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In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Planning to drive from LA to Patagonia next year (looking for copilots)
Update! Link to my book on Amazon (also available on bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble online, Apple Books, etc): https://www.amazon.com/Land-Without-.../dp/1959099728
The book is a Bill Bryson-style travel memoir of me getting into stupid and sometimes dangerous situations driving from Los Angeles to Panama, including getting stuck on the wrong side of Nicaragua during the uprising of 2018. It also contains a ton of historical information on ancient Mesoamerica and some of the modern politics of Central America—basically, anything that piqued my interest in the year+ I spent researching. Also, I eat a lot of delicious food. Anyone curious about this part of the world should get a lot out of the book as part of a hopefully funny, entertaining read. I hope you enjoy! ![]() Link to blog!!! - http://ushuaiaorbust.com/blog/ I better post this before I get banned for welching on my bet and posting in DC. If I'm banned and anyone wants to go for any part of the trip - PM flopnuts or BRC - they know me on twoplustwo.com and can contact me. More eyes and ears are always welcome. I've got one guy who wants to go - but he'd have to quit his job, so obviously nothing is guaranteed. I just got back from a photo trip in Patagonia, where we drove a lot. I LOVE the region and South America in general. Never been to Central America but I've had some great trips in Mexico. I have two jobs and I'm sick of both. I don't think the side job will last much longer, and the day job is about done for me. I probably need to stick it out until the end of year to get my bonus and pay off some 401(k) loans. But unless I get plugged into some interesting projects - I'm gone. I figure there has to be some advantage to dying alone with no kids. This would be the adventure of my life. I'd try to live-blog it as much as possible. Our photo tour guide from the Patagonia trip is planning a 20-day partial boat tour next May that he's calling "an expedition". We'll get into some fjords in Southern Chile that hardly any one's ever been to - much less landscape photographers. So that's my parameter - be in Patagonia by mid-May. I've done some cursory research, and it seems pretty doable. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/35876322/n...nyc-argentina/ http://www.worldlyrambles.com/summar...o-or-not-to-do You have to ship your car across the Darien Gap - which is a PITA. Very rough plan is to drive to Cabo, then take the ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan. Then head South. I'd probably zip across El Salvador and Honduras as fast as possible, enjoy myself in Costa Rica and maybe Nicaragua. I've been to Peru, Columbia, Chile and Argentina and know they're pretty safe. I feel like I'd want to avoid driving in Brazil, Venezuela (govt might seize my car) or the Guyanas. Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia should be fine. I know not to drive at night in sketchy places and find secure parking for my car. I plan to mostly camp and stay in hostels. I can sleep in my car in a pinch. Maybe splurge on a hotel when I want some extra security for my car. On the way back I may either sell my car or ship to LA or Florida from Colombia. Prerequisites:
Big question is whether or not to take my FJ Cruiser or buy an Outback or something for $5k: Pros:
Cons:
Any thoughts or advice is mucho appreciated. I am fine with the idea that I could have everything stolen and have to limp back with my tail between my legs. You don't have an adventure w/o risking something. If I get killed I had a good life. My biggest fears are getting kidnapped or paralyzed in a car wreck. Both seem fairly low probability. Last edited by suzzer99; 07-31-2024 at 10:46 PM.. |
Posts: 27,435
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#241 | |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Quote:
You generally want to avoid Belize City south of the river, San Salvador, Guatemala City, and Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula in Honduras. But that's not super different than a lot of US inner cities. My only real close shave was in Nicaragua - which is actually a very safe country wrt crime. But they had protest road blocks blocking all travel. So I got stuck on the Caribbean side for a week, wondering if I would ever get out, then had to talk my way through a bunch of road blocks to make it to Costa Rica. |
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Posts: 27,435
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#242 | |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Quote:
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Posts: 27,435
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#243 | |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Quote:
Then I came back to the states, got a job, and gained weight like I always do on a new job. Peaked out at 280 - an all time high! Now I'm about 256, which is apparently where my body wants to be or something. |
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Posts: 27,435
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#244 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2018
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Posts: 2,336
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#245 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Not many.
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Posts: 27,435
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#246 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Kansas City, MO
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Quote:
Props to you, Suzzer, for keeping track of your journey. I started a journal, but the entries got shorter as the days went by. I wish I would have done better. |
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Posts: 1,201
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#247 |
Supporter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Scott City KS
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It would have to be mine too. But no chance with the side and kids and even in my single days I lived pretty efficiently, so it would be a tough sell.
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Posts: 57,558
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#248 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Hi everyone! My book is finally out in paperback and eBook!
https://www.amazon.com/Land-Without-.../dp/B0DB6K7FX3 (also available on bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble, etc). It's basically a Bill Bryson-style travel memoir of me getting into stupid and sometimes dangerous situations along the drive from Los Angeles to Panama. It also contains a ton of historical information on ancient Mesoamerica and some of the modern politics of Central America—basically, anything that piqued my interest in the year+ I spent researching. Also, I eat a lot of delicious food. Anyone curious about this part of the world should get a lot out of the book as part of a hopefully funny, entertaining read. I hope you enjoy! ![]() |
Posts: 27,435
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#249 | |
Feeling Victorian
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Nebraska/Wyoming/Colorado
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Posts: 33,885
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#250 |
Stay down bitch!
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Plano, TX
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Done. I went to Mazatlan this year, I enjoyed it very much but I’d rather explore less touristy areas like Oaxaca City and Puerto Escondido.
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Posts: 9,286
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#251 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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I visit both of those in the book!
Oaxaca/Puebla is second only to Italy for me when it comes to food. |
Posts: 27,435
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#252 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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It's pretty safe as long as you stay out of the bad parts of the big cities. Gangs know that cops actually take crimes against gringo tourists seriously (not so much against locals).
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Posts: 27,435
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#253 |
Politically Incorrect
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
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I remember reading your adventures in this thread.
Congrats on finally getting it published. What makes that process so long or did you only recently submit your story? |
Posts: 51,588
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#254 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Thanks!
It took about 4.5 years of working 1-2 hours/day to complete the book. 30% of that was research. The first draft took about 2 years. The second draft took about a year. Subsequent editing took about a year and a half. I don't think I would have finished it w/o covid and the switch to working at home full time. That freed up 2.5 hours per day just commuting. I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning. Knowing what I know now and starting from the level my writing is at now, I could probably cut the time roughly in half. I do plan to do South America soon, and write another book about it. Then hopefully the whole world. |
Posts: 27,435
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#255 |
error 404
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bizarro World
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I found your copilots.
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Posts: 3,990
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