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Adventures: 2019 in Review!

1/3/2020

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2019 was another fun filled year with adventures all over the world. Some were places we had visited in years past and some were new destinations, but one thing remained the same; we made sure to Capture the Journey!

Although the majority of our adventures were overseas, that does not mean we missed out on opportunities stateside. For instance, we finally accomplished our goal of driving our 2017 John Cooper Works MINI to all lower 48 states. Watch that road trip video here: mini MINI Road Trip Review

We also bought 36 acres of property which has plenty of room for camping, walking trails, bonfires, and anything else we can imagine. This of course is also the new headquarters for Bourn Adventure and we celebrated that with our first ever Bourn Adventure Camp Night in December. Click the links to learn more about the Bourn Adventure HQ and see more pictures from the Bourn Adventure Camp Night.

​Here are the photographic highlights from 2019!

Illinois

St. Louis, MO

Great Smokey Mountains, TN

Criel Mound, WV

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co, KY

Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse, KY

Visited All Lower 48 States With The MINI

Petra, Jordan

Wadi Rum, Jordan

Jabal Umm al Dami (Tallest Point in Jordan)

Cotonou, Benin

Sacred Forest, Benin

Ouidah, Benin

Portuguese Fort, Benin

Python Temple, Benin

Jakarta, Indonesia

Monkey Forest, Indonesia

Bali, Indonesia

Borobudur Temple, Indonesia

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, Indonesia

Prambanan Temple, Indonesia

Kota Bogor, Indonesia

Singapore

Manila, Philippines

Mount Samat National Shrine, Philippines

Subic Bay, Philippines

Around the Philippines

New Bourn Adventure Headquarters

1st Bourn Adventure Camp Night


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
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Author: Baker

Your Adventure starts here!

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BUY PATCH

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Travel: Explore America

4/16/2019

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The United States of America is the fourth largest country by area with more than 3.6 million square miles. This, along with our freedoms, natural beauty, man made wonders, and diversity make the United States a truly uniq place to explore. 

Whether it is the sights of Acadia National Park, a view from Top of the World, the engineering marvel of the Hoover Dam, or a cultural influence from another part of the world, we should take the opportunity to Explore America, even if it is a drive down the road to the woods or a cross-country road trip.

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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

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Travel: Destination Bucket List

3/21/2019

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There is so much to see and do in life. Unfortunately, our time here on earth is limited so it is up to us to make the best use of it. Here is a look at the places we want to visit before clocking out from Bourn Adventure!

Do you have a Destination Bucket List? If so, share some of the locations on your list with us in the comment section below.

Domestic

  • Arctic Circle, Alaska
  • Antelope Canyon, Arizona
  • ✔︎ Grand Canyon, Arizona​ - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Horseshoe Bend, Arizona - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Redwood Forest, California - Pictures
  • Sequoia National Park, California
  • ✔︎ Yosemite, California - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Black Bear Pass, Colorado - Pictures 
  • ✔︎ Chicago, Illinois - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Monument Rocks, Kansas - Pictures 
  • ✔︎ Acadia National Park, Maine - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Glacier National Park, Montana - Pictures
  • Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
  • ✔︎ Hoover Dam, Nevada - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Statue of Liberty, New Jersey - Pictures
  • ✔︎ New York City, New York - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Niagara Falls, New York - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Crater Lake National Park, Oregon - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Mount Rushmore, South Dakota - Pictures
  • Big Bend National park, Texas
  • ✔︎ Arches National Park, Utah - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Top of the World, Utah - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Zion National Park, Utah - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Washington D.C. - Pictures
  • Tour the White House, Washington D.C.
  • ✔︎ Devil Tower, Wyoming - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Old Faithful (Yellowstone), Wyoming / Montana / Idaho - Pictures

