Overlander Oasis…once you enter you may never leave!!! Seriously! I am not kidding. The place is a force of nature with its own gravitational pull.
The name says it all, it is an amazing place for overlanders to stop, rest, recoupe, regroup and repair rigs after an extended time on the road.
Overlander Oasis is owned by overlanders Leanne and Calvin Mackenzie, expats from Canada, (no recent relation, but Darrin and Calvin were quite the pair of wrench monkeys…they have to be long lost cousins!) who have opened their yard, home and hearts for travelers. They have created a small haven for like minded people to congregate, share their stories and traveling suggestions, fix rigs rattled apart by topas and potholes, and recoupe after weeks, months or years on the road.
Calvin – self proclaimed wrench monkey, and teller of terrible jokes, can fix or build anything, or he knows someone down the road or across town that can.
Here he is creating a custom frame for Paco’s spare tire.
Leanne – coordinator extraordinaire is fluent in Spanish and everything local, and can direct you to the best markets, sightseeing places, rides and everything else.
We all gathered to wish her a tearful goodbye.
During our very short one week stay, we were lucky enough to share our time with Leanne and Calvin, 2 couples from Germany, 1 couple, and their adorable child, from France, a painter from Pennsylvania, and a last minute visitor from Mexico City. We were an eclectic group who bonded over a shared love of Mexico, travel…and broken rigs:(
Paco and Kat were replacing dead batteries and fabricating a new mount for their spare tire, Otto and Elizabeth were fixing a door lock, building a new rear box to carry Elizabeth’s wheelchair and Calvin was creating a bunch of custom fabrications for their camper, Elena and Alex were fixing a tie rod from a collision with a rock, we were fixing the seals on our turbo, and Jeff, the only person who was not fixing something, was creating new works of art! I almost forgot Benjamin…who was teaching us the history of Mexico, his beloved country.
A huge thank you to Leanne and Calvin for all that you do and did. You have truly created an Overlanders Oasis. We are already talking about passing your way again…some day.