GlobalTraces

A nomadic globetrotting family living in an ex-military expedition truck.
We are Dave, Jess, Isla (aged 4) and Otis the Hungarian Vizsla.
📍Tajikistan and the Pamir Highway
Dave is a professional photographer, Jess is a full time mum to Isla. Otis makes lots of noise 🤣

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Last Notes

2025-09-17 07:54:56 UTC

We’re in Tajikistan. That guy on the motorbike the other side of the river…. Is in Afghanistan!
#overlanding #borderzone #pamirhighway
https://blossom.primal.net/efc1e0126d11056518ec818ebb93beb01872c6325f01d9c488502d96076d5cc9.mov

2025-09-13 18:11:24 UTC

Epic scenery ✅
High altitude ✅
Glorious mountains ✅
Deep blue skies ✅
The Pamir Highway ticks all the boxes.
And then shakes the 💩 out of them with the bumps, potholes, tramtracks…and frankly non-existent road surface.
#photography #overlanding #pamirhighway #tajikistan
https://blossom.primal.net/d6c301b813a07e83c685d07a1aa85888683b15cc8974d336e75944412fb07419.mov

2025-09-13 01:34:43 UTC

Postcards from Tajikistan
Something you might not realise about the Pamir Highway environment is that it is still highly active with tectonic activity.
The Pamir mountains were formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates and that continuing collision creates geothermal heat deep within the earth.
Combined with groundwater circulation, the area is dotted with hot springs - perfect for soothing bones and brains after a long day of travel through the harsh and unforgiving landscape.
#photography #travelfacts #overlanding #pamirhighway #tajikistan
https://blossom.primal.net/dd3610c2b489d5b6f29b28f939767489cb881dc2f0b7cbcd6d577b26d6b07ccb.jpg

2025-09-12 16:35:04 UTC

Today was as beautiful as it was brutal.
The first 45km took 3hrs.
I’d love to say it got faster, but after 7hrs of driving we’d completed 115km.
But we started the day, as we did the day before, at Lake Bulunkul. One of the coldest inhabited spots of the former Soviet Union, with -63C having been recorded there in the summer.
It’s a stunning location though, and the mountains provide a natural wind block so it’s breathless in the morning and the water is like a mirror.
#overlanding #photography #pamirhighway #tajikistan
https://blossom.primal.net/5c0e9b8169448bdad7d6ecc88e0b98803d4c073624dde10356d04dd409e2b776.jpg

2025-09-10 14:32:58 UTC

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🤣🤣

2025-09-10 13:47:46 UTC

How big are the potholes on the Pamir Highway?
Yes.
To be clear, this is the highway. With trucks going back and forth. It is not an off road track. 🤯
Also, I’m 6’4”, if that helps give you a scale 🤣
#overlanding #pamirhighway #tajikistan
https://blossom.primal.net/b0cb5076fbc36b3815f8d54beb269dd8094d8f84dea0682859e459743b8e4985.jpg

2025-09-09 18:51:17 UTC

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There’s an interior tour here…
Interior tour! Finally you can take a look around inside our home on wheels, our MAN HX60 Bebe.
https://youtu.be/YwTbIJQ_zrQ

2025-09-09 16:48:04 UTC

We’re often asked how we cope with travelling with a dog and whether he’s happy.
If he has space to run (chasing thrown stones), smells to sniff and the sofa to cuddle on, he’s happy.
And if he has a river or lake to run through or swim in, then even more so!
#photography #dogstr #overlandlife
https://blossom.primal.net/2aacaf2ce26e94e47a5037d1f8cfc1823e9094ac556e4339e5728a6c8f2ae9cd.jpg

2025-09-03 15:52:42 UTC

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Interesting. I need to get my head around it and start investigating mining more seriously.

2025-09-03 15:51:28 UTC

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We hope so.
Mainstream education is fine. But fine doesn’t achieve its full potential.
Hopefully this way we can help her to achieve her potential. 🤞

2025-09-03 14:10:19 UTC

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Couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately modern life makes it very hard, if not impossible, for most families to do this 😭

2025-09-03 06:06:39 UTC

It’s the first day of school for many in the UK, and since Isla is 4 she’d be going in to reception class.
Just because she lives in a truck travelling the world doesn’t mean she should miss out on this milestone, so this is here “first day of school” pictures in front of her home, in the Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan.
Lessons today have been…
- paddling in a mountain stream (water safety)
- a walk in the mountains (mountain safety/PE)
- rock collecting (geology)
- where we are in the world (geography)
…and some phonics and numbers on Reading Eggs and Khan Academy.
#overlandlife #worldschooling #overlandfamily #photography
https://blossom.primal.net/c7374d838ef943419736e496fbbb10dbcbad965b05701ef0f484999935faf341.jpg

2025-09-03 02:17:08 UTC

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Thanks for the share!