International

- North America -
  • Moraine Lake, Canada
  • Pyramid of the Sun, Mexico
- South America -
  • Puma Punku, Bolivia ​
  • Iguazu Falls, Brazil
  • Easter Island, Chile
  • Machu Picchu, Peru
  • Nazca Lines, Peru
- Africa -
  • The Great Pyramid, Egypt
  • ✔︎ Pyramids of Meroë, Sudan - Pictures
  • ​✔︎ Nairobi National Park, Kenya - Pictures
  • Victoria Falls, Zambia
- Europe -
  • Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
  • ✔︎ Paris, France
  • ​Normandy, France
  • The Parthenon, Greece
  • Santorini, Greece
  • Highlands (Northern Lights), Iceland
  • The Colosseum, Italy
  • Venice, Italy
  • Matterhorn Mountain, Switzerland
  • Stonehenge, United Kingdom
  • White Cliffs of Dover, United Kingdom
  • Vatican City
- Asia -
  • Angkor Wat Temple Complex, Cambodia​​
  • The Great Wall of China, China
  • Kailasa Temple, India
  • Taj Mahal, India
  • ✔︎ Borobudur Temple, Indonesia - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Petra, Jordan - Pictures
  • ✔︎ The Dead Sea, Jordan - Pictures
  • Baalbek Temple Complex, Lebanon
  • ✔︎ Byblos, Lebanon
  • ✔︎ Sinkhole Park, Oman - Pictures
  • ✔︎ Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore - Pictures
  • Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sri Lanka
  • Gobekli Tepe, Turkey
  • Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
- Australia / Oceania -
  • The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- Antarctica -
  • South Pole

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

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Adventures: 2018 in Review!

1/6/2019

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We would like to give 2018 a proper farewell before getting too comfortable with 2019. Just like in years past, 2018 had its ups and downs, but just like anything else, its all about how you handle that rollercoaster ride. For us at Bourn Adventure we try to always look at the positive side of things and 2018 was filled with plenty of them!

I would say Bourn Adventure (formally Bakes FJ) is better known for our massive road trips across the United States, some more than 10,000 miles long. On those adventures, our main focus was to Explore America and encourage others to do the same, even if it was just a short drive down the road. Adventure is everywhere and often times we overlook the closest opportunities to experience one.

For so many of those road trips, our old Toyota FJ Cruiser was the focus and inspiration behind the journeys. After the loss of the FJ due to a roll over and following rebrand from Bakes FJ to Bourn Adventure in 2017, we have strived to expand our adventures. Here are the highlights from 2018!

Petra, Jordan

Dead Sea, Jordan

Jerash, Jordan

Amman Amphitheater, Jordan

Baptism Site, Jordan

Amman Citadel, Jordan

Belize

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Cozumel, Mexico

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Muscat, Oman

Sinkhole Park, Oman

Wadi Tiwi, Oman

Al Hazm Castle, Oman

Tropic of Cancer, Oman

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New Orleans, LA

National WWII Museum, LA

Abita Brewery, LA

Pensacola, FL

Nairobi, Kenya

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Kenya

Nairobi National Park, Kenya

Mt. Longonot, Kenya

Equator, Kenya

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Chicago, IL

The Morton Arboretum, IL

St. Louis, MO

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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

Your ticket to adventure is here!

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BUY PATCH

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Travel: Understanding and Using Foreign Currencies

10/3/2018

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Traveling the world and interacting in new and different cultures is a very rewarding experience. Having said that, it can also be a little overwhelming at times, especially if you are new to international travel.

One of the most problematic areas where people struggle is understanding foreign currencies. Thankfully, we have modern technology, more specifically, applications that can make that a little easier for us. Although the United States dollar (USD) is widely accepted as a means of payment in many countries around the world, when possible, I prefer to use the currency of the country I am visiting. I do this for a few reasons:
  • Some countries discourage the use of another counties currency
  • No need to figure out the exchange rate at the time of purchase
  • Additional "fees" or "taxes" for using USD (typically a vendor taking advantage of a tourist)
  • Looks very "touristy" 
  • Having local currency sometimes allows for better price negotiations on certain things
  • Language barriers ​                                          
 FOREIGN CURRENCIES
Although symbols, shapes, sizes, and numerical amounts differ from country to country, some similarities remain the same. In most cases, the physical bill size is proportionate to its value. Meaning, the smaller the bill size, the smaller the amount it is worth. Typically, their size goes from smallest to largest, which makes it easier to recognize value placements of currency when dealing with several different bill denominations. The same is also true with coins. 

Even though you might have a bill from a non-English speaking county in hand, there is a good chance somewhere on that bill the numerical value is represented in English. For example: if you are purchasing goods in Jordan and they tell you 50 dinars (JOD)" you can do the math by simply locating the numbers. ​
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       Omani (OMR)currency 
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
 In my opinion, the language barrier problem is often overlooked when paying for something using a currency other than the local one. 

