bundle of energy, and I hope we find our way towards some adventure in the future.

As well, thanks to Doug and John from staff, great conversations, and cold refreshment when I needed it the most.

To learn more, go to www.rebellerally.com

Special thanks to all our sponsors and friends who have helped us on this great adventure.

Chinook Shores Lodge, SASS Southeast Alaska Screenprinting Services, ICD High Performance Coatings, Charter Controls, TeraFlex Suspensions, and all our friends!

And one final thanks to Char O'Day, she is indeed a navigatrix. I've known you since as far back as memory allows. I'm so happy we got to share this experience together and become closer. Even if you decide to not to the rally again, you will always be in my right seat. Much love and respect for you.

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Now that rally racing is in our blood and passions are flowing, it's time for TFNC to have it's own space on the interwebs. A recap and photos from the 2017 Rebelle Rally to come shortly after, until then, check out the post leading up to the Rebelle Rally from Kris Vockler's personal website:

Officially Entered in the Rebelle Rally

DECEMBER 04, 2016

We Added TeraFlex as a Sponsor!!!

JANUARY 13, 2017

Check This Rebelle Rally 2016 Highlight Vid; This is us in 2017!!

JANUARY 19, 2017

We've Added ICD High Performance Coatings as a Sponsor!!

JANUARY 26, 2017

Rebelle Rally, Why?

JANUARY 29, 2017

Team Fast N Curious Update, May 1, 2017 - Rebelle Rally 2017

MAY 01, 2017

Road to the Rebelle Rally; Next Stop - Jeep Jamboree Tillamook, Oregon

JUNE 01, 2017

Rebelle Rally 2017 - One Week Out

OCTOBER 03, 2017

4 Days Until Departure, 7 Days Until the Rebelle Rally Starts

OCTOBER 06, 2017