Thanks to my father-in-law for cooking up the duck, bacon, fries, and boudin, along with frying up the fresh caught fish. Thank you to Ashlie for making some amazing gumbo to help keep everyone warm (even though it wasn't cold). We even put a pig on the fire! To help keep everyone entertained until midnight, we had the beer pong table going, videos games on the TV's, giant Jenga, pool, darts, Cornhole boards, and a birthday party. December 31st is not only the eve of the New Year, but it is also momma Bakes birthday! Although we had fireworks popping most of the night, once midnight hit the real show started. Thank you again to everyone who made this event so fun and thank yo to everyone who brought food, drinks, games, and fireworks to make the night even more memorable. GalleryThank you for reading this article. We hope you found it entertaining. If so, please share it with others and don't forget to leave a comment down below! The world is a large place, and life is short. Together, we can accomplish much more than we ever could alone. -Bourn Adventure
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On December 11th, 2021 we hosted the 3rd annual Bourn Adventure Camp Night here at the Bourn Adventure Headquarters . We are very thankful to all those who were able to make it out, despite the rainy weather. Although we did not have a bonfire, we enjoyed hanging out and playing Jenga, corn hole, beer pong, and video games. We look forward to the next Bourn Adventure Camp Night and hope to see you there! GalleryOn December 5th, 2020 we hosted our second annual Bourn Adventure Camp Night on our property. We are very thankful to all those who were able to make it out and spend time with us. We enjoyed hanging out while the bonfire roared in the background and sipping on that delicious rum as the bottle made its rounds. Although this event was smaller than we originally anticipated, it worked out for the best as it allowed us to figure out what needs to be improved for future events. We look forward to the next Bourn Adventure Camp Night and hope to see you there! GalleryOn December 7th, 2019 we hosted the first ever Bourn Adventure Camp Night on our property. We are very thankful to all those who were able to make it out on such short notice. We enjoyed hanging out while the bonfire roared in the background and sipping on that delicious rum as the bottle made its rounds. Although this event was smaller than we originally anticipated, it worked out for the best as it allowed us to figure out what needs to be improved for future events. We look forward to the next Bourn Adventure Camp Night and hope to see you there! GalleryVideosThank you for reading this article. We hope you found it entertaining. If so, please share it with others and don't forget to leave a comment down below! The world is a large place, and life is short. Together, we can accomplish much more than we ever could alone. -Bourn Adventure This was my third year attending the Lone Star Toyota Jamboree (Jambo). For those who are not familiar with this event, it is held at Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area (BMRA) in Gilmer, TX. With a turnout of a little over 400 vehicles this year, it is one of the largest (if not the largest) Toyota gatherings in the nation. This was the first off-road event I have attended since the rollover and loss of the FJ earlier this year. It was an odd feeling not having my own rig there. There were times I found myself reaching into my pocket for keys and looking around to see where I parked. As my eyes searched for the FJ, and panic started to set in because I could not find it, I heard my buddies voice say, "If you're looking for the FJ, it's not parked anywhere, but the GX is right there." My friend Derise was right; the FJ was not there...in its entirety, but some of it was (bumpers, sliders, seats, skid plates, suspension, light bars, etc). The day before he and I left for Jambo, we loaded his Lexus GX 470 with parts from the FJ. Though the FJ itself was not present, nor did it run trails under its own power, some of it did see dirt while there, so by proxy, we wheeled the FJ! You might be asking yourself, "Why did he bring a quarter of the FJ with him to Jambo?" Well, we sold some of the parts, but we also decided to auction off our Scheel-mann aftermarket seats and Chitown PAX mount with fuel cans. All proceeds from said auction went to Team Overland, a non profit organization dedicated to helping veterans. The event staff was kind enough to assist in the process and give us space in the main pavilion to display the auctioned items. With the help of the Lone Star Toyota Jamboree off road event and several supporting vendors in the off road community, along with the individuals who purchased the items, we raised $1,250. To make math easier, Bourn Adventure contributed another $250 for a total donation of $1,500 to Team Overland. To learn more about this donation, Team Overland and others involved, please read our article: Team Overland Donation  I had a unique perspective of Jambo this year. One of the main reasons I attended was to help with media and lend a hand wherever they needed it. I now have a greater appreciation of the hard work, dedication, planning, and coordination that goes into an event like this. It is not only the event staff and volunteers who contribute, but also the vendors. Without them, it would not be the same. I had the chance to watch Blind Mans Bluff, Lone Star Rock Crawl, and Lone Star Stampede. This was a first for me because, in years past, I was out running trails while these events were going on. Out of those three, I would have to say Blind Mans Bluff was the most entertaining to watch. In the Blind Mans Bluff event, the driver is blindfolded and has to rely on verbal directions from the passenger/spotter. They have to successfully navigate the obstacle course without hitting any of the cones, backing up, passenger/spotter getting out of the vehicle, or anything else that could penalize their run. Without fail, you see passengers flailing limbs, hear raised voices, and a few choice words as they attempt to steer their partner in the right direction. This is a great test for any couple who is dating or married. Administrative note, Jambo staff recommends couples who participate in Blind Mans Bluff leave knives and other sharp objects in their tents for obvious reasons.  