Example: let's say you are in Bangladesh and you find a souvenir or something you want, but only have USD. You go to pay and they tell you "3,000 takas (BDT)". If you do not know the exchange rate, your response most likely would be, "what is that in USD"? If they do not speak English or you do not speak Bengali, chances are there is going to be quite a bit of confusion. 

This could have all been avoided if you just exchanged currencies and when they told you the amount, you handed it to them. Although the language barrier still exists, 3,000 takas is still 3,000 takas.                                                                                          

  YOURS FOR MINE
Exchange rates (the rate at which one currency is exchanged for another) can often lead to confusion, hair pulling, and the occasional four-letter word. This can be amplified when you are in a hurry or other stress-induced situations. To further complicate things, most exchange rates have daily, weekly, and monthly fluctuation. Although the differences might be minute, they still exist and should be factored into your travels. 

If you do not like the idea of always checking, fear not, some counties have fixed exchange rates! For instance, the Omani riyal (OMR) has a fixed rate to the United States dollar (USD) of approximately 0.38449. This simply means, one USD is worth approximately 0.38 OMR. From my experience, the list of fixed rate countries is smaller than those who do not have one.

Like I mentioned at the beginning of the article, there are applications that make it simple to track exchange rates. There are several great currency converters out there, but the one I use the most on my iPhone/iPad is called XE, which can be located in the App Store. They also have a website (xe.com) in the event you are using a computer.   

On the plus side, if you are using the local currency, it takes a lot of the guesswork out of it when paying for goods and receiving change back, but you should still be mindful of the exchange rate to determine the true cost/value of something.  

For example: if you are visiting Kenya and exchanged your currency (let us say USD) for the Kenya shilling (KES), which has a fluctuating exchange rate (minimal movement) and want to buy a painting from a local artist for 5,500 shillings (KES). Before making your decision, you would probably want to know the amount/value in your currency (USD), which at the time of writing this article would be about $54.00 USD. Understanding that helps ensure you make an informed decision.  

Whether you are in a country that has a fixed or fluctuating exchange rate, the locals will know the exact exchange rate at the time. If you are not up to date, there could be a chance that you pay a different amount and it will not be in your favor. ​
PLASTIC MONEY
The majority of vendors in most countries accept credit/debit cards as a means of payments, but that does not mean it will always work. This could happen for several reasons:
  • You did not notify your card company or bank about your international travel, therefore they decline the charge
  • Card type not supported
  • User error on the side of the vendor
  • Connectivity issues on the side of the vendor

If your card does not work, cash is king, but if you only hold your country's currency and they do not accept it, then you might be in a bind, especially if it is for a service they already provided (meal, taxi, tour, etc.). This is another reason to have local currency on your person, even if you plan on using your card everywhere.
CONCLUSION
In my opinion, if you are in a country for more than a few days, it is a good idea to exchange money, especially if you plan on site seeing. Keep in mind, typically there is a fee associated with exchanging money and sometimes those fees are more if you do it in "convenient" place like airports, banks or hotels. ​

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

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Adventures: Bourn Adventure Postcards

9/8/2018

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Not only do we document our travels, but we also sell rad stickers, patches, and other products as a way to help others show off their adventures! Going to the mountains? We have a patch for that! Going camping? We have a sticker for that! Sun beating down on your head? You guessed it; we have a hat for that!

Since we launched our store in 2012, we have shipped products all over the United States and to more than 30 countries. To see all the places our products are in use, please click here: BAG Products World Map. We are blessed to have so many people around the globe rocking Bourn Adventure Gear. We wanted a way to personally thank them for their order.

Our solution was to create Bourn Adventure postcards. This allowed us the opportunity to give each order a personal touch while continuing to share adventures from all over the world. We breathe new life in our postcards by periodically changing destinations and showcasing new locations. Each postcard series is assigned a number and runs for a limited time. Once that particular postcard is gone, it is done!   

