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The Road Chose Me Volume 1: Two years and 40,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina
When Dan set out to drive his Jeep from the Northern tip of Alaska to Tierra del Fuego on the Southern tip of South America, he had no idea how much the adventure would change his life. Over the course of two years, Dan's expedition spanned forty thousand miles through sixteen countries. Now he will never be the same.
After years of saving, dreaming and planning, Dan wanted to find out if an ordinary guy can achieve the extraordinary. With no sponsorship, a modest savings account and a willingness to learn Spanish, Dan threw himself in. Going solo, with no GPS and sleeping in a ground tent, Dan wanted to experience everything the Americas have to offer. From poking lava with a stick and hiking among world-famous mountains to corrupt military and camping with Ecuadorian locals - every day provided something new. With his eyes and ears open to the world around him, Dan met many interesting and thought-provoking characters. With their guidance and prodding, and by using their unique perspective, Dan was able to learn many valuable life lessons. Running to the beat of a different drum, Latin America was the perfect classroom for Dan to view our modern work-a-day world through an entirely new lens.
After years of saving, dreaming and planning, Dan wanted to find out if an ordinary guy can achieve the extraordinary. With no sponsorship, a modest savings account and a willingness to learn Spanish, Dan threw himself in. Going solo, with no GPS and sleeping in a ground tent, Dan wanted to experience everything the Americas have to offer. From poking lava with a stick and hiking among world-famous mountains to corrupt military and camping with Ecuadorian locals - every day provided something new. With his eyes and ears open to the world around him, Dan met many interesting and thought-provoking characters. With their guidance and prodding, and by using their unique perspective, Dan was able to learn many valuable life lessons. Running to the beat of a different drum, Latin America was the perfect classroom for Dan to view our modern work-a-day world through an entirely new lens.
- GenresTravelNonfiction
265 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2018
About the author
Dan Grec
6 books13 followersDan Grec of 'The Road Chose Me' is an adventurer, photographer and author. After growing up in rural Australia and working briefly as an engineer, Dan knew he wanted a more vibrant life. So he left it all behind to turn his dreams into reality. For his first major expedition Dan spent two years driving the length of the Pan-American Highway from Alaska to Argentina through 17 countries over two years. Needless to say he became addicted to life on the road.
After saving and planning for years, Dan then drove 54,000 miles around Africa through thirty-five separate African countries. On that expedition Dan contracted Malaria twice, rolled his Jeep in remote Uganda and had life changing adventures in the Congo, Nigeria, Sudan and many more seldom visited places. More recently Dan spent eighteen months exploring the wild corners of his homeland of Australia in a well prepared 4x4, and has just completed a 12 month adventure with his partner Katie and young daughter Aurora from Iceland to Tunisia in North Africa.
Dan and Katie and now saving and planning for the next major adventure.
After saving and planning for years, Dan then drove 54,000 miles around Africa through thirty-five separate African countries. On that expedition Dan contracted Malaria twice, rolled his Jeep in remote Uganda and had life changing adventures in the Congo, Nigeria, Sudan and many more seldom visited places. More recently Dan spent eighteen months exploring the wild corners of his homeland of Australia in a well prepared 4x4, and has just completed a 12 month adventure with his partner Katie and young daughter Aurora from Iceland to Tunisia in North Africa.
Dan and Katie and now saving and planning for the next major adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 31, 2020
Great read. Well paced.
February 24, 2020
A different kind of overlanding book
I’m sure that if you’re thinking about this book, you’ve probably read other overlanding books too. Dan does a great job of describing the other details of such a trip, not just the boarders and vehicle details. He talks about the emotions of an expedition and his observations on the people and lifestyle of the people whose countries he traveled through. I really enjoyed this book.
I’m sure that if you’re thinking about this book, you’ve probably read other overlanding books too. Dan does a great job of describing the other details of such a trip, not just the boarders and vehicle details. He talks about the emotions of an expedition and his observations on the people and lifestyle of the people whose countries he traveled through. I really enjoyed this book.
October 12, 2020
I learned a lot about the geography of South America.
April 29, 2019
Dan Grec shares moments from his two year journey across North and South America in his trusty Jeep. It is interesting and inspiring to hear how he was able to do this with very minimal savings and how he was able to meet so many kind and welcoming people along the way.
October 27, 2019
Excellent book! Dan is the man and I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with him at Overland Expo East 2019. This book was an easy but impactful and insightful book into a true modern explorers journey. I’m going to order his Africanexpedition book. Dan the man!
Want to Read
August 17, 2020Recommendation from the Armchair Traveler podcast on long-distance overland trips
September 6, 2021
Appreciate the mix of musing and play by play. Embracing uncertainty is a skill I’ve begun to appreciate more as I age. Align to the journey rather than the destination…..
June 1, 2026
A man and his Jeep
The Road Chose Me was exactly the kind of adventure story I needed. What makes this book so good is that Dan Grec is not portrayed as some larger-than-life explorer with unlimited resources. He is an ordinary guy with a Jeep, a plan, and the willingness to solve problems as they come.
The adventure itself is incredible, but what stood out to me most was the mindset. No matter what happened—mechanical issues, border crossings, unexpected setbacks, or being thousands of miles from home—Dan stayed calm, adapted, and figured out the next step. That ability to remain flexible and keep moving forward was more inspiring than any destination he reached.
I also appreciated how honest the book felt. It never came across as a social media highlight reel or an overlanding gear advertisement. It felt real. The challenges, the uncertainty, and the small victories made the journey relatable and believable.
