The hard way back.
But I made it there!
You know how these trips go. Four days, hundreds of km off-road, epic photos … then suddenly you are back at the desk.
Front Runner Dometic Explorers Tour 2026
Sat back down at the editor´s desk this morning I am only starting to understand what I just experienced. Every trip changes the way I think about the magazine, and this might be the most impactful one yet.
Most of you know me well enough to categorise me as a van guy. But this week, I was thrown over the side and into a situation I have not been in before.
The mission - traverse hundreds of km of the Pyrenees on dirt trails, lose rock and open back country routes.
Yeah, the cars were cool and rigged up with everything from spare tyres and recovery gear, to roof top tents and pull-out kitchens. This was expected.
But there are some things I am returning with that will carry me over the finish line on the upcoming issue 16, and help create the base for issues beyond.
Car keys
Joining a group of 25 strangers felt a little intimidating at first. Land Rovers, Amaroks, Jeeps and 4Motion T6´s peeled around the corner. Every car covered in dust from crossing parts of the Eastern Pyrenees towards my home on the border of France, Spain and Andorra.
It looked like the Camel Trophy tour rolling into town.
A very warm welcome from everyone settled some of my nerves, but the real thing on my mind was could I keep up with everyone who clearly had years of experience driving off-road?
I´d only just got the keys to a Dacia Bigster, and had mounted my roof top tent just the evening before. Within minutes of setting off with the group I found myself leaving behind the streets I knew and into the mountains trails I didn´t.
New perspective
Having traveled a lot of the world, the USA always held pole position as a place that felt like I was truly out there. The landscapes are massive and it takes a long time to get through wild terrain.
Little did I know that between the Spanish villages throughout the region I live in, there is the possibility to feel like you can get lost in massive landscapes too. It was always there! I just couldn´t access it with my regular campervan.
The Dacia owned the rocky ground and climbed high quickly.
Here I was, looking down on the world from some 2000m+. A car got me here.
The tour, guided by Experience GmbH, covered a wide range of ground conditions and linked spectacular locations together. All the cars were able to communicate between each other via radio which further added to the feeling of group travel. Chris, lead guide with decades of time spent overlanding, was a great help to me to answer a lot of questions I had about safely navigating the terrain as a first timer.
What surprised me most wasn't the vehicles. It was discovering there are still places capable of making me feel like a beginner again. After travelling professionally for so many years, that feeling has become rare.
Next steps
I have got the front cover, another selection of inspiring stories from the road, and everything else needed to edit into another exciting issue of Advanture Magazine.
Give me a week for the dust to settle, wash the car, and get this issue off to print.
See you on the road,
Alex B.
Editor Advanture Magazine
Sounds like an adventure and looking forward to reading more 👍🏻