Overlandnm

Welcome to another edition of Behind The Wheel, our series that introduces drivers and their vehicles. This week we have Bethany better known as Code Blue/Zr2Girlz. Some familiar faces and names in this one!

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1. Let’s start with your story—who are you, and how did you become known as Code Blue/Zr2Girlz on Instagram?

My name is Bethany, I am also known as B or Zr2girlz. My home base is in Michigan. I started with a 2018 Colorado ZR2 dusk edition in kinetic blue. I had a mini van that served its purpose, and I was now ready to make my first independent purchase. This was a big purchase for me. I saw my truck at a local dealer and it caught my eye immediately. I drove in and looked at it a few times before returning weeks later to drive it. After the test drive and determining that my 6’2 then 15 year old son could sit in the back seat, I was sold!! I then joined a few FB groups so I could look up different mods and get ideas of things I would like to do. One of the groups was “Chevrolet Colorado ZR2”. Everyone was posting their introduction posts, so I joined the club and posted the first official picture of my truck and I. My post received a moderate amount of comments, most positive, and one that, at the time, offended me. I also had a comment talking about me being “the girl that takes all of the glamour shots”. For some reason the combination of the two sparked a fire in me, and I wanted to build a page that supported women who had the same passion I do for this truck, and also face the same challenges. So one night I created my first account on IG, and named it zr2girlz. The Z at the end just seemed appropriate, and is kinda my thing. This was going to be the platform, I wasn’t sure exactly where I was going to take it, but I posted in that same forum with a link to it and asked all the ladies to send me pics of their trucks so I could post em up and support them. It has now morphed into more than I ever anticipated it would. So that is how zr2girlz was created, how she got her name CodeBlue was a collaboration. Again on that forum someone said I should give her a name. People started commenting their thoughts and one of them suggested CodeBlue because my truck is blue and I am a cardiac step-down nurse. It was perfect, and even more so today as I am now a Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor. I teach people how to run the first 5 min of a CodeBlue. 

2. What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced on this path?

From the start my truck meant independence for me, and that was a big deal for me. I looked back through my posts on the Chevrolet page on fb to refresh my memory for this blog, and it was a cool journey looking back at all the things I was able to do over the years. I faced several challenges, one being how I was treated at dealerships. But I think above my issues with dealerships the biggest challenge that I faced was the aftermath of totaling my truck. I know from reading some of the comments on my posts following the accident that there are a lot of us out there that feel a bit lost without our rig. It was hard for me to articulate what went with my truck, what loss came with that. It wasn’t the material aspect, although I had a lot of personal touches from my late Grandpa, and worked on it with my Dad. It was the loss of independence and the places this truck connected me to. My personal life was also in a traumatic recovery mode, and professionally I had just lived through being a nurse who worked the Covid unit, and I was starting to feel the after effects of that. I have never faced challenges that hard before, but I have to say it was the Chevrolet and ZR2 community that really rallied for me and lifted me up, trying to help me find the unicorn truck I was looking for. I was met with so much kindness, and that meant a lot to me. And in the end, after a lot of hard work, I took delivery of my 2024 Colorado ZR2 in glacier blue and my new journey and build began! 

3. Is there a particular trail run, road trip, or truck moment that stands out as truly unforgettable?

There are several moments that are unforgettable, but Ashley Haarmann’s memorial run that I held in her honor in Moab UT will forever be a part of my journey to becoming this version of me. The core group of people that I met on that run have truly lightened my life. We had 9 ZR2s, and 1 jeep, people traveled from as far as Michigan and Indiana to honor Ashley. We did Gemini bridges to Long Canyon where we held her Memorial. I did potash rd to shafer switchbacks, and up through canyon lands with my husband. I also ended up on a red rated trail (Tower Arch) where I learned I can do hard things, and also a valuable lesson that I will get to later. I left this trip with such a better understanding of off-roading, the truck, and my capabilities. More importantly, I left this trip with what I hope to be life long friendships! In fact it is Gina (Ashley’s partner) who helped me climb my first 14k (Mount Sherman). Her and I take an annual girls hiking trip, and I couldn’t ask for a better adventure bestie! Pete (azn8tive) and I have wheeled several times together since then, and Brian and Steph host the bison stampede which I have attended in the past and plan to attend in the future. Arthur and Dana (green_dragon overland), their love and their build/story is inspiring. Green Dragon is the first rig I followed. There are a lot of pieces of that original rig that I have used as inspiration and for functionality design for mine. His new flat bed setup with his camper was done in MI, I purchased his water tank and was able to see their rig all torn down. If you don’t already you should follow their journey on IG. 

