When you follow a project like StepsOver on YouTube and social media, it’s easy to be captivated by the spectacular landscapes, the endless roads and the adventures they’ve had aboard their iconic Valentino lorry. What you often don’t see, however, is everything that happened before they set off: the difficult choices, the doubts, the courage to change their lives and the years of preparation needed to turn a dream into reality.
We were lucky enough to meet Simone and Lucia many years ago, when all this was still in its infancy and they were travelling extensively by motorbike.
Here in Milan, we were setting off together for Tuscany, where we were to take part in a wonderful maxi-enduro raid.
Before the big trips, before the thousands of people who now follow their adventures, and before Valentino became one of the most recognisable overland lorries amongst lorry travel enthusiasts.
That’s why Stepsover’s recent return to Istria held special significance for us. It wasn’t simply a visit from two friends, but a return to one of the places that had been part of their first steps towards a completely different life.
When Stepsover was still just a project
Today, it’s easy to look back on their journey and think it was all meant to be from the start. In reality, that wasn’t the case at all.
Like so many people, they too led a fairly ordinary life. An office job, set working hours, holidays to be carefully planned, and that feeling – shared by so many – of never having enough time to do what they truly loved.
And plenty of weekend trips.
The difference was that this desire to travel didn’t remain locked away in a drawer. Day after day, it took shape through a concrete plan: to buy a van, turn it into a mobile home, and set off with no return date in mind.
That van would become Valentino.
The first trip with Valentino to Istria
We still remember the first time they came to see us with Valentino. The van had only just been finished and the StepsOver project was taking its first steps.
We spent a few days together chatting, going out and having the inevitable conversations about the future. We talked about itineraries, work still to be done on the van, countries to visit and everything that might happen once we’d left everyday life behind.
Looking back on it today, it almost makes you smile. None of us could have imagined just how far that decision would take them.
From office work to the roads of the world
In the years that followed, the StepsOver project grew naturally, without losing that spontaneity which still sets it apart today.
Travelling through dozens of countries, they’ve shared stories of deserts, mountains, remote villages, dirt tracks, complicated borders and encounters with people from completely different cultures.
Many follow them for the places they visit. We believe the real reason for their success lies elsewhere.
They have never tried to turn every journey into a spectacle. They have simply continued to share their experiences, with enthusiasm, humour and a great deal of sincerity.
It is probably this authenticity that, year after year, has built such a devoted community.
The return of StepsOver: it feels like coming home
A few weeks ago, Valentino came back to stay in our courtyard.
This time, not to set off on a journey, but to take a few days’ break and carry out some work on the van before heading off to new destinations.
For us, it was the perfect opportunity to spend some time together again.
We talked about their latest itineraries, the experiences they’ve had over the last few years, and how the way they travel has changed. But, above all, we realised one thing: despite the thousands of kilometres travelled and their ever-growing popularity, Simo and Luci have remained exactly the same people we met so many years ago.
Curious, approachable and always ready to share a story or some advice over dinner.
A passion that unites us: enduro
Anyone who knows StepsOver knows full well that the truck is only part of their story.
Both have always had a great passion for motorbikes and, in particular, for enduro. Perhaps this is also one of the reasons why, right from our first meeting, we got on so well together.
Enduro and overland travel, after all, share much more in common than might appear at first glance.
Both invite you to slow down, to stray from the beaten track and to let curiosity be your guide. It’s not just the final destination that matters, but everything that happens along the way: the views, the unexpected events, the encounters and the experiences that make every day different from the last.
Whether you’re travelling by motorbike or by truck, the spirit is surprisingly similar.
The beauty of great journeys
Looking at their journey, it’s natural to think that the most extraordinary part is having crossed half the world.
In reality, we believe the true value of the StepsOver project lies elsewhere.
They’ve shown that changing your life is possible, but that behind every major change there’s preparation, sacrifice and a great deal of hard work. There are no shortcuts, nor are there perfect starts. There’s only the courage to take that first step and the perseverance to carry on even when things don’t go to plan.
Perhaps this is precisely the message that resonates most strongly with those who follow their videos.
The video
During this visit, they changed the lorry’s tyres… as well as keeping us company and telling us about their wonderful experiences.
If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch it here:
Adventure is closer than you think
Not everyone will quit their job to cross continents in a lorry, and you don’t even need to do that to experience something special.
Sometimes all it takes is a few days immersed in nature, far from traffic and the daily grind, to rediscover that sense of freedom that drives so many people to travel.
Istria offers exactly that. Forest trails, dirt tracks, views of the Adriatic Sea and routes that seem tailor-made for those who love adventure on two wheels.
You might not set off on a journey lasting years like the StepsOver team, but every great adventure begins with that first kilometre.
If their story has inspired you, now might be the right time to start your own.
👉 If you want to experience an adventure on your motorbike, come and discover our guided tours in Istria. You’ll find spectacular routes, authentic scenery and an experience designed for true enduro enthusiasts.