So far all of the postcards have been a big hit and some people even started collecting them! Aside from that, customers have told us of conversations generated by the postcards hanging on their refrigerator or in their office. Hearing that something so simple could spark curiosity and encourage adventure brings a smile to our faces.  ​

​To place an order and get your Bourn Adventure postcard, please visit our retail site: Bourn Adventure Gear

Postcard Adventures

Zion National Park
Series #1
Explore
The Grand Canyon
Series #2

Explore
Multnomah Falls
Series #3

Explore
Devils Tower
Series #4
Explore
Roll Over
Series #5
Explore
Yellowstone
Series #6
Explore
Arches National Park
Series #7
Explore
Acadia National Park
Series #8
Explore
Washington D.C.
Series #9
Explore
Ogunquit, ME
Series #10
Badlands National Park
Serise #11
Mount Rushmore
​Serise #12

Explore
Explore
Explore
The Hoover Dam
​Series #13
Explore
The Treasury in Petra
​Series #14

Explore

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

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Travel: Around The World

8/23/2018

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All around the world are amazing sites and structures. Some are well known and some are not. Our goal in this section is to showcase those places. Come take an adventure with us around the world as we Capture the Journey!

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Travel: Our Adventures

6/21/2018

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Road Trip: A Colorado Christmas

2/17/2018

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In July of 2017, my husband Stephen and I took the boys (ages 8 and 10 years old) to Colorado for their first time. They had a blast seeing real snow-capped mountains and snow for the first time despite it being the middle of summer. Since then, their Christmas wish has been for us to take them back to Colorado to play in the snow for Santa’s arrival.  With my husband and I being in love with Colorado, we were happy to oblige! 
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We made reservations for December 23rd-27th using VRBO (online vacation rental booking site), which we had never used before. VRBO was recommended to us by one of our friends in Colorado, who used the service for ski weekend getaways.  We compared locations and prices with Airbnb (also an online vacation rental booking site), which we have used before, but found better deals on VRBO for this trip, especially since we were bringing the kiddos. We reserved a one bedroom condo with a fold out couch and full kitchen that was within walking distance from downtown Estes Park. What exactly do we mean by walking distance? A town block!  It was super convenient.

We have had the pleasure to visit Estes Park several times before and love the downtown area. It is a very quiet and family friendly place with cute shops, quaint restaurants, encompassed by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Rocky Mountain National Park has two entrances just outside of town for easy access to mother nature’s treasures.  We highly recommend the park; it holds a special place in our heart as it’s where we got married on a road trip in 2016! That’s a whole other story, but I digress, we thought this would be a great location to take the boys for Christmas and to play in the snow. 

​Alright, so one thing Southerners need to be ready for is snow, and driving in the snow! Do not take risks and do not drive like normal.  We kept a close eye on the forecast as the date approached, and were alerted to a winter storm in the works.  With that in mind, we left a couple of days ahead of our reservations in order to beat any travel hiccups. 

The first leg of our trip was a short trip from Austin, Texas to Fort Worth to stay with my aunt for the night.  We were lucky to have my mother meet us there to pick up our family dogs.  While we would have loved to of brought them with us, the VRBO we selected did not allow pets. The next morning we departed at 0430 bound for Morrison, Colorado.  Our good friends, The Odvody’s, opened their home to us to accommodate an early arrival in Colorado. 

Since we packed most of our gear on the roof, we decided to keep a small selection of clothes and shower gear in a suitcase in the cargo area in the back of our car. We drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which has pretty great amenities but it could definitely use more trunk space. During the summer we purchased a Thule roof rack to help out with this issue. 

It has come in pretty handy - especially when both kids and dogs are in tow. During the summer we were not as concerned about weather conditions as we were this trip, so before the Christmas road trip, we purchased some pretty sweet duffle bags to throw up on the roof. We also have some old Army duffle bags that we just waterproofed by layering the insides with thick trash bags. 

We usually take road trips several times a year, and we always make sure to take a few things: tire jack, jumper cables, fix-a-flat, baby wipes, power inverter, and of course snacks and water. My favorite road trip snack is definitely white cheddar popcorn….it is literally the most impractical (especially if you are the driver) but it is the most delicious thing ever! Bringing the kids along we wanted to make sure to have some healthy snacking options, so we brought: apples, Gatorade, and Z-bars (Kid Cliff Bars, our kids prefer the oatmeal and chocolate brownie). 

