DMC South America Expedition and ROTW write-up

tltaylor22 · 02-24-08, 09:24 PM

Nice pic Dave.

I recieved my EA stickers in the mail today. It's like christmas

. As soon as we get a break in the wet weather and I have a clean rig, I'm getting stickered. Keep safe brother.

bpenn1980 · 02-24-08, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmc

the last week has been pretty chaotic. more importantly the last 2 days have been insane. my phone died so i lost all access to my data and email, i've crossed two borders, paid three bribes, filled my tank with diesel (not my fault) travelled on a visa i'm not sure was legit and crossed the 20k mark. one pic for the day. i'm poaching wirelss in Ascunsion and am not sure i want to stay parked here for too long. Hopefully i'll get an update later this week. oh and did i mention i've been awake for 40 hours straight?

dude, you're a warrior!

Perkins · 02-25-08, 01:10 PM

The greatest posting I've seen. Beautiful. Keep it goin'!

charleston · 02-25-08, 05:02 PM

Incredible Picture! Love reading your posts, had a dream last night that I was on an expedition like yours but then I woke up

toylndcrusr · 03-01-08, 07:42 AM

40 hours? Dang!

That picture you posted, is that one of those shallow lakes at high elevation where there are steam vents and the little shrimp live? I saw a show on National Geographic called The Dragons Back or something like that about that mountain range through Peru. It was neat.

Be safe and blessed.

dmc · 03-01-08, 06:51 PM

so after 10 days in the gran chaco and the altiplano i'm back to an internet connection. here are some pics of the bumpstops. they are fj80 stops that bolt directly into the fzj80 frame.

not the best pics in the world but you can see where i added the old style bump stump and removed the stop inside the spring. they work just fine with the 33s but the 35s still rub with the new bumpstops (i found this out after jumping my truck last fall with 35s and touching all 4 in the wheel wells)
dmc

dmc · 03-01-08, 07:31 PM

so i'm sick again. this time a head cold and spent most of the day in bed. friend flew home this morning from La Paz and another arrives at 6:30am tomorrow then back on the road. I posted up 50+ pics in the gallery and hope to have a post for the blog written before the night is over. I had a 136 emails when I plugged in tonight. Losing my phone for a week really hurt the communication thing. i've been staring at this screen and typing for hours. I think i got most of it done though. enjoy the pics and i'll try and post up here when i get a chance. the last few weeks were 75% dirt and mud. I crossed probably 75 rivers (floods in bolivia) and even managed to get my truck into reverse and onto dry ground after one river, 200 yards across, surpassed the 4 foot depth mark. it's been a very chaotic and exhilirating 10 days. 10 days i'll remember for the rest of my life for sure. enjoy the pics and words should be around in the morning.
dmc

96Cruiser13 · 03-03-08, 09:10 AM

great write ups all the time dave!
I love reading this thread, so interesting.
Stay safe!

DarkCloud · 03-04-08, 06:50 PM

dmc,

What are your plans concerning Chavez's and Correa's recent display of stupidity? Might be hairy going through Ecuador and Colombia on your way back.

charleston · 03-04-08, 10:06 PM

Looking at his last location from Google earth, the terrain looks no different then on mars, except for the snow and lakes...
-22.1902,-67.8193 - Google Maps

Grolar · 03-05-08, 06:17 PM

So there you are, in Chile!

The San Pedro de Atacama region is one of the most amazing places on earth. Don't miss Geiser del Tatio (follow the tourist bus departing before dawn if your GPS can't get you there, and careful with the sulphuric pools), Valle de la Luna and the small canyon east of Toconao, besides the salar, of course.
Lots of great restaurants in San Pedro, relaxed locals and cool hotels if your weakening dollars (vs. local currency) can afford a decent one for some nights.
And in Chile... watch your speed, especially on the Panamerican. Cops there arrest everybody driving even slightly over the speed limit, which is quite low even by US standards. They won't accept bribes, oddly enough.

Way down south, explore Valle del Elqui, another piece of land touched by heaven. Tesoro del Elqui is your hotel of choice. German ownership can't be wrong (it's hospital clean!)
In between, Antofagasta sucks but La Serena makes a decent stop. PM me if you need more specifics, as I told you already, I was there in '01 and one of my workmates is Chilean.
Envy, envy, envy...
Great storytelling