|
05-13-2017, 02:44 AM | |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
|
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: 27,470
|
01-02-2018, 09:08 PM | #61 |
New and Improved
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Springfield, Mo.
|
You might want to put a link to your blog in the OP.
|
Posts: 21,871
|
01-02-2018, 09:10 PM | #62 | |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
|
Quote:
Thanks a lot guys. It's actually really not dangerous at all so far. Baja is as safe as Patagonia imo - which was also very safe. You just have to be smart about stuff. But even then there's no armed-banditry or anything like that. Just petty crime. Hell in most of the bigger towns all the Mexicans have iPhones. It's really only when you're near the migrant labor camps - where they don't have a pot to piss in - that you have to worry about your car. And all the hotels have big fortress courtyards with gates they close at night - so you know your car is safe. Or if you camp out you pay like $5 and you're inside some safe fence. Once you get to central Baja there's basically nothing - and wild camping is totally safe. I've found Mexicans in Baja almost entirely to be extremely polite, trusting, honest and courteous. It's seems kind of like Alaska - where people stick together because they're so spread out and rely on their neighbors fighting the elements. There are a million snowbirds down here from the US and Canada. If it's safe for a 70-year-old couple in a $200k RV, it's safe for anyone. I encourage anyone to come down and drive Baja some time. I've been to a ton of places and it's probably the most scenic drive I've ever seen next to Southern Utah. Last edited by suzzer99; 01-02-2018 at 09:17 PM.. |
|
Posts: 27,470
|
01-02-2018, 09:11 PM | #63 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
|
|
Posts: 27,470
|
01-03-2018, 12:00 AM | #64 | |
pie is never free
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: the drivers seat
|
Quote:
Thats a great adventure you're on, color me jelly |
|
Posts: 94,082
|
01-03-2018, 01:25 AM | #65 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
|
Thanks! Latest blog post is up: http://ushuaiaorbust.com/2018/01/02/...as-shipwrecks/
|
Posts: 27,470
|
1 0 |
01-03-2018, 01:56 AM | #66 |
Fish are scared of me
Join Date: Nov 2001
|
I'm following along and enjoying your trip. you're saving me a lot of money as I can scratch this off my bucket list.
|
Posts: 40,779
|
1 0 |
01-03-2018, 02:06 AM | #67 | |
CEO of Gorilla Channel
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Covfefe, Kekistan
|
Quote:
|
|
Posts: 18,284
|
01-05-2018, 09:25 PM | #68 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
|
Any CPers in Cabo right now?
|
Posts: 27,470
|
01-05-2018, 09:38 PM | #69 |
pie is never free
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: the drivers seat
|
|
Posts: 94,082
|
01-05-2018, 10:07 PM | #70 |
New and Improved
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Springfield, Mo.
|
Good read man. Sounds like you're enjoying yourself.
|
Posts: 21,871
|
01-05-2018, 10:19 PM | #71 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
|
Thanks - I'm having a blast so far. Baja is amazing. I head to the mainland in a ferry on Tuesday.
|
Posts: 27,470
|
01-05-2018, 10:23 PM | #72 | |
New and Improved
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Springfield, Mo.
|
Quote:
Hmmm, wonder if somewhere out there there's some surfer dudes posting on their blog about the weird traveling dude who kept bugging them about a party. |
|
Posts: 21,871
|
1 0 |
01-06-2018, 08:19 PM | #73 |
MVP
Join Date: Oct 2010
|
So incredibly jealous of you. I wish I was able to go with you
|
Posts: 18,124
|
01-12-2018, 11:52 AM | #74 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
|
|
Posts: 27,470
|
01-12-2018, 11:55 AM | #75 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
|
A couple new blog posts since my last post here. Lots of food, some nice scenery and fun 4x4ing:
http://ushuaiaorbust.com/2018/01/07/2-bahias-1-cove/ http://ushuaiaorbust.com/2018/01/12/best-things-life/ Also suzzer tries surfing. |
Posts: 27,470
|
|
|