We also included two thick blankets, jackets, hats, gloves, snow cables, and several jugs of water in our back cargo area where they were easily reachable. You want to be a pessimist when traveling like this and be prepared for anything, especially with kids so you can keep your family safe and warm if the worst case occurs. Here are some pics of our gear on the roof. 
Two small waterproof duffel bags, one large green duffle full of our snow gear, two bags for the boys, snow scooters, and the tire jack. We strapped all of this down using three ratchet straps, but two are sufficient. A quick review of our Adventure Lion waterproof bags, they seem awesome. Our only complaint is we wish they were a little bigger, like the same size as my Army ones - we purchased the largest they offered which is 40 liters. To their credit, they are meant more for kayaking so smaller is probably better for that situation. They held up nicely to the wind, rain, ice, snow, and strapped down nicely.
     *Links to:  Waterproof dry bag and Kids snow scooter

Arriving in Morrison, CO

Alright, so we arrived in Morrison, Colorado that evening as planned and caught up with our friends. We stayed there for two nights before moving on to Estes Park. Just a note here is that our original plan was to depart Fort Worth, Texas in the wee hours of the morning and head straight to Estes Park but we modified that plan according to weather because we knew we had alternate places to stay along the route.

Departing Morrison for Estes Park CO

The drive up from Morrison to Estes Park was smooth sailing. We were careful to check the road conditions constantly using this site: Cotrip.org 

Arriving in Estes Park, CO

It finally started to snow on us about ten minutes out from Estes Park and by the time we parked it started getting heavier - we were thrilled! The boys were super excited too, so we all worked together to get the car unloaded and settled into the condo before heading out to play in the snow. Downtown was lit up beautifully for the holidays. We enjoyed the sites and had tons of fun playing in the freshly fallen snow. That night I went to the grocery store and picked up breakfast, lunch, and dinner essentials for the week. We did not eat out once the entire stay! I cooked quick and easy recipes like chicken noodle soup, chili dogs, and hamburger helper for dinner. Breakfast was typically eggs, toast, and bacon. Not to mention we were not eating fast food. I despise fast food, but sometimes it is unavoidable on the road. I know these still may not seem like the absolute healthiest, but they were easy and kid friendly!

Day 1 - YMCA

The first full day we found some snowy spaces at the YMCA of the Rockies which was literally like a 5-minute drive from our condo. We had a blast and were freezing by the end of the day! One side note - I did get us stuck by trying a 17 point turn in a snowy parking lot. I think subconsciously I was testing my limits on the snow in a populated area. Luckily some friendly passersby helped us get the jeep “unstuck” and we continued the mission. Of course, the running joke for the rest of the trip was that we were about to get stuck again every time there was snow in view! The views from the area where we played that day were absolutely breathtaking! We also found a small piece of a tree to take back to the condo and decorate for our Christmas tree. That night we made a gingerbread house, decorated the tree, and ate cookies! It was Christmas Eve so of course we saved some for Santa too.

Day 2 - Christmas Day

Christmas day we woke up to find out Santa did know we were in Colorado! The boys enjoyed playing on their new tablets, and we all stayed warm and bundled up inside for a while. That afternoon we took a walk around downtown Estes and picked up a few souvenirs for ourselves and some family. This was kind of our down relaxing day where we just enjoyed the views and stayed warm. We were all pretty exhausted from all the playing the day before. 
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Day 3 - Hidden Valley Snow Recreation Area in Rocky Mountain National Park

Alright, this place was amazing. When we first arrived, we thought it was closed due to snow on the trail leading up to it. However, we found out we were wrong and on the last day made it up there. We were definitely worried about driving on the snow packed and icy roads, but we had snow cables in case. We did not end up needing them though. We drove very slow, like between 10-20 mph, the entire way up. It was a 6-mile drive into Rocky Mountain National Park, but only about 3 of them were super snowy. Our Jeep Grand Cherokee is not four wheel drive, so we wanted to be sure to be very careful. We had the most fun of the whole trip this last day! I even went snow sledding face first on our snow tubes, and it was incredible. The boys preferred their snow scooters. I will warn you it is a hike up the hill each time you sled down. It can definitely get exhausting, but it is totally worth it. I have added some pics from our drive and our snow play below.
     *Link to: Hidden Vally Snow Recreation Area

​Day 4 - Headed Home

The last morning we woke up and ate breakfast then packed up all our stuff and headed out. Check out was a breeze because VRBO does everything through an app and the door auto-locks itself. We will definitely be returning! I will say the only complaint about our condo was some sound coming from stairs in the condo above kept squeaking, other than that it was stress-free and relaxing. We pulled off the trip home all in one day. 

