Storyteller Overland’s ‘Vannonball Run’ is Underway

We first told you about Storyteller Overland’s cross-country “Vannonball Run” journey in last Friday’s weekly news roundup. But inc ase you missed it—and because it got underway yesterday, we thought it was worth mentioning again—especially since it is for a good cause. Essentially, the goal is to drive 4,866 miles starting from the Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest and ending Key West, Florida, in an effort to raise funds for hurricane relief along the way.

Photo Credit: Storyteller Overland

The trip is being made by Storyteller co-founder Lee Conn who is driving one of the company’s MODE XO Class B camper vans. The trademark feature of that particular model is its surprisingly large bathroom, which includes a hot shower, cassette toilet, and a full-length mirror. That makes it an especially great choice for a cross-country road trip like the one Conn has just embarked upon. The van’s comfy bed, ample storage, and well-designed galley kitchen—complete with stainless steel sink, microwave, induction cooktop, and dual-voltage refrigerator—don’t hurt either.

The Vannonball Run derives its name the classic Cannonball Run movies of the 1980s. Those films featured legendary actor Burt Reynolds, along with a cast of memorable faces like Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Farrah Fawcett, as they raced across the country in exotic sports cars. But while those movies were fun and farcical in nature, the Vannonball Run aims to do some good along the way. The goal is to continue to draw attention to those who were recently impacted by Hurricane Helene and raise funds to support relief efforts through the Red Cross. The goal is to collect $50,000 in donations, and as of this writing Conn is already halfway to reaching that mark.

Photo Credit: Kraig Becker

The route for the inaugural Vannonball Run started on Cape Flattery in Washington state and proceeded south from there to Portland, OR. From there, it continues down the West Coast to San Francisco and Los Angles, before turning east to Las Vegas. After that, it’s on to Colorado—with stops in Montrose and Colorado Springs—before hitting a trio of destinations in Missouri, including Kansas City, Springfield, and St. Louis. After that, the MODE XO van heads to Nashville, TN, Birmingham, AL, and Atlanta, GA, before finally turning south across Florida and into the Keys. All arrival and departure times from those cities can be found on the Vannonball Run website, where you’ll see an ambitious and aggressive schedule for crossing the country. The expected arrival in Atlanta is on Monday, November 4. Presumably, the plan is to reach Key West the following day, taking just a week to cover the entire 4,866-mile route.

To find out more about this fun and memorable venture, visit vannonballrun.com. There, you’ll find links to donate to the cause, updates on progress, and more. Follow along on X (formerly Twitter) for regular updates, too.

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Source: https://www.rv.com/lifestyle-travel/storyteller-overlands-vannonball-run-is-underway/