Toyota Trails Magazine Article

We may be far from Guatemala at this point, but we recently had an article published about our time in the Petén region of Guatemala.  The article was featured in the May/June 2013 issue of Toyota Trails Magazine.  This was a pretty exciting opportunity to be able to write about our experiences and see it in print.  

We've had friends and family request to see the article.  If you’re interested :
Guatemala By The Dashboard Light

If for some crazy reason you want to get your hands on the print version, you can find it here

Questions from Kindergarteners

Recently we were approached by a Kindergarten teacher  who told his students about our adventures.  They were very curious about and had some thoughtful questions.  He sent us this list of questions, and it was so much fun to think about our responses to a group of 5-6 year olds.

When we finished our response, we decided the answers could actually clear things up for most of the grown-up questions that we've received over the years.  It's become very clear to us that no one will truly comprehend what our life has been like on this journey.  Most of the "Western World" has so many misconceptions and strange notions about other cultures and unfamiliar places, which is why we have enjoyed challenging our own understanding of the world and experiencing the world first hand.

1st Gen 4Runner Dual Battery, Zuk Mod & Fan-tastic Vent Fan Install

Leveled out again

Technically we were on the road, still in the United States,  but we still felt completely unorganized and overpacked. While visiting family in Washington state, we paused for a chance to re-organize, de-clutter, do some work and get rid of unnecessary gear.  

WARNING:  From this point forward this post gets boring unless you're into Toyotas and vehicle customization. 

'86-89 Toyota 4Runner Old Man Emu Suspension

WHY we installed the full ARB Old Man Emu Light/Medium suspension on our '87 4Runner before we drove from the USA to Argentina.  Also a detailed run-down of the installation with photos.  We also give our unbiased opinions of this suspension from our experiences over the last 8 years (~80k miles).  ARB has never given us any products or compensation and we receive nothing in return for this writeup.  This is strictly for the benefit of the Toyota 4x4 community.

WARNING: this update will be long, boring, and technical.  Proceed with caution.

When I originally bought the 4runner it was in surprisingly great shape for a 30 year old 4WD.  It was garage kept and the previous 2 owners truly babied it. The suspension on the other hand was in a sorry state.

Vaccinations: Our Visit with Rebecca

Brenton and I have done our research. We knew which vaccinations we wanted for the trip, what medications we want to bring and what medical supplies we'd like to take for an emergency.

About a week ago, we finally made the appointment to get our immunizations. I had spent a couple of days calling different clinics and doctor's offices to find the best prices…immunizations aren't cheap.

We decided on a clinic in town and called to make the appointment. I was initially annoyed at the fact that they insist you schedule a "travel consultation" and don't just let you walk in, get the shots you request, and go. I can say now, I am so happy we had the opportunity to meet and talk with Rebecca, our travel nurse.

Learning Spanish

Before going on a trip of this proportion, it's important to learn the language. Matter of fact, part of the reason we're going on this trip is to learn more and become comfortable communicating in Spanish. 

At the bare minimum, you should be able to count to ten and know common pleasantries. Just attempting to communicate in the local dialect can go a long way towards making friends with strangers. This shows a willingness to learn the culture and communicate on the terms of the locals.

Both of our Spanish skills have gotten pretty rusty over the years so we bought the entire Rosetta Stone to practice.  It's not cheap, but you are able to download it to two computers so we only used one download, and let our mechanic use the second download in exchange for occasional help and advice. 

Bribe Basket

photo courtesy of DriveTheAmericas

We won a unique giveaway in a contest through Drive the Americas, one of our top resources for this trip.  This anti-bribe kit was put together to help us avoid the shakedown that is often experienced by travelers in Latin America. When dealing with corrupt border officials and police officers, you need all the help you can get...check out Drive the Americas' website for tons of tips and what to look out for. 

They also do a great job of explaining why supporting corruption is bad for travelers everywhere and why you shouldn't ever take part. Here's what is inside of our little goody bag...

Overland Expo

To prepare for our upcoming adventure, we attended Overland Expo.  This is an annual event that educates and inspires people interested in exploring the world by bike, motorcycle, or vehicle.  It's catered to prepare weekend travelers or groups hoping to circumnavigate the globe.

We bought the 3-day package which gave us access to every class, the offroad driving course, and camping onsite for the weekend.  We debated for weeks whether this event would be worth the investment, not to mention the drive to Arizona.  We were very pleased to find out that it surpassed all of our expectations and it was money well spent.

Playing it safe...Find me SPOT

A couple years ago I bought a SPOT satellite locator because they were on clearance. Shannon was looking at me the same way she does whenever we're at REI, Cabela's or any hardware store, holding a potential new toy...

"What do you need that for?" she asked.  I spent about 30 minutes explaining to her (and convincing myself) that we needed it...SPOT's satellite products are made for people who like to go outdoors, far away from any cell phone tower. SPOT's service has several functions, but to sum it up you can use it to signal for 911/rescue/med-evac, check-in with your family and tell them you're ok, or roadside assistance when you have no cellphone reception.

Border Crossing & Shipping info

Border Crossings

We will be crossing anywhere from 12 to 20 (maybe more) borders on our drive, depending on which countries we decide to include. Each border presents it's own challenges and the more prepared you are, the better your experience.  Check out BorderHelper and WikiOverland for the latest info on each border crossing.

Shipping Around the Darien Gap

the Panamericana roadway system stops in Yaviza, Panama and then reappears 150km south in Colombia. While others have braved the infamous Darien Gap by vehicle, the region is filled with narcotraffickers and bandits so most travelers avoid the potentially suicidal trip by shipping their vehicle.

We were contacted by a French couple who we first met in Guatemala, and decided to share the costs of a 40' freight container with them. Vehicle shipping can be a lengthy and complicated process, which is usually considered the worst part of a Pan-Am overland journey but overall it wasn't that bad for us.  We shipped our vehicle with Evergreen Shipping via Tea Kalmbach (tea.kalmbach@gmail.com).  While waiting for the vehicle to arrive in Cartagena, we decided to sail to Colombia via the San Blas islands on an 85 foot boat called The Independence. After calculating the costs of hotel rooms, food, and transportation, sailing ended up costing the same as just flying directly to Cartagena.  If you decide to sail to Colombia, be sure to do lots of research because not all boats are created equally and sailing is not for everyone.

Ferry Service Around Darien Gap
There has been much buzz the past few years about a ferry that was rumored to begin voyages between Panama and Colombia, shuttling travelers across.  This is honestly an impossible task to pull off, since the company involved has a ton of red tape to hurdle between both countries.  Pan-Am travelers were crossing their fingers with high hopes, the rumored maiden voyage was scheduled to be May 31, 2012.  Err, nevermind.  Don't hold your breath, this will probably never be a viable option.

For more information...