I wanted to write this post to encourage families to take trips and travel with your kiddos. It was a great trip where we all got to experience new things together and make tons of new memories. We absolutely love to travel and learn more about ourselves, each other, and this world we live in every time! I hope this post encourages you to go take a trip and Explore America!


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
Guest Author: Cheyenne Izaguirre

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Travel: When Life Drops A Subtle Hint, It Is Up To You To Discover It

1/30/2018

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As far back as I can remember, I have wanted to travel and see new places and experience new things. I had always enjoyed road trips, which my mom and I took together when I was younger. Over the years I have done a reasonably good job at pushing myself outside of my comfort zone and taking on adventures. Some include moving across the country without much thought, planning or even money. I will admit, picking up and moving several thousand miles without a care in the world could lead to failure, but I made the best of it and enjoyed every moment, good and bad.  

As I got a little older (dare I say "matured") I learned a few things when it came to traveling, more specifically, road trips and how crucial it is to plan rather than rely on luck alone. 

Now to explain the article title and how it ties into the picture. At the time (November 2014), I was in the process of planning a road trip from Lafayette Louisiana to Washington state, down to California and back. In total, this trip would span approximately 8,000 miles and cover 14 states. I had taken several long road trips before, but never to this extent. 

The primary purpose of this trip was to spend Christmas with my mom, who at the time lived in Washington state. The way the holidays fell, along with vacation days, I could take a significant amount of time off work, making it possible to visit Mount Rushmore, Yosemite, the Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon and other areas I had not yet seen. I wanted to take advantage of this once in a lifetime trip as I did not know if or when an opportunity like this would present itself again.

Since this trip would take place in December a considerable amount of planning and preparation was warranted because my route took me through mountainous regions which were subject to harsh weather conditions and road closures.  Even though I would be making the journey in my modified Toyota FJ Cruiser (vehicle article coming soon), which had four-wheel drive, recovery gear, and other equipment, I knew that was not sufficient. I needed to have enough supplies (fuel, food, water, medical, clothing, ect) onboard that could sustain living in the vehicle for several days in the event of an emergency. The more I thought about it, the more time I spent second-guessing myself. I thought about just flying to Washington instead as I was feeling a little overwhelmed with the planning and logistics of the drive.

All of this was rushing through my head as I walked down the dark, desolate streets of downtown Lafayette. It was early in the morning, and I was on my way to meet a few friends for breakfast. I had walked this stretch several times before and never noticed what I did that morning. There, in the windows of the Children's Museum, read the word DISCOVER. Not only was it in large, bold print, but it was lit up. It stopped me in my tracks, and I felt as though life was dropping a not so subtle hint. 
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Before completing my walk, I pulled out my iPhone and snapped this shot. Over the course of the next few days, I repeatedly looked at this picture which eventually encouraged me to take action. About a month later I was on the road, discovering parts of America I had never seen. 

Was it a coincidence? Possibly. What I do know for sure is, that was the moment that changed my mind about the road trip that later changed my life. 

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

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Travel: Breaking The Clouds

11/21/2017

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Although flying is not my preferred means of traveling stateside, no doubt when going international, it’s quicker and more convenient to take a bird. Even though you miss a lot of the sites and sounds in a plane, it does provide moments of beauty and awe. For instance, taking off during a dark, gloomy rain storm and suddenly breaking through the clouds only to see the sun, blue sky and what looks like an endless, soft pillowy floor of clouds beneath you. 
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Those are the moments I appreciate. As simple as they may be, they are breathtaking, especially since this type of birds-eye view is still something relatively new to us. Before modern technology, we were confined to ships, horseback, and our feet to explore the world around us. The same trips we take for granted today, not to long ago, would cost people their lives. They risked life and limb just for the possibility to experience something new. 

Reaching our destination is never guaranteed for us today either, but we have a much higher chance of obtaining our goal. What took people months to do, we can effortlessly accomplish in a day or less with little to no planning, resources or obligation. 