2025-08-31 18:34:19 UTC

📍Lake Karakul, Tajikistan.
Is this the start of a “Postcards from Tajikistan” series to follow those from Kyrgyzstan?
Maybe, time will tell.
In the meantime, as I mentioned in the previous post, Lake Karakul is part of a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s split in to an east and west basin: a shallower eastern section and deeper western section.
The lake, along with the islands located within, has been identified as and “Important Bird Area” by Birdlife International.
#photography #globalexplorer #overlandfamily
https://blossom.primal.net/4a94b206d7945736a16ee3e0358084e88322cccff30ea744fae1f25dc562bdb9.jpg

2025-08-30 09:00:16 UTC

You’ve twisted my arm… there will be more postcards from Kyrgyzstan, but back to the photos.
Three pictures taken within an hour from three spots no more than 10m from each other.
This was our last parkup officially in Kyrgyzstan and the middle image is looking towards Tajikistan and the Kyrzl-Art pass.
This pass, at 4280m above sea level is in the Trans-Alay range and is rugged and dry mostly. Which is convenient because the “road” is treacherous in the wet with steep, muddy switchbacks that can be impossible to navigate when wet.
Our border crossing was very quick - 22mins out of Kyrgyzstan (15mins of which was waiting for them to let us in) and then in to Tajikistan was less than 1hr.
#photography #overlandfamily #decentralisedliving
https://blossom.primal.net/4443bcc9edd6217b05da38ae647d11779e8363b1dbff9b88da12b983462f5753.jpg

2025-08-29 16:52:52 UTC

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In truth I think, or hope, there’s a place for both. I love the power of a still image. It’s where I began.
And thank you! 🙏🏻

2025-08-29 16:31:18 UTC

Postcards from Kyrgyzstan #8 and a different style of “postcard.”
All filmed in the last 4 days.
Today we crossed the border in to Tajikistan. So this will be (may be… I have quite the backlog!) the last Kyrgyz postcard for a while.
All thoughts welcome. Do you like this style of postcard or prefer the image collages?
📍Tulpar Lake / Lenin Peak / Sary Tash
#overlandlife #photography #kyrgyzstan #decentralisedliving
https://blossom.primal.net/c57c3fdeff0cfe52426a16a24ba4e85cd6b93e7416e644ee44f2ca420dcf175f.mov

2025-08-28 13:53:07 UTC

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He certainly is! We’ve toyed with getting a pointer - lovely dogs. Maybe in a few years time - two dogs in the truck would be one too many!! 🤣

2025-08-28 11:42:29 UTC

I often get asked why we chose this lifestyle of living in a truck travelling the world.
The answer is both complex and simple.
I’ve never been one to conform to the normal way of life and frankly I’d rather drive around the world seeing places than sit in an office dreaming of places.
From a family perspective, the most important years of your child’s life are the early ones. This way I get to spend 24/7 with Isla. To watch her grow and develop and to have a big hand in how that goes. To show her other people, places, creeds and cultures and hope that she realises we are all one people. Not to mention I get to show her the world before humans completely destroy it.
I also have quite the issue with the normal education system. But that’s probably a topic for another day (not because I had a bad experience, far from it, I just don’t think it’s setup to allow people to thrive and achieve their potential.)
Anyway, for the foreseeable future, when someone asks that question, I’ll just show them this video and hopefully that’ll be enough reason and explanation.
#overlandlife #exploremore #borderlessliving #kyrgyzstan
https://blossom.primal.net/3fb6bc4b8f74a8682c22a940eb3992a6fc8039a5e1de5e31b8af87531ef18526.mov

2025-08-27 16:53:25 UTC

Not every day is aweso… nope, I’d be lying if I said that.
But today was especially awesome.
Started at 3800m in front of Lenin Peak. Finished at 3260m about 20km from the Tajikistan border.
That means tomorrow is a border crossing and the real start of the Pamir Highway. And a new country for all of us… 106 for me, 26 for Isla, Otis and Bebe… and Jess doesn’t keep count!
#photography #overlandfamily #kyrgyzstan
https://blossom.primal.net/966490c2ca369da91032bb1afa4fb4199a48f1f774e9355c368009d66dd5156c.jpg

2025-08-27 01:43:23 UTC

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I haven’t put them up anywhere individually yet as these are all from the last week, but maybe this is a sign I should!

2025-08-27 01:16:11 UTC

Travel fact: Kyrgyzstan is 93% Mountains and has an average height of 2750m above sea level.
Mostly formed by the Tian Shan or “Celestial Mountains” range, but also including the Pamir Mountain range too.
There are three peaks over 7000m - Pobeda Peak being the tallest at 7439m, Lenin Peak at 7134m and Khan Tengri at 7010m.
#travelstr #photography #overlanding #mountains #livefree
https://blossom.primal.net/c27d2391692709ae923daaaf17e2d9131d3e7c87dc2fdda797fff2cdb93f54ab.jpg

2025-08-25 14:13:07 UTC

Today had quite a lot going for it.
We left the Tulpar Lake region and retraced our steps down the track to Sary Mogul.
Then we drove 14km along the road before turning on to the track that leads to Lenin Peak base camp - where we’d hiked to yesterday.
If we thought the Tulpar Lake track was pretty, the Lenin Peak track was off the charts.
And now we’re parked above a glacial river, looking at Lenin Peak and the sun has just set turning the rainbow coloured mountains all sorts of shades of pinks and purples.
This is what overlanding gives you - freedom, mobility, borderless living and the chance to put your house in the most beautiful places in the world.
#photography #overlandfamily #kyrgyzstan #borderlessliving
https://blossom.primal.net/cb8dfe2c8c22b8ac5a3762a8cf9aad323119df9a2343791fa59502e57d3ef932.jpg

2025-08-21 05:54:28 UTC

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Thanks for the shoutout! 🙏🏻

2025-08-19 16:09:45 UTC

Meet the family!
You already know the home (truck) so now you should know who’s in it.
This is us :-)
https://blossom.primal.net/b37c78c73ba0d447341c700ebb3203233aae7aab1af6c35901c78c6a22a23fd5.jpg

2025-08-19 14:41:46 UTC

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Awww thank you so much for the recommendation!! 🙏🏻

2025-08-19 12:35:18 UTC

Postcards from Kyrgyzstan #6
The Barksoon Valley might be a name you’ve heard of… if you’re interested in the history of space travel.
Why I hear you ask? Because after Yuri Gagarin launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in current-day Kazakhstan, he landed back to earth and then travelled to this valley in current-day Kyrgyzstan to recuperate. With the clear mountain air, glorious forests and huge waterfalls, not to
Mention the views back over Issyk-Kul to the mountains that separate Kyrgyzstan from Kazakhstan you can see why you’d want to hang out there after being the first man in space.
#travelfacts #kyrgyzstan #livefree
https://blossom.primal.net/50d9660f2a18f751cfc10af11a2b5fc3e550a64ed927d47f2bb1a824592565fe.jpg

2025-08-19 12:22:59 UTC

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This country is out of this world. Put it on your “to visit” list. Right near the top!

2025-08-16 15:55:00 UTC

Postcards from Kyrgyzstan #1
The light, the scenery, the space, the scale. Kyrgyzstan is on a different level to anywhere we’ve been before.
https://blossom.primal.net/8458d51f3f08e3c86008a56695f087236c3ea3742f66e3b9f802681127c529f3.jpg

2025-07-21 19:35:50 UTC

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Precarious… yes! Certainly that’s a great way of describing it! 🤣

2025-07-18 19:08:41 UTC

GN Nostr 🌅
Home is not a place.
It is not bricks and mortar.
It’s the people you surround yourself with.
This is home.
📍Assy Plateau, Kazakhstan.
#thinkdifferent #alternativelifestyle #livefree
https://blossom.primal.net/c5868b0fff3f2702b4222ef5cd58db47a608e2d1fc848e92cdcc4aae4136635c.jpg

2025-07-08 09:22:21 UTC

Suddenly feeling very, very small despite being in a 15ton truck.
Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬
#mountainlife #overlandfamily #expeditiontruck
https://blossom.primal.net/5fe93d536ea2c440b133734a3d07b7471d059d2b2e6aeb77f19bea6506743ae7.jpg

2025-07-06 15:43:17 UTC

GE Nostr 🌅
Crossed from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan yesterday. Today, heading for some cooler temps in the mountains we had this little bit of fun to navigate!
#lifeoffroad #livefree #alternativelifestyle
https://blossom.primal.net/b30da45688baba88e44ca5c722080fec0e834b9eed1fcb2c5137202f701be551.mov

2025-06-26 18:56:59 UTC

It’s so nice here, why would we not stay another night? And maybe even another night? 🤔
After 1700km through the Kazakh steppe in temperatures up to 40degrees, the cooler mountain air is a welcome respite.
And for the first time since we left Georgia we’re properly relaxing again.
#livefree #alternativeliving
https://blossom.primal.net/5e3d993be6d4d04825fa75a91fb00ee0b429f28e3d07877aa22eed620241ffb8.jpg

2025-06-12 03:37:28 UTC

GM Nostr 🌅
This the the Zekari Pass in Georgia. Found in the Lower Caucus mountains it connects the historical spa town Sairme (famous for delightful hot springs and a spa complex) and Abastumani, home of the Russian Grand Duke George Alexandrovich, third son of Emperor Alexander III.
It’s also home to the first astrophysical observatory of the Soviet Union, found in the early 1930s. And you can even take a tour there and see the original Zeiss telescope from 1935, that still functions! Very worth the couple of euro admission price.
#alternativelifestyle #decentralisedliving #overlandfamily
https://blossom.primal.net/6416cc416f646d9c5ae20e9ecb9aac6ca9159c3fc5b5e58a44277a10300a559e.jpg

2025-06-01 15:39:47 UTC

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That would be super helpful.

