MEET THE PRESENTERS

Patty Upton

Patty Upton is an explorer, documentarian, and adventurer who spent years traversing the world in a cherry‑red 1966 CJ‑5 Jeep affectionately known as The Sand Ship Discovery. Together with her husband, Loren Upton, she embarked on a five‑year, 56,000‑mile overland odyssey that carried them across the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Their most extraordinary achievement was completing the first all‑land crossing of the Darién Gap—the dense, roadless stretch of jungle between Panama and Colombia. This grueling segment alone demanded 741 days to conquer just 125 miles, battling impenetrable rainforest, raging rivers, swamps, and unforgiving terrain.

Graeme Bell

Graeme Bell is a full‑time overlander and author from Johannesburg, South Africa, best known for traveling the world with his family as part of the A2A Expedition. He, his wife Luisa, and their two children have spent years exploring over 65 countries across five continents in their Land Rover Defender 130, Mafuta.

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As a writer and long‑term traveler, Graeme documents their global journeys through books, photography, and storytelling, sharing insights into minimalist family travel, culture, and adventure.