Jambo also has a great nightlife. With live bands, bonfires, and food, it provides a fun atmosphere for people to share stories and drinks. It does not take long for friendships to start and once made, they last a lifetime. Every year I look forward to meeting up with old friends from past events. On top of the good food and fun times, there are educational classes and amazing raffles. If you have not made it out to the Lone Star Toyota Jamboree, I highly recommend you do. I hope to see you there next year! Lone Star Toyota Jamboree: Website Lone Star Toyota Jamboree: Facebook Thank you for reading this article. We hope you found it entertaining. If so, please share it with others and don't forget to leave a comment down below! The world is a large place, and life is short. Together, we can accomplish much more than we ever could alone. -Bourn Adventure Author: Baker Gallery Video The event started on a cool, crisp Saturday morning at a gas station in Hampden, Maine where we meet up with Matt and Brian from MINI's of Maine. The temperature hovered around 37° for the majority of the day with continuous drizzle. The roads also had residual sand and gravel from the winter months. We were warned to be careful of these conditions, as well as 16 pound wild turkeys that have a tendency to play chicken in hairpin turns.  We swung through a Dunkin' Donuts for some tasty treats, then we were on our way. We knew we would have an hour and a half trip to Wiscasset, Maine to meet up with several other MINI's and their owners, but were unprepared for what Matt and Brian had in store for us. What started as a sedate drive through the country quickly turned into a backwoods rally. Tightly tucked between a 2012 Hardtop S (R56) and a 2014 Countryman S (R60) we raced through the hills, our little JCW's Bluetooth exhaust popping and growling in the silence. Matt made us work for it. His tailpipe exhaled white smoke as he gassed it while downshifting out of a sharp corner. Brian's Countryman was no slouch either. Clifford, "The Big Red Bus" had no trouble keeping pace. Huge grins were plastered to our faces, except for Ashlie's... her's was kinda green.  We met up with the rest of the crew at an Irving gas station in Wiscasset, ME. Our group was very diverse with people attending from Massachusetts, Canada, Maine, and Louisiana. We all became close friends within minutes. Ashlie keeps telling me that just because I speak to someone, it doesn't mean they are my friend, but there isn't a person alive who would say otherwise....  Soon we were away. Our group of eight kept a tight formation. Even with the poor road conditions, we were still able to dip in and out of turns at 60 - 80 mph. Zipping through the steep, winding turns allowed us to become more intimate with the heart of Maine. Ashlie had never visited Maine before, and my experience had been limited to the coastal regions. Our journey was broken up into three legs. The first took us from Harris to Wiscasset, which was approximately 100 miles. The second and third legs were more of a coastal route and totaled approximately 160 miles. Some of the inland towns were nestled in the hills and gave it old time feel. Brightly colored houses and big red barns littered the countryside. As we cruised through some of the small towns we encountered people outside who would give us a friendly wave and a smile. The weather worn roads kept us on our toes and allowed us to test the agility of the MINI. Having the automatic gearbox in manual mode and using the paddle shifters made it easy to deploy quick, decisive countermeasures while avoiding potholes and bumps, this also allowed for more controlled braking and better management of RPM's. The combination of power, weight, and torque showcased the MINI's intuitive handling.  We stopped off at New Castle Publick House for lunch. It was a restaurant in a very old building in New Castle, ME, which isn't saying much. Most of their buildings seem old. We sat around laughing and sharing stories like we had known each other for years. The food was the expected local fare: crab cakes, seafood chowder, and local brews. After filling our bellies, we hopped in the MINI's and drove off into the New England mist.  The last leg of our adventure would take us down a peninsula which provided exceptional views of Muscongus and Johns Bay. Initially, the sights were similar to others we had experienced, but as we came out of a sweeping turn, the tree line faded giving us a breathtaking view of the coast. The overcast sky melded into the misty waters. The waves crashed into the rocky coast with old picturesque houses on hills. Seagulls cried overhead as we rounded the bend and lost sight of this mesmerizing view. We both were slack-jawed and were stumbling over words that failed to come close to describing its beauty. We were trying to find a way to duck out of the line of MINI's to go back to take pictures when the tree line started to fade again, allowing the coast to peek through. We both started scrambling for GoPros and cameras. I am sure the MINI's behind us were wondering what we were doing. We were swerving all over the road trying to find our equipment to get the shot while trying to keep up with the group. Thankfully they pulled over at a viewpoint shortly afterward. The tide was out and revealed many rocks of all sizes. We walked down a short way and enjoyed an uninterrupted view of the coast. Some of the group said we needed to come back one day when the tide is in to hear the many small rocks tumbling with the tide, reminiscent of a giant rain stick. After everyone had their fill of the view we headed out for our final destination.  We ended the trip at King Eider's Pub. A bar in the heart of Damariscotta, ME with loads of local flair. We had one last beer before hitting the road. With much sadness, we parted ways with promises to visit soon. As the last MINI drove away, we took a breath and smiled. Now that was an adventure! To learn more about MINI's of Maine, visit their Facebook page here: MINI's of Maine  Thank you for reading this article. We hope you found it entertaining. If so, please share it with others and don't forget to leave a comment down below! The world is a large place, and life is short. Together, we can accomplish much more than we ever could alone. -Bourn Adventure Authors: Baker and Ashlie Gallery |
AuthorsBaker and Ashlie are the owners of Bourn Adventure and together they author the majority of the articles and content found here. Guest AuthorsCheyenne Izaguirre Categories
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