The Story of Sarge

At 27, I jumped in a 1993 Landrover Defender 90 and took off for the dessert.  I discovered exactly what I wanted out of life. Sarge, a 300 TDI 110 Landrover Defender, was the first step in becoming exactly who I wanted to be. Sarge and ME (Monaya and Eva)

woman in black fleese zip up and lightening bolt printed leggings, with wild hair flowing in the wind, sits on fender of landrover defender on a beach with fluffy clouds in the sky.
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Sarge: “A dinosaur by any other name would still leave ruts.”

My name is Monaya, but does Sarge know his name? I have talked about the Sarge for years. I have talked about the water for months. Let me relate it all to the humans and bring it back full circle to the beloved story of Monaya and Sarge. Prepare yourself for some dogma…interesting dogma, but still. I asked a 19 year monk what defines Jesus. He returned my question with conviction, saying that Jesus is three beings in one. There is the human, the god, the holy spirit. Each one complete, housed in the same body. He explained that the human form of Jesus could convince anyone he was human. I asked if he thought Jesus knew he was Jesus. “ABSOLUTELY.” I had to walk away before I started my secular, cynical human laughter. I meant no offense. I think about social programming, including personal experience. As a person who has walked the Earth for 38 years, having my own set of trials and tribulations, I couldn’t help but think about the ego of a human being. Specifically, their conviction in the definition of their world. Not the objective, repeatable science world, but their day-to-day experience and how it shapes their […]

Woman approaching Landrover Defender in front of backdoor of Montauk Manor

SARGE AND ME: Eastern Tour 2021 – Part 4 – Long Island, New York

"I am blessed, I am smart, and I can do anything." These are the words I repeat to myself every day, a mantra to help me feel confident and self-assured. But as I sat across the table from him, I realized that men are not immune to insecurities and self-doubt. I asked him if his mother had ever told him he was perfect just the way he was born, something I had heard a mother say to her son. When I asked if he knew what body dysmorphia was, his response surprised me. The more we talked, the more I came to understand the depths of male insecurities. I thought I was aware of these issues, but I had forgotten that men will go to great lengths to prove a point, just like women do. As he shared his secret, I felt the weight of the stigma surrounding men's mental health and physical insecurities. His story blew the doors off what I thought I knew about the subject, reminding me that we all have our struggles and that we must support each other in our journeys.
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SARGE AND ME: Eastern Tour 2021 – Part 3- Portland, Maine

Like a curious little boy, this man peered around his new Denali Sierra at Sarge. “Get closer; he won’t bite,” I said. Bellowing laughter came out of this guy. “Where did you get this thing..” I won’t forget this guy for two reasons. So men, listen up if you want to make an impression. To so said dude’s wife - I’m sorry, but he’s your prize.
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SARGE AND ME: Eastern Tour 2021 – Part 2 – Toronto

Jack Kurac writes about his friends from a perspective of complete adoration. There is a reason Toronto was at the beginning and not the end of the trip. Nhu has the word Juxtapose tattooed on her arm. She resides in the small part of my spirit that has balance. It is constantly moving to adjust - but like water, it flows between family, work, and passion. I have no idea what Nhu sees in me. But I will always look at her as this juxtaposition between light and dark, soft and hard, fast and slow. Always moving with the ability to create the balance needed for each situation.
Green landrover defender oversized suv truck under moody skys with grass

SARGE AND ME: Eastern Tour 2021 – Part 1 – Michican to Toronto

Don't travel with your boyfriend... Unless he's a landrover Defender. Traveling across Wisconsin was like eating white cake with American buttercream. It was easy, but I had had way more than enough by the time I crossed the Michigan border. I passed the “Welcome to Michigan” sign, and a disco party of lights pulled out behind me. Officer: “Excuse me, Ma’am. Do you know why I pulled you over tonight?”  S&M: “Sir, I picture I am going too slow. Do you need me to turn on my hazards?” Officer: “No, I pulled you over because you have no lights on the back end of your truck.”
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SARGE AND ME: Eastern Tour 2021_Preparation Full Send: GETTING A LANDROVER READY FOR A 7,000 MILE ROAD TRIP