2025-05-27 14:55:33 UTC

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Not yet. Two places attempted that say they take SATs, both of them actually don’t. Then only want cash or card. 🤦‍♂️

2025-05-13 05:10:09 UTC

Today we head from Gori (Stalin’s Birthplace, who knew 🤷‍♂️) to Tbilisi… just look at all those places listed on @nprofile…996k to spend SATs 🙌
What first? A juice? Some fuel for Bebe? Lunch? 🤔
https://blossom.primal.net/ad25e4fe4abd58eeb450797c2c26fd996e603826df0dd00d24952f2a116ae275.png

2025-05-13 04:16:40 UTC

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But they mine about 3500tonnes more of it each year, so its value is continually declining.
To me it can only be the “touch it” part - an inherent distrust or lack of understanding about @nprofile…7d5j by the general population.

2025-05-11 06:14:08 UTC

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My Ararat is a little over 5000m. But this fuel station is at around 2000m so the mountain “prominence” is not as big and therefore while looking big, it doesn’t look as big as it actually is… if that makes sense?!

2025-05-03 14:00:24 UTC

Flashback! We have had some pretty awesome parking spots, but this one in the dunes around Erg Chigaga in Morocco is up there as one of the most memorable 😍
If you could roll your house anywhere, where would you choose? Beach, Mountains, Deserts or Forest?
#offroadlife #debcentralisedliving #overlandfamily #alternativelifestyle
https://blossom.primal.net/21b93e806520b29d9e4a0ed8eb07f303557536d682716a3a8541dcecfefac962.jpg

2025-05-02 17:22:40 UTC

Meet the family… we’ll start with the furry, noisy one!
This is Otis, our 5yr old Hungarian Vizsla. Some of you will have seen the story of his close shave with the rainbow bridge a few weeks ago, but he’s back to his old self again now, exploring, sniffing, being noisy… and sometimes making a lot of noise!
#travelfamily
https://blossom.primal.net/ecc2a939dc41e79f518117e0804c8429fa716f2441db7272d3fe6f955c0318c3.jpg

2025-05-02 06:50:35 UTC

GM Nostr 🌅
Tuz Golu, that salt lake in Turkey is an incredible place to visit.
80km long and 50km (at widest points) it’s a maximum of 1.5m deep and produces 70% of all the salt consumed in Turkey.
There is a track that runs right across the lake through a salt harvesting yard. It makes for a fun road and awesome scenery.
#overlandexploration #alternativeliving #decentralisedlife #expeditiontruck
https://blossom.primal.net/aa302797350f20128ec6f16881a4b2daa4889db93595e070a1654962dd8ce02d.jpg

2025-04-25 08:33:21 UTC

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Good spotting. We’ve been convoying with them for a couple of weeks now and will continue in to Georgia. Then they’ll turn back and head for home while we keep heading east up through Russia and in to the ‘Stans.

2025-04-25 06:58:34 UTC

GM Nostr 🌅
One of the joys of overlanding is meeting other travelling folk from other parts of the world - the Mercedes closest to the camera is a German couple while the Unimog furthest from the camera is from China. They’ve travelled 40,000km and are on their way back to China now, while we’ve done 21,000km on this trip so far and the Germans are a little earlier in their trip and are around 10,000km so far.
Despite the three different origins, we all share a love of travel and adventure that transcends language barriers - proof that humans, no matter their colour, creed or place of birth, are all one and can find common ground.
#expeditiontruck #overlanding #lifeoffroad #onehumanity
https://m.primal.net/Qcap.jpg

2025-03-12 04:25:36 UTC

GM Nostr 🌅
In answer to the question of “where are we going next?” Here’s the answer!
#alifewelltravelled #offgridliving #decentralisedlife #expeditiontruck #overlandfamily
https://m.primal.net/PcoR.mov

2025-02-09 06:53:16 UTC

GM Nostr 🌅
This morning’s view is definitely better than yesterday’s Lidl car park… but no fresh croissants today! Yin\Yang 🤣
Life on the road is ever changing and it’s that change and the new experiences you have to embrace.
#overlandlife #morningviews
https://m.primal.net/OXXb.mov

2025-02-06 21:13:55 UTC

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There’s an interior tour video here:
https://youtu.be/YwTbIJQ_zrQ?

2025-02-02 18:03:00 UTC

This is Bebe. Our MAN HX60 expedition truck home, currently enjoying the sunsets of the a Peloponnese.
https://m.primal.net/ONFu.jpg