Whether it is in a plane, train or automobile, create some time, get out there and live your adventure!
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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

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Travel: BA/MT Coast-2-Coast Road Trip

9/3/2017

1 Comment

 
It has been almost a year since we rolled our Toyota FJ Cruiser in Ontario, Oregon. Just enough time has passed where people are starting to trust our driving again. Hooray for us!

That said, we are excited to announce that our friends at Metal Tech 4x4 (MetalTech4x4.com) are giving us the keys to their Lexus GX470! Not because they want us to clean it or add a bunch of stickers to it (although that will probably happen #SorryNotSorry), but because they want us to drive it from Portland, Oregon to Ashevillle, North Carolina to attend Overland Expo East.

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If you are not familiar with Metal Tech 4x4, they are a Toyota/Lexus specific off road company. They have been in business for over 17 years and specialize in designing, fabricating, and producing some of the industry's highest quality bumpers, sliders and other components, which are designed to outlast your adventures.

We ran their products on our Toyota FJ Cruiser. Without a doubt, we tested their quality, performance, and durability during the time we had our vehicle. From 10,000 plus mile long road trips in ever changing environments to bouncing off/over obstacles on trails and even a roll over, they all held up to the challenges.

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The main purpose of the Bourn Adventure, Metal Tech Coast-2-Coast Road Trip is to personally interact with the Toyota/Lexus off road community along with education on the comfort, performance, and capabilities of the Lexus GX platform through hands on experience.

My good friend and professional photographer, Jonathan DeRise (Jon DeRise Photography) will accompany us on the road trip. Both he and I are hairy, homeless looking individuals from south Louisiana. We are sure to get some interesting looks from people when we step out of the Lexus. We'll be the fanciest hobos around!


We can't thank Mark and the rest of the Metal Tech 4x4 crew enough for this opportunity. We have scheduled several stops, M&G's (Meet and Greets), and off road events planned across our route. If we are passing through your area and you're able to attend one of these events, please come out!
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Most of our itinerary is complete, but we are still working on the details. Some of the locations, dates, groups/clubs, meets, and events are tentative at this time. As we lock in more specifics, we will update this article with the most current information, so please check back periodically.

The majority of these meets are geared towards the Toyota/Lexus off road communities but are open to anyone. If you, your family or friends do not own a Toyota/Lexus off road vehicle, but are interested in learning more about them, you are more than welcome to join us. Or, if you own something other than Toyota/Lexus, but are an off road enthusiast or just want to show your support, come on out! We would love to have you there and are more than happy to answer your questions.  

The best way to join in on the adventure and watch as we Explore America is through our social media pages. Typically, different content is dispersed across our various social media platforms, so be sure to follow each one individually. Also, feel free to leave any questions/comments in the comment section at the bottom of this article.


We look forward to the adventure and hope to see you soon!

Thank you,
Bourn Adventure
Metal Tech 4x4

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Author: Baker

Itinerary

Zero Day: Thursday, September 14
            1: Portland, OR (fall in on GX)
                  * Facebook Event Page
 
Day 1: Thursday, September 14
            1: Seaside, OR (see the Pacific Ocean)
            2: Meet & Greet in Hillsboro, OR
                  * Facebook Event Page
 
Day 2: Friday, September 15
            1: Medford, OR (meet with Team Overland “MORNING”) 345m/8h
            2: Turlock, CA (meet with Team Vegabond “AFTERNOON”)  397m/8.5h
            3: Corona, CA (drive to ****** “NIGHT”) 343m/7h
           -REST-
 
Day 3: Saturday, September 16
            1: Meet at ****** (“MORNING”)
            2: San Diego, CA (Meet with SoCal FJ Cruisers “AFTERNOON”) 96m/2h
            3: Phoenix, AZ (drive “NIGHT”) 355m/8h
            -REST-
 
Day 4: Sunday, September 17
            1: Phoenix, AZ (meet with AZFJ/AZ4R “MORNING”)
            2: Hoover Dam (pictures “AFTERNOON”) 279m/6h
            3: Las Vegas, NV (meet with Vegas FJ Cruiser “late AFTERNOON) 34m/1h
                 * Facebook Event Page
            4: Zion National Park, UT (drive “NIGHT”) 160m/4h
            -REST-
 