Personally that trip allowed me to offer closer to loved ones of Ashley, I wasn’t able to do that with so many of my Covid ➕patients, so that meant a lot to me. It is also the trip that I feel I truly started “living” and not just surviving. 

I started my YouTube channel so I could get the video I made of the event out to those who attended her memorial https://youtu.be/mwJsMs4ef7s?si=Bgokt-KHTCjIkR6W The channel evolved from there. 

4. How about any victories—big or small—that you’re especially proud of?

For sure Calico!!! Now don’t get me wrong I am pretty proud of a couple of my YouTube videos. I enjoy the creation, now the filming can get annoying at times, but when one of the videos comes together it brings me joy! And I’m learning my drone so that’s been really fun and something I need more of. 

Sidetrack there, back on topic. I still don’t know how I not only pulled it off, but survived the wild whirlwind calico was. Getting  to ride with Abby @zr2cutie I wouldn’t trade for having my truck there. Being her passenger prisoner was a great experience (once we figured out the a/c 😜). I say this was a victory for me because I have low key social anxiety. I fear a lot of things because I see what bad things can and do happen. But I also have found that I’m really stubborn and if you say I can’t or that I’m too scared I 9/10 will make a point to conquer it. Calico was that for me. I was going to meet so many people in this community who supported me, knew my story, and who encouraged me along the way. This was a bit nerve racking for me. But the wish to meet Abby (Zr2cutie), Gen (the_mistress), and Tia (Tizzer) made the trip not as scary. We had all collaborated on a pass the key reel and we had all never met in person. Travelling across the country by myself to meet so many amazing people is a victory for me in my book. 

5. For someone just getting into overlanding, off-roading, or building a rig—what advice would you give?

Before I took my first big offroad trip I took an off-road class. I have been mud bogging before and I grew up on quads, dirt bikes, and go carts, but this was a little different, and I wanted to make sure I was prepared. I traveled to Rausch Creek Off Road Park in PA and took their beginners course. I learned so many valuable tips and tricks and gained some confidence. I highly recommend taking a similar course. I would recommend in addition to that class taking an off-road recovery class. Above that, it’s finding a friend that knows more than you and getting out there and just doing it! 

For building your rig my best piece of advice is to use your truck a little bit before making any very large purchases (modifications). Figure out how you will be using your rig and the terrain you will be on most. Then make a necessity list and a wish list. Start with what you have to have (recovery gear, extra fuel, communication device etc.) then start on the wish list. A big thing for me is to not go with just what looks cool, make sure it is functional for you and what your needs are. 

6. What’s a piece of life wisdom or perspective that’s stuck with you through all this?

There are two quotes I live by “you can do hard things” and “what we do for ourselves dies with us, but what we do for others and the world, remains and is immortal”. 

I have conquered many fears with these rigs. I have gone places and done things I could have never imagined were possible. I had faith in my abilities, determination in my heart, and a stubbornness to not allow anyone to say what I could and couldn’t do. That’s a deadly combo for success right there. 

Lastly, doing good by others. Kindness is free, it’s not hard to do, and it improves your own mental health. I have been greeted with kindness in this community and I think in part it’s due to the kindness I try to put into it. I try to be intentional with my actions, and I  never allow it to move too far from my mind that there are youngsters out there who have looked to me for guidance. I want to be the woman for them to look up to, and the woman the younger me needed. 

7. What’s coming up next for you?

Currently my truck is unfortunately throwing a tantrum at the dealership. I just received an update that has me a little concerned. However, I am going to continue to plan my next big trip which is the Bison Stampede in Bluff UT, Sept 19-22nd. For details on that please join the https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1MAKUPHoct/?mibextid=wwXIfr group. The plan is to travel to CO and do a little off-roading there before making my way to UT for the stampede. Tentatively I am slated to run the first aid kit workshop on Friday and then do the trail runs Saturday and Sunday. Monday I take off with azn8tive to AZ to do some wheeling there, and finally make my way to the Grand Canyon and Zion to do some hiking before making the long drive back to MI. I have some projects planned for the rig to prepare. A big one being the roof rack. Truly hope to have my rig back and hit the trails with yall soon!!! Stay tuned to my YouTube channel for installs. https://youtube.com/@zr2girlz658?si=CO7bLrc-_76cywxz. Till then wheel on friends 💪🏼💙🤘🏼