Another aspect I enjoyed was Dan’s perspective on life and the rat race. Throughout the book, he challenges the idea that success has to follow the traditional path of working endlessly, accumulating possessions, and postponing meaningful experiences for some distant future. Without being preachy, he shows that it is possible to step away from that cycle, take calculated risks, and prioritize experiences, personal growth, and adventure. His outlook made me reflect on how often people get caught up in routines and obligations without questioning whether they are actually living the life they want.
As someone who enjoys stories about exploration, self-reliance, and people operating outside their comfort zone, this book checked every box. It reminded me that adventure is not about having the perfect plan or the perfect vehicle. It is about being willing to leave the driveway, accept uncertainty, and trust yourself to handle whatever comes next.
This book left me wanting to pack my Jeep, point it toward the horizon, and see where the road leads.
The Road Chose Me was exactly the kind of adventure story I needed. What makes this book so good is that Dan Grec is not portrayed as some larger-than-life explorer with unlimited resources. He is an ordinary guy with a Jeep, a plan, and the willingness to solve problems as they come.
The adventure itself is incredible, but what stood out to me most was the mindset. No matter what happened—mechanical issues, border crossings, unexpected setbacks, or being thousands of miles from home—Dan stayed calm, adapted, and figured out the next step. That ability to remain flexible and keep moving forward was more inspiring than any destination he reached.
I also appreciated how honest the book felt. It never came across as a social media highlight reel or an overlanding gear advertisement. It felt real. The challenges, the uncertainty, and the small victories made the journey relatable and believable.
Another aspect I enjoyed was Dan’s perspective on life and the rat race. Throughout the book, he challenges the idea that success has to follow the traditional path of working endlessly, accumulating possessions, and postponing meaningful experiences for some distant future. Without being preachy, he shows that it is possible to step away from that cycle, take calculated risks, and prioritize experiences, personal growth, and adventure. His outlook made me reflect on how often people get caught up in routines and obligations without questioning whether they are actually living the life they want.
As someone who enjoys stories about exploration, self-reliance, and people operating outside their comfort zone, this book checked every box. It reminded me that adventure is not about having the perfect plan or the perfect vehicle. It is about being willing to leave the driveway, accept uncertainty, and trust yourself to handle whatever comes next.
This book left me wanting to pack my Jeep, point it toward the horizon, and see where the road leads.
December 24, 2023
this book chose me
As many who read this book, I have so much in common with the author and his need to explore. I found myself relating a lot to him as a person being an engineer myself and having worked in corporate America for too long. Longing for the days of retirement to do long distant journeys such as his.
It is this commonality that keeps me engaged to finish this book. The challenges in doing so were so many areas of his journey that are unaccounted for. Did he just simply drive through and do nothin? Was he so budget constrained that he couldn’t afford anything other than the bear essentials? When he did take the time filling in his adventure with intriguing stories they were of interest. Probably the most astounding thing in this entire book is simply that he did it in a jeep and sleeping in a tent for the most part. It was also disappointing that the kindle version contained no photos. Instead I would swap back and forth to his website to find some related photos of what I was reading. Do I recommended reading this? Sure. Will I read it again for missed information or because it was that good? No
As many who read this book, I have so much in common with the author and his need to explore. I found myself relating a lot to him as a person being an engineer myself and having worked in corporate America for too long. Longing for the days of retirement to do long distant journeys such as his.
It is this commonality that keeps me engaged to finish this book. The challenges in doing so were so many areas of his journey that are unaccounted for. Did he just simply drive through and do nothin? Was he so budget constrained that he couldn’t afford anything other than the bear essentials? When he did take the time filling in his adventure with intriguing stories they were of interest. Probably the most astounding thing in this entire book is simply that he did it in a jeep and sleeping in a tent for the most part. It was also disappointing that the kindle version contained no photos. Instead I would swap back and forth to his website to find some related photos of what I was reading. Do I recommended reading this? Sure. Will I read it again for missed information or because it was that good? No
March 15, 2024
A diary account of an Aussie with a dream to travel with his Jeep from Alaska to Argentina. Given to me by my uncle to inspire my travels, I really enjoyed this read!
Not only was it fascinating to hear about his adventures and what he did but I also really resonated with a lot of his thoughts on long term solo travel as well. The way he wrote about his loneliness felt so real and although my own travels are a lot more comfortable and modern I still felt a connection to Dan. We share a wanderlust to explore this earth and meet other people and experience other cultures.
I only recently got a quick look at traveling in the Americas and I loved it. I have always wanted to do an extended road trip so maybe one day I’ll be more like Dan.
Not only was it fascinating to hear about his adventures and what he did but I also really resonated with a lot of his thoughts on long term solo travel as well. The way he wrote about his loneliness felt so real and although my own travels are a lot more comfortable and modern I still felt a connection to Dan. We share a wanderlust to explore this earth and meet other people and experience other cultures.
I only recently got a quick look at traveling in the Americas and I loved it. I have always wanted to do an extended road trip so maybe one day I’ll be more like Dan.
February 23, 2021
An absolutely incredible story of adventure and culture. Strongly recommended for anyone that wants to see a bit of the rest of the world from the comfort of your favorite reading chair.
December 1, 2023
what a great read!
Inspiring and not ego based! The truth and adventures ring true. Dan didn’t look to impress you, make you jealous, or play the look at me game.
Inspiring and not ego based! The truth and adventures ring true. Dan didn’t look to impress you, make you jealous, or play the look at me game.
June 24, 2024
Dan's adventure, experiences, life perspective, attitude, perceptions are stellar! Love this book for its' attitude toward what is truly important in life.
February 19, 2026
Loved it! Makes me want to get on the road again
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews