Meet Richard and Diane–our next 67 Designs’ Customer Spotlight and adventurers who have embraced a life of exploration both above and below the water. Originally from England and Ireland, Richard and Diane’s journey has taken them through the peaks of backcountry skiing in Norway to the depths of scuba diving in Honduras. After losing everything in a devastating hurricane, Richard and his wife relocated to the U.S. over 30 years ago. Since then, they have moved through cities like Chicago, South Bend, southern New Jersey, and Madison, Wisconsin, before retiring and relocating to Park City, Utah. Today, he and his wife, Diane, continue to seek out remote adventures in their custom-built expedition truck.
Proud owner of: 2023 Ram 5500 in Bullet Silver with an AEV Conversion by Bliss Mobil.
Customer of 67 Designs since: 2022
Featured Upgrades: The Hollingworth’s setup is all about functionality and comfortability. Their Bliss Mobil comes with multiple heating systems, liftable living quarters, and modular components that allow for quick vehicle changes. Inside, they have equipped their Ram with a slimline iPad mount from 67 Designs, which he uses daily to manage navigation, heating and cooling, and communication.
Early Inspiration: Richard’s passion for overlanding was sparked after watching a documentary on the Bureau of Land Management. With America’s vast landscapes before him, he and his wife decided they could not leave the country without exploring all it had to offer. Their love for tent camping began during their early years in Illinois when they camped at Birch Lake—a time when money was tight, and nature was the ultimate escape.
Early Adventures: One of Richard and Diane's first overlanding trips was a four-month journey to Colorado, where he and his wife discovered hidden gems like the town of Salida, places that don't often make the mainstream travel lists. This deepened their appreciation for exploring the unknown. Over the past four years, their love for exploration has taken them on countless journeys, including buying a euro RV to explore the Faroe Islands, all while the Bliss Mobil was still in the works.
Recent Adventures: The couple's latest travels took them through France, where public land is scarce, but the charm of medieval towns more than made up for it. They camped below fortresses that date back to the 1300s and enjoyed the local history and cuisine, all while staying connected to the overlanding community through European campsites. They have clocked in about 20,000 miles in the past 4 years.
Most Memorable Adventure: Iceland stands out as Richard’s favorite destination. From driving along off-grid rocky roads for 10 hours without seeing another soul to making tea with their Starlink connection ready in case of emergencies, Iceland’s dramatic landscapes—glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls—have left a lasting impression. He and his wife circled the island, exploring its unique quadrants, each offering something entirely different.
Upcoming Trips: The couple's upcoming trips are as ambitious as ever. They will be heading to the Grand Canyon for a 10-day adventure before shipping their Ram to Europe for a winter exploration through Norway and Sweden, all the way down to Spain. Their ultimate bucket list includes shipping the vehicle to Argentina and Chile, exploring Patagonia, and even making their way to Antarctica.
Lessons Learned: Over the years, Richard’s biggest takeaway has been the importance of embracing local culture and going with the flow. He has learned to let go of the traditional Western mindset and fully immerse himself in the chaos and beauty of each place, whether it is Bali or Iceland.
Community Involvement: Richard is an active contributor to the overlanding community. He and Diane have added almost 100 off-grid camping spots to the iOverlander app and frequently review remote locations to help fellow adventurers. They have also been involved with Overland Bound and contribute to online forums like Expedition Portal and Horizons Unlimited.
Fun Fact: Richard is not only an avid overlander but also a qualified dive instructor who taught scuba diving in Honduras. Currently, he is learning to paraglide and hopes to take powered paragliding on the road, flying above some of the world’s most remote locations.
Connect with Richard and Diane:
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Instagram: Meru.journi
Named after the highest mountain in Asian religion, "Meru" is a nod to Richard’s best friend and one of the best climbing movies.
This Customer Spotlight is by Meg Klavitter.
This series was envisioned and created by Kate Della Pietra in the summer of 2020 when she worked for 67 Designs as a marketing intern.