Going to kick this post off with a shout out to Natural State Overland for the great work they put up in making this event happen. Also want to give a shout out to Byrd’s Adventure Center for hosting it.
So on October 13, 2021 I loaded up the Jeep TJ and headed out to the Ozark Mountains, specifically Byrd’s Adventure Center. This was my first time at Rendezvous and at Byrd’s. This will not be my last time at either! I was in the Ozarks for 5 days, a Wednesday through Sunday, and it was a glorious trip! This was the first outing that I really got to test my gear and my overall setup, which proved to fall short across the board.
To start things off there were 3 days of rain. The amount of rain varied from a drizzle to just outright downpour. Around 9:30p on Wednesday evening the event host came around to let us know that we may have to relocate. They were keeping and eye on the weather for the amount of water coming down.
The upside of the night was we managed to get the tent setup before any real rain started falling. We also managed to cover some firewood, so there was a chance we could have a fire. For most of the evening we ate snacks and drank beers. Somewhere around 11p the rain stopped and I was able to use an empty can, some wood shavings, and tinder to actually start a fire! However, I couldn’t get the food cooked fast enough as the rain came back and killed the fire.
The first couple of days were a little on the rough side. Managed to pull together a really primitive tarp for shelter outside the tent. The temperatures were on the warmer side so it was really ok. I volunteered to teach a couple of classes at Rendezvous and was lucky enough that there was no rain for any of them.
By mid-day Friday everything had cleared out and it was adventure time! Exploring the Ozarks was an absolute blast and I even managed to find a couple of places to fish. I absolutely believe that having a fly fishing setup is the best way to go when overlanding! The groups that I was camped near was going out and I tagged along with them. We ended up having a blast and I managed to make some really good friends!
I think that’s really what Rendezvous in the Ozarks is all about. People meeting new friends for the first time and old friends getting back together again! This trip was such a great adventure and I really learned a lot! Realizing that my setup needs some updates was a good experience, especially when it was just an adventure and nothing critical!
On top of all of that there were a huge representation of vendors at Rendezvous. The vendors were so great to talk to and their passion for their products and services was awesome! I told myself ahead of time that I wouldn’t spend any money on new gear while I was there. I’ve held to that for the most part, but I did cave for some Rock Squatch Designs merch!
Rendezvous in the Ozarks is an amazing event that I am really looking forward to next year. I’m planning on making some changes to my setups and upgrading some of the things I’ve always held on to. I’m still in touch with almost all the friends I made. Well done Rendezvous!
#AwesomeAdventure