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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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#16 |
pie is never free
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: the drivers seat
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Sounds like a once in a lifetime epic adventure, and also dangerous
Its basically the Wild West in some parts of the nations you'll be passing through, the hidden compartment for valuables idea is a good one, and I would definitely make sure my Spanish is somewhat fluent |
Posts: 93,485
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#17 |
error 404
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bizarro World
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These two guys might be interested.
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Posts: 3,990
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#18 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Posts: 27,435
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#19 |
Grand champ
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Learn Spanish, gringo, or you'll stick out like a sore thumb.
Also, have fun. |
Posts: 45,140
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#20 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Yep I'm cramming as much as I can for the next 6 months.
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Posts: 27,435
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#21 |
Fish are scared of me
Join Date: Nov 2001
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YOU'RE A FOOL AND YOU'RE GONNA DIE.
Just kiddin. Mexico is a safe place. Nothing like Syria. |
Posts: 40,721
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#22 |
Sleeping on the blacktop
Join Date: Nov 2013
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I read a blog about some dude who drove from Alaska to Argentina in a Wrangler. Seems like an amazing trip.
Last i read, he was gonna circumnavigate Africa in his Wrangler, but that would lead to certian death I'd believe. Good luck |
Posts: 16,477
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#23 |
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2013
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carry a gun
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Posts: 7,127
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#24 |
Psycho Bag Of Squanch
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Posts: 69,591
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#25 |
MVP
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Bud - I got conversational fluent in Italian at the Beverly Hills lingual institute. Not expensive like you'd think.
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Posts: 12,762
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#26 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Hola fellow planeteers! New touchy-feely blog post is up: http://ushuaiaorbust.com/2017/12/16/...time-equalize/
Current plan:
Last edited by suzzer99; 12-17-2017 at 02:09 AM.. |
Posts: 27,435
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#27 |
Just a li'l Evel
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts.
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Really cool blog and thread dude. good luck! I've body surfed at that beach where the trailer park is in La Bufadora. We used to go do the Rosarito to Ensenada bike ride every spring and fall. Once I had kids that stopped -heh. But good times. have a great trip. what an adventure! Rep.
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Posts: 11,890
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#28 |
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2013
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I don't know what I thought you looked like. But it wasn't that.
Enjoy your adventure! |
Posts: 53,803
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#29 | |
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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#30 | |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Quote:
![]() Heh - this is the the girl who seems pretty serious about joining me. Just another dog hoping to have his day. Anyone feel free to reach out to me on social media - all the links are at the bottom of my blog. |
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Posts: 27,435
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cooper barrett |
This message has been deleted by cooper barrett.
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