Galactic Adventures | Habitat for Humanity Fun in Florida | Cranes, Dunes and Galactic Skies | STOxJCF

ISSUE 39  |  april 30, 2026

Hello, STORYTELLERS! Welcome to the 39th issue of Galactic Adventures: our community-focused, community-informed newsletter.

Emma Walsmith, here. I am honored & delighted to rejoin the Storyteller Team as publisher of Galactic Adventures and manager of the STORYTELLERS App. As a fellow MODE owner, I have found the thing that inspires me most to continue choosing a life of adventure is hearing the adventurous stories from our community. It is with this in mind that I welcome you to reach out to me if you have a story to tell. If you are game to write your own story or if you would rather I help put the words to paper (err, internet), let's connect. You can email me at emma.walsmith@storytelleroverland.com or find me on the STORYTELLERS App.  

"Never give up and good luck will find you." - Falkor, The Neverending Story ✨

 

This issue's featured photo comes to us from STORYTELLER, Bill Beyatte.

Habitat for Humanity Fun in Florida

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Karen Ball – MODE Owner

After enjoying Peace Love & Vans Florida with 20+ STOs and 500 other vans, a few of us stayed in the area to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Leesburg, FL. The group working on the house included Matt and Karen Ball, Jim and Marnie Cree and Liz Maillett. Deborah Wilson held down our campsites during the day and helped make the evenings lively. Thanks to Liz for organizing this project for our little group.

Home base was Warren Willis Camp and Conference Center. Their campground was a great place to unwind, stay clean (free laundry room), and strengthen friendship through Rummikub.

The main structure of the house we worked on was complete, but with no utilities yet. Our vans were great to have at the site for breaks and lunches - and to keep our fur babies cool and protected. We painted interior walls, installed soffits, and helped with other odd jobs. 

May the family that will call this house their home experience peace, love, and joy!

Cranes, Dunes and Galactic Skies: Chasing the Sandhill Migration with Fernweh Expeditions

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David Corso – MODE Owner

I pulled into the San Luis Valley on March 19, 2026, behind the wheel of my 2025 Storyteller Overland Classic—Vandalf the Grey—fully loaded and ready for four days of high-desert adventure. I’d driven up from Austin to join Fernweh Guided Expeditions on their Sandhill Crane Migration trip, drawn by the promise of witnessing one of North America’s great wildlife spectacles alongside a small group of fellow overlanders.

 

We made camp on a wide-open patch of grassland inside the San Luis State Wildlife Area with the snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains standing sentinel in the distance. Shortly after arriving and circling the wagons, I stood with my new travel companions, coffee in hand, and was struck by the instant camaraderie. Strangers only hours earlier, we were already swapping stories, comparing rig setups, and laughing like old friends under that vast Colorado sky.

 

That next day started long before sunrise. Up before dawn to photograph the campsite under the rising Milky Way. Just before sunrise, we made our way to the water's edge where we could see a very large group of cranes that had spent the night. Soon the cranes filled the air with their trumpeting calls and prepared for flight.

 

We watched large groups lift off the from the marshes in slow, graceful waves, their long necks extended and wings catching the first golden light. The sound alone—prehistoric and wild—sent chills down my spine. It felt like stepping back in time.

The next two days were filled with further exploration of the area; doing a bit of off-road driving to get a taste of the capability of our rigs, early morning and late afternoon excursions to the surrounding wildlife areas for more encounters with the cranes, great-horned owls and various other wildlife. 


Evenings back at camp were pure magic. We’d return to our circle of rigs for catered dinners under the stars. All the while, the knowledgeable Fernweh guides kept things running smoothly sharing insights on local ecology and offering photography tips.

By the final morning, as we rolled out toward Great Sand Dunes National Park, I felt like I’d known everyone for years. The Fernweh guides had turned a simple wildlife and photography trip into a masterclass in overlanding and connection.

Driving south toward Austin, the San Luis Valley shrinking in the rearview, I kept thinking about the cranes returning each spring, the dunes slowly shifting, and the Milky Way wheeling overhead. This trip reminded me why we chase these dirt roads: for the wildlife, the landscapes, the star-filled nights, and most of all, for the instant family you find when you gather under the same big sky.

If you’re looking for a guided overland experience that delivers both epic scenery and genuine connection, put Fernweh’s Sandhill Crane Migration trip on your list. Bring your rig, your sense of adventure, and an open heart. The San Luis Valley will handle the rest.

STO x JESSI COMBS FOUNDATION

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Storyteller HQ

We are honored and over the moon to announce a trailblazing partnership between Storyteller Overland and The Jessi Combs Foundation (JCF). This collaboration unites two organizations driven by a shared passion for adventure, innovation, and empowerment, aiming to champion the next generation of women in skilled trades. Central to this partnership is the introduction of the aptly named “Trailblazer Tour Van”, a fiery red Storyteller Beast MODE; an inspiring symbol of Jessi Combs’ spirit and relentless drive to explore, build, and uplift others.
 

The Trailblazer Van is more than a vehicle; it’s a rolling tribute to Jessi’s adventurous journey. Jessi herself traveled and camped out of her beloved Chevy van, using it as a launching pad for new experiences, bold undertakings, and empowering those around her. Now, through the partnership between Storyteller Overland and The Jessi Combs Foundation, that very spirit is reborn. Outfitted as a mobile base for outreach, education, and inspiration, the Trailblazer Tour Van has hit the road, carrying the torch for the next generation of trailblazers.

“Jessi is our modern-day ‘Rosie the Riveter’; proof that grit, skill, and determination have no boundaries.” said Dana Wilke, Co-Founder & Executive Director of The Jessi Combs Foundation. “When you see the polka dots on this van, they’re more than decoration, they’re a declaration representing the trailblazing women of the past, present and future inspired by Jessi.  We’re incredibly grateful to Storyteller Overland for supporting this mission and enabling our scholarship trailblazers to be the face of our mission out in the world in one of the coolest overland vehicles on the road today!”

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Life's Greatest Luxury is saying YES to
the Next Grand Adventure!

We'd love to hear your stories and see your pictures from the road!
Send to Emma at:

emma.w@storytelleroverland.com

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