Day 5: Monday, September 18
            1: Zion National Park, UT (pictures/videos “MORNING/AFTERNOON”)
            2: Moab, UT (drive “NIGHT”) 346m/7h
            -REST-
 
Day 6: Tuesday, September 19
            1: Moab, UT (meet up/top of the world/pictures/videos “MORNING”)
            2: Ouray, CO (drive “late MORNING”) 150m/4h
            3: Ouray, CO into Telluride (Imogene Pass “AFTERNOON”) 20m/4h
            4: Grand Junction, CO (meet up “NIGHT”) 127m/3h
            5: Boulder, CO (“NIGHT”) 256m/7h
            -REST-
 
 
Day 7: Wednesday, September 20
            1: Boulder, CO area (meet up Venture Overland “MORNING/AFTERNOON”)
                   * Facebook Event Page
            2: Oakley, KS (Monument Rocks “NIGHT”) 274m/6h
            -REST-
 
Day 8: Thursday, September 21
            1: Oakley, KS (Monument Rocks/pictures/videos “MORNING”)
            2: Austin, TX (the Chive “MORNING/NIGHT”) 812m/15h
            -REST-
 
Day 9: Friday, September 22
            1: Austin, TX (the Chive pictures/videos “MORNING/AFTERNOON”)
            2: Dallas, TX (meet up “AFTERNOON/NIGHT”) 196m/5h
            3: Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area (drive “NIGHT”) 132m/3h
            -REST-
 
Day 10: Saturday, September 23
            1: BMRA (meet up/wheeling “MORNING/AFTERNOON”)
                  * Facebook Event Page
            2: Lafayette, LA (meet up “NIGHT”) 288m/6h
            -REST-
 
Day 11: Sunday, September 24
            1: Lafayette, LA (meet BSLCA/LLK “AFTERNOON”)
                 * Facebook Event Page
            2: Gulf Shores, AL (see the Gulf of Mexico “AFTERNOON/NIGHT”) 300m/6h
            3: Atlanta, GA (drive “NIGHT”) 346m/8h
            -REST-
 
Day 12: Monday, September 25
            1: Atlanta, GA (meet up with ATL 4R/Georgia FJ “AFTERNOON/NIGHT”)
                  * Facebook Event Page
            2: Charleston, SC (drive “NIGHT”) 301m/8h
            -REST-
 
Day 13: Tuesday, September 26
            1: Charleston, SC (see the Atlantic Ocean/pictures/video “MORNING”)
            2: Raleigh, NC (meet with NC FJ Cruisers “AFTERNOON/NIGHT”) 280m/7h
            3: Asheville, NC (Expo “NIGHT”) 247m/6h
            -REST-
 
Day 14: Wednesday, September 27
            1: Prep for Overland Expo East

Day 15: Thursday, September 28
            1: Prep for Overland Expo East

Days 16 - 18: Friday, September 29 - Sunday, October 1
            1: Overland Expo East
           * Facebook Event Page



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Travel: Crossing State Lines

3/21/2017

2 Comments

 
Pictures from our road trips when we had a chance to stop at the "welcome to" state signs. When you cross them lines, gotta get a photo! One thing we have learned though, not all states make it easy to access their sign. Sometimes you have to get creative and it might turn into an adventure all on its own!
Current States and State Sign Count:
∙2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser - 48 states (captured with all 48 state signs)
∙2017 John Cooper Works MINI - 48 states (captured with most of the 48 state signs)
∙B.A. 2005 Lexus GX470 - 15 states (captured with all 15 state sign pictures)
∙M.T. 2005 Lexus GX470 - 15 states (captured with most of the 15 state signs)

∙2019 Tesla Model 3 - 5 state (captured with all 5 signs)
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    Baker and Ashlie are the owners of Bourn Adventure and together they author the majority of the articles and content found here.

    Recently, Bourn Adventure has had the pleasure of hosting "Guest Authors" and sharing their adventure for others to experience.

    If you have a story you want to share, please contact us and we will be happy to work with you.

    Guest Authors

    Cheyenne Izaguirre
    • A Colorado Christmas

    Lee Jones

    • Serendipity and the Smell of Beer

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