Sarge and Me Be Prepared for Full Send: North Eastern America Tour 1  A girl, her truck, and their adventures. © Monaya MaGaurn  What does that mean? If you do something full send, especially in extreme sports, you’re doing it full-throttle and with 100% commitment—even if you end up failing. In extended, popular slang, full send has the sense of “intense,” “hardcore,” or “without regard to consequences.” There are so many times where I have leaped off the cliff before looking or knowing what was on the other side. This first big trip with Sarge needed a bit more attention but will still have a major element of Full Send.  “You can’t do epic shit with basic people.” Keep Reading Even the best made plans…  A massive lesson you learn with defenders…at least I have learned being with Sarge, plan for the best because no matter what Sarge is getting out with or without my help.   Sarge like always makes the best counterpart. He is entirely focused on himself and how he can support me. It’s like he knows he’s uncomfortable to be around currently but still does his very best.  This particular trip is more of an excursion with hosts, gear, and […]

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SARGE AND ME: MY FIRST WEEK WITH SARGE – Part 3

Sarge and Me My first week with sarge Part 3 A girl, her truck and their adventures © Monaya MaGaurn 2021 Sarge had some downtime Sarge was a shop truck for his first few months on the state’s side. He was driven maybe 200 miles to and from home. He, like all LandRovers, leaked a tiny bit but was in great shape overall. The drive north and first week, Sarge got a proper run about with about 500 miles on him. Sarge loves northern Minnesota  A wonky rear end. With Sarge up north, we started our small daily ventures. We would go out about 40 miles walking the dog every day, traveling down some 4×4 trail, parking here or there. Enjoying our small rides, we were having fun. Sarge was doing great, until a week later. The following Saturday, Eva, Sarge, and I were out for a dog walk. On the way back driving him casually down a dirt road, Sarge’s rear end felt pretty wonky.  Curiosity killed the cat, Satiating it brings it back.  I called Mike and we did some troubleshooting on the phone for a while. Ending the conversation in agreement with my idea to lock the […]

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SARGE AND ME: MY FIRST WEEK WITH SARGE – Part 2

SARGE AND ME Our aFirst Date Part 2 © MONAYA MAGAURN 2021 Better late than never. The trip started with me dropping my daily driver at Minneapolis and taking the Defender.  Eva, Sarge, and I left the Richfield shop at 9 pm. Since this was also my first trip with Sarge, I didn’t want to drive in the dark, the taillights were acting up. So I decided to make a stop at The Bertram Singletrack Trail in Monticello, Minnesota.  What its really like sleeping in a pop tent I love you Sarge in that place between coffee and sleep.  familiar places   I had been to Monticello before, particularly to the bike park. I had done a triathlon there and wanted to bike the course again. It was also on the way home, about 1/3rd of the total distance. An easy and familiar place to stop. Leave it to traffic and road construction to make an hour and a half drive three. We arrived in Monticello at about 1 am. Between driving and making a stop to check if Sarge’s lights were good, I was exhausted.  I popped the tent, set some Netflix, and passed out. It was 6 in the […]

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SARGE AND MEL MY FIRST WEEK WITH SARGE – Part 1

Sarge and Me Our First DatePart 1 A girl and her adventures An introduction to Sarge and Me.  I have always loved going on adventures. It all started when I was 12 and the second session of the all-girls sailing camp I would attend every year did not have an opening. Instead, I was sent to an off-the-grid wilderness camp in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. I have been on all sorts of trips, from backpacking, overlanding, hiking, ultralight, canoeing, and even experienced van life. The longest I have spent in the lakes chain over Minnesota was 27 seven days picking up trash. Only to later in life spend 21 days in the Black Rock Desert doing almost the same thing with a bit more flare. Over the last 24 years, I have had the pleasure to live it all. My bucket list is still long and Sarge is a milestone. Keep Reading “One life, Live it.” A girl on an adventure wouldn’t be without a mascot and Eva really loves her job. Eva has been my loyal companion since 2013. She is a black Shiba Inu. I found her on Facebook after my 13-year-old Min-Pin was hit by a […]

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