Countdown to Adventure: High Hopes, Last-Minute Fixes & a Major Setback
In just eight days, we’re finally heading south to Balkan! After weeks of preparation, we’re itching to hit the road, explore remote trails, and put our truck to the test. But before we venture off the beaten track, we want to refine our off-road skills — because learning never stops.
We’ve signed up for an off-road driving course to sharpen our skills before diving into the unknown. Learning has always been a huge motivation for us. Mastering the techniques of handling a 12-ton 4WD truck in rough terrain will give us the confidence to tackle whatever lies ahead.
Goodbye Fire Truck, Hello Adventure
Our motivation was sky-high yesterday when we picked up the truck from the company that applied the new foiling. Saying goodbye to its bold red fire truck look and saying hello to its new playful camouflage design felt like a symbolic step toward our next adventure. From afar, it now blends into the landscape. Up close, it’s full of personality.
One Step Closer to Adventure
The rig is almost ready now — but the final days before departure are packed with last-minute tasks.
We still need to connect Starlink, 3D-print small improvements (like a soap box and extra kitchen hooks), install RAM mounts for our electrical gear, update the navigation maps, add the mandatory “angles morts” stickers for France, install the toll system, and so much more. None of these take long, but together, they add up. Every little fix brings us closer to rolling out.
And then, the unexpected happened.
Yesterday, when we picked up the truck, multiple error messages popped up in the dashboard — too many to ignore. Not even the speedometer was working. We immediately called the MAN mobility hotline, and they booked us into the nearest maintenance garage. The truck is already in their hands, and they promised us an update till Monday. That means we’re losing valuable time to pack, organize, and finish everything before our departure next week. We have to leave latest on Friday morning to be ready for our offroad adventure. This deletes valuable days from our preparation and forces us to wait. Everyday waiting is a day less to pack and finish the truck build.
For those who know me or have worked with me in the past, “please wait” triggers an inner turmoil inside me. I simply refuse to wait — waiting is wasted time. It can never be the solution. Understanding the problem and actively working to unblock it is essential. And yet, here we are… waiting. Sitting here, unable to do anything until Monday, hoping for an update.
Right now, there’s still a buffer of a few days, but it doesn’t feel great seeing valuable time slipping away waiting. This wasn’t part of the plan — but again, when does travel ever go exactly as planned?
A journey is like marriage.
The certain way to be wrong is to think you can control it.
John Steinbeck
Fingers crossed for good news on Monday.
Explore. Dream. Discover.