Hello! I hope this letter finds you and your families well. 2024 will be the year I label “CleanUp”! In fact, if you received a Christmas card, know it was one found in my mom’s and my Christmas totes stash and this letter was inspired by what we used to do “back before email and electronic cards” (and $.50 postage!)
The ladies of Ladies Offroad Network kept me on my toes for the 8th year! There was a lot of travel that criss-crossed the country twice. The year started off with my 15th trip to King of the Hammers hosting a fun group behind the scenes. I hosted our Spring Skills Camp in Arizona with a lot of learning and laughing combined. I made it back to Jeep Beach in Florida after a long hiatus and the best part was reconnecting with ladies that have been part of LON since the beginning. The first time adventure was taking a group of Raptor Truck owners on a snowy/muddy day trail!
Our LON Convention went back to its originally intended style of casual, intimate and motivational in a closed inside environment. And I used a new name: Connect. Which we did!! The Fab School in So Cal hosted us and has already agreed to again next year! I was very happy to have a wonderful group join together including my Mom and Carol! There were so many great moments and laughs. Our motto was Wish & Work, with the dandelion as the visual…I will never look at a dandelion the same again!
Thanks to my partnership with Overland Expos there were trips to Flagstaff, Oregon, Colorado and Virginia with special ladies taking their time to work the booth and let others know about LON. I added value to the BFGoodrich Tires booth with classes and insight on tires. I spent an extra couple days in PNW exploring with a great group and did a first – took the F150 out on trails to test the new BFG KO3 Tires. (so this is what Raptor life is all about?!) The PNW trip was also the beginning of the trailer hub issues that haunted me throughout the year.
During the summer I spent 2 weekends in the Sierra Nevada Mountains at Camp Rubicon and Sierra Trek. Both weekends were focused around a new youth education program that I have been developing. It was rewarding and fun to watch the kids learning, all while remembering to enjoy the space myself.
Both events bring a opportunity for my driving skills to be challenged alongside a positive vibe and lots of dancing and night fun. I also took some opportunities to push my driving skills in Moab when some friends came to town that wanted to run the bigger trails. Frankie, who used to have big tires in the times, now has small tires! 🙂
I did accomplish 2 bucket list trips. Thanks to BFGoodrich Tires I got to experience the Wild West of Alaska. Wow, I can see why adventure people are drawn to it, and I’m already planning a trip back! The KO3 tire launch allowed us the opportunity to traverse the mountains in Toyotas. I also got to take a train to Denali (and saw the top!), took a plane that landed on top of a glacier and experienced Anchorage as a tourist. Plus I got to see the Northern Lights, both over Denali and in an incredible display out the airplane window on the flight home.
On my east coast swing to Virginia for Overland Expo I added on a week long “birthday vacation” that was very specific. We visited Dover Motorsport Speedway and Bowers Beach in Delaware, stayed in Rhode Island, visited friends in Massachusetts and Connecticut and with those 4 states checked off my list, I can say I was able to experience all 50 states by 48! Boom! On my 48th birthday we splurged on butter dripping Lobster while watching the sunset over the bay in Rhode Island. Now…to do them all again 🙂
My favorite end of year trip is to SEMA. This year was special being my dad’s 50th year, my 21st and Wes’ 1st! This partnered with the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony refills my heart seeing all my industry friends full of passion for our businesses. It is the perfect way for me to end my year of travel.
I continue to be on the Board of Directors for Tread Lightly! and have been able to participate in their events across the country. The Moab events include my Dad and Wes, in addition to engaging local or attending ladies. I re-engaged with the group at International 4 Wheel Drive Certified Trainers and appreciated their support. I also took time to start CharleneBower.com where I will host the width of my projects in one place as we go forward. And in the theme of “clean-up” I took a lot of time to sit at my desk and sort through all the processes and paper of running a business. I continue to get my butt-kicked, but keep trudging along at finding success in this category.
In the spring, during Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, my circus tuned on an axis. We ended the week with a surprise party celebrating my Dad and Danny’s 80th birthdays. It was also during that week that I realized that I needed to spend more time with my parents. I ultimately spent 6 weeks at my parent’s house helping them around the house. My Dad calls it Harvesting LOL We pulled engines, transmissions, dirt bikes, Christmas decorations and so much more. I do love the perspective ~ we’re not ‘cleaning out’ or ‘getting rid of’, we are taking things my parents bought purposefully, have shown it care over time and are now moving it on for cash: Harvesting.
The unknown win of this process was a simple call in May about some axles to Trevor at WFO, put my Dad on the radar for his 12 Rigs of Christmas video series. An added week trip for me in November helped set up and produce a Legacy piece that includes all the amazing vehicles my Dad has built over the years. (ITS LIVE!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RutIDah47ok)
“Thinning the excess” happened around our Moab house too. The remodel has kept us in boxes from the move and it was time to release some pressure from the trailers and containers. Boy, does it feel good! (If you haven’t been thinning, I encourage you to take a couple hours a week to take on a little bit at a time. Rewarding and lifting are the words!) All of this cleaning, sorting and thinning created 5 weekends of epic Garage & Holiday Sales at the Moab house!
Each year I get better at travelling…to enjoy. This year I focused on seeing more people! One win was getting to see my brother Brent and best friend since 1st grade, Erin, 6 times this year! I got to enjoy multiple trips with different ladies and create life-long memories. Got to reconnect with so many of my long-time friends as I travelled around…thank you for taking time to spend time with me. I purposefully sat longer with friends, called to checkin and took time to help people that needed a support system. Oh, and I survived my 30th High School reunion…weird how we really don’t change, but we do.
Wes and I continue to maximize the calendar with our priorities, never a dull moment! Ryan, now 17, took on his first season of mountain bike racing ~ super proud race dad/mom (yes, I kept myself under control’ish). He completed his 4th year of Volleyball and was my co-driver on a lot of Moab trails. The boys have been spending a lot of time in the garage working on projects and passing on skills. While Ryan spent the summer in Moab I set it up where he got to experience different shop life environments. (Yes, one was changing tires for a dirt bike tour company!) He has been very interested in welding the last couple years and is still focused on it as a future.
Wes’s Mom and Step-Dad visited us for a week during the summer. It was a great opportunity to explore even more of Moab and show them all the sights. It was fun having a Jeep, UTV and dirt bikes on the trails together. We hiked in Arches and even went white water rafting in the Colorado River. Lots of late night game playing created a great atmosphere for everyone to remember.
We visited a couple more National Parks ~ Arches & Shenandoah. We explored Utah’s Olympic Park. We added 3 more downhill mountain bike parks to our list ~ Park City in UT, Angel Fire in NM and Sunrise in AZ. We have been finding different hikes to go on to explore all places. Plus the boys have been dirt biking all over AZ and Moab ~ my dirt bike helmet is still on the shelf for the time being.
Homebase became more and more Moab UT this year vs Mesa AZ. We are on the last, last stages of a 2.5 year remodel project…the kitchen sink is here! Proud to say the only contractors we used were for carpet, drywall and the kitchen countertop…all the rest we did together. (Meaning Wes figured it out and I motivated and muscled lol) It is gorgeous! Let me know as you come to town, we would love to share our epic space with you. Next we move to the outside…that has already gotten a lot of attention, but it is time to bring in the tractors!!
Hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas and participating in the Christmas Light Parade and 4th of July County Fair have been a few highlights to being in Moab this year. We take advantage to experience the “tourist activities” while we can including being surprised at the amazingness of the sunset tour on the Colorado River! We also really appreciated and enjoyed those that reached out or specifically planned a trip to come visit in Moab!
Piston turned 13 and Oil has been putting up with us for 10 years now! They both LOVE to get out and see the country! Ry’Leh is a 5year old Wirehaired Pointing Griffon who has added a LOT of energy and outside time to the house. They all kind-of get along, but the reality is the dog knows the cats rule the house 🙂
At home we are enjoying our “next door neighbors” Danny and Diane. The gate built into the fence is perfect! The garage has been my dishwashing station for the last year and we have found a past-time turning late afternoons into some pretty competitive games of Rummy!! Very thankful to have Grandpa’s Garage to work on our vehicles while our garage is full of Garage Sale greatness lol
The year was not without challenges. The hardest hit was losing my Uncle Rusty, my Dads brother. He was a gear-head from racing Corvettes to running the Rubicon Trail. He was my top supporter in my extended family, always paying attention to what I was accomplishing and surprised me with his synopsis when I would see him at family events. We also lost a family friend and another one of my supporters, Malcolm Smith.
Wes and I continue the fight for Ryan with his mom that is, quite frankly, using the nicest words possible, ridiculous. Her goal is to ruin the relationship with Ryan and his Dad. This year included another round of court hearings and her using his car as a leverage point. This whole scene is a daily battle as I advocate for Ryan, and is awful. To add, Wes was part of his company layoffs in October. The positive is more time in Moab and working on the house and vehicles. The challenge is figuring out what he wants to do next that brings him happiness.
I felt like a vehicle maintenance supervisor and parts runner for a majority of the year. All vehicles broken at the same time…and then all fixed…and then all broken again (we are in that state now lol) But there was a lot of effort put into getting everything rolling better than before. The Jeep got a new wrap and suspension. The motorhome a water heater and hopefully brakes this week! The truck a new oil pan gasket, steering system, seats and wrap. The trailer a wheel and hubs. The F150 radiator hoses. And, I know I am forgetting all the other chaos (probably on purpose!)
I am always available to help others. I read a quote about a month ago that registered with me: “Help those that will never be able to thank you.” I did this. It took everything out of me again this year. My friend added the ‘ol saying, “No good deed goes unpunished” while relaying one of my stories of helping someone this year. It was a year of learning and growth for me in this department. I am glad that I had the time and opportunity to help, but, goodness!
I added 3 game changers to my world this year I want to share…
1. Starlink ~ I procrastinted this amazingness way too long. Not only did it roll my stress level down at King of the Hammers, but we use it as our daily internet source at the Moab house.
2. Wet Dry Vacuum Mop ~ I hate mopping with a passion and this thing is incredible! Takes the nasty out of just spreading dirty water around the floor and doesn’t hurt my back. I got the mid-level one and it’s worth it! HERE
3. Tension Headache Meds ~ I get nasty pressure headaches that have amplified since being in Moab. Introduced to me by a friend, it has become part of my daily existance as I fight chronic pain battles daily. I’m a fan! HERE
In business, we had a bit of a quiet year with Ladies Offroad Network but one that still provides a space for Ladies to learn and be part of a community of support. What did happen this year was giving myself grace and the ability to “take a nap” in order to regain my personal momentum and bring back some projects that I loved and thrived on in the past.
Bower Power Hour will be making a return! Now as a weekly education show with industry professionals as co-hosts to dig in about different topics.
The Offroad Shirt and Swag Club was always a favorite of mine and it’s time for that to be resurrected and impose awesomeness into offroaders closets again. With everything, we learn from the past and have made it available to Men, Ladies and Youth! YS-YXL & S-4XL!
The Race Team Store is coming back, but as the store under the new brand Offroad Exposed. It will feature more than just racers merchandise…also companies, you tubers, overlanders and anyone wanting to front face an offroad brand. This gives them an opportunity to be successful and followers a way to support!
Offroad Exposed is the next chapter. It is a combination of my love for media and education. There will be multiple phase rollouts, the first includes the Offroad Calendar, Newswire and Education Binder Program. The binder program delivers consistent ‘industry standard’ education to all levels of users. There will be hands-on opportunities that mirror LON programs. I’m so excited!!!
So that is my 2024 in a nutshell. 🙂 Lots of goals were accomplished, not necessarily the list that I started out with, but many that trumped those on the list. Family became 1st. I became 1st.
If you received this letter, then you are close in my circle and I appreciate you, your support and friendship. I appreciate everyone that took time to enjoy creating a new memory together. I look forward to you being part of my story in 2025 ~
PS – I finished off the year with a bowl overfilled of family. From a great Christmas week with Wes and Ryan, to Christmas day with Danny & Diane and then my 7th trip to my parents house for my big Bower Family Christmas. Almost missed the plane there…and my bag was a day late…so in typical fashion, it was a wild trip to finish off the year. I clocked in New Years working on my Dad’s computer cleaning up pictures…found some awesome goodies…it was perfect. xoxo
