One of the most valuable things about meeting other overlanders is realizing that everyone has something to teach you.

While in Valdez, Alaska, at the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery, we met Laura and Paulo (@vai_casinha) from Brazil.

They were making an incredible journey of their own, traveling all the way from Brazil to Alaska. Naturally, we had questions. Lots of them.

Laura and Paulo graciously invited us inside their beautiful camper and gave us a tour. We were immediately impressed by how comfortable and thoughtfully designed it was, filled with all the little touches that make a vehicle feel less like transportation and more like home.

Paulo was also extremely generous with his travel knowledge. Knowing that much of the road they had already traveled lies ahead of us, we listened carefully as he shared recommendations, advice and firsthand experiences.

That is one of the wonderful things about this overlanding community. Sometimes you meet someone traveling in the opposite direction, and for a little while, their past becomes a preview of your future.

Laura and Paulo, thank you for opening your camper to us and so generously sharing what you’ve learned along the way. We hope the road continues to treat you well — and perhaps somewhere on this very big planet, our paths will cross again.