When you overland or camp, better to feel comfortable once the sun retires. Otherwise, camping is not going to be funny for you.
I could notice so many overlanders fully equipped, with tones of working lights, fairy lights, portable lights, LED, and else all over their vehicles.
If you follow the solo expedition since a while, you could have seen my under-equipped system in the dark: well, I’ve got no system.
I sometimes wear a headlamp when I don’t forget to charge it, or I get into the cab when it’s too cold or to get rid of my ex.
Anyway, lights are not for me.
I’ve been raised on a very small sailboat, squeezed between my parents, my 2 brothers, and my sister. And when we were sleeping at sea, we had no lights at all. Sometimes a small candle of lemongrass and basta.
We were kids, we kept it simple, very simple. No light, even when we had to take a ‘shower’ with the water of the dishes.
Our body is so clever and it keeps fascinating me. Our eyesight gets used to the dark after a few minutes and other senses take over. Your hearing gets sharper and your gut builds its own GPS.
The less you have, the more your body and brain cope with the situation, and the more you surpass your capacities.
With the solo expedition, I just apply everything I learnt all these years at sea, and I think that’s probably the reason why this overland life is quite instinctive for me…
Today, with this new rooftop tent, I’ve got lights. 3, to be precise. I honestly baaaarely use them, except on these photos so you can see what I’m talking about.
Anyway, I spend probably around 4 hours in the dark at night, before going bed, and these moments are always so magical and spiritual.
Are you comfortable when it’s dark outside?
Ps: nothing better than contemplating the Milky Way without light pollution…
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