VANCITY ADVENTURE: THE LEGEND OF THE OPEN ROAD

When the world shut down in 2020, most people stayed inside. But for me, staying still wasn’t an option. I looked at my son Cayden and realized something had to change.

We didn’t need another year of screens and “maybes.” We needed something real—something we could hold onto. So I packed up our gear, loaded the truck, and grabbed Tosha, our pug and constant road companion.

We hit the road not to run away—but to chase something better.

ROADS THAT MADE US

The early days were messy. We didn’t know exactly where we were going—just that we weren’t turning back.

Through the misty forests of BC, the red rock cathedrals of Utah, and the rolling plains of Montana, we started finding pieces of ourselves we didn’t know we’d lost. It wasn’t about the distance. It was about the moments. The laughter after breakdowns. The silence under star-filled skies. The way Cayden’s eyes lit up when we found a waterfall no one else had mapped.

We learned quickly: this wasn’t just travel. This was transformation.

BUILDING OUR RIG, AND OUR RESOLVE

Our RAM 1500 became more than a truck—it became our home, our lifeline, our escape pod.

We outfitted it with rooftop tents, solar panels, comms, lights, and everything we’d need to survive off the grid. But overlanding tested more than just gear. It tested mindset, patience, grit. I had to trust the road, and even more—I had to trust myself.

We filmed it all. Not because we were chasing likes, but because we wanted others to know that if we could do it, anyone could. That you don’t need to be a survival expert or influencer to live boldly—you just need a reason.

A MOVEMENT TAKES SHAPE

Before we knew it, people started watching. Not just watching—connecting.

Families, adventurers, first-timers—people from around the world reached out, saying we inspired them to take that first step. We weren’t just building a YouTube channel. We were building a community.

We started sharing more, speaking at events, writing for magazines, collaborating with amazing brands, and helping others take their own journeys. What started as a pandemic escape turned into something much bigger—a mission to empower people to live outside the lines.

STILL JUST GETTING STARTED

We’ve crossed thousands of miles together now—Cayden, Tosha, me, and sometimes my wife. We’ve seen sunsets that looked like fire, camped in places that felt like other planets, and met people who became part of our story.

But here’s the truth: this isn’t the end of our adventure.

It’s just the beginning 5 years of this adventure has been amazing

From our Vancity Adventure seminars to our dream of filming a full documentary, we’re pushing harder, dreaming bigger, and always chasing that next horizon. Because for us, overlanding isn’t just a lifestyle. It’s life.

ANSWERING THE CALL

If you’re reading this wondering if you could ever do something like this… you can.

I’m not a survivalist. I’m a dad. A traveler. A storyteller. And all I did was say yes to the road.

Adventure doesn’t wait for the perfect moment. It waits for someone to make the moment matter.

So take the first step. Pack light. Dream big. And maybe—just maybe—we’ll see you out there.

– Daryl Berden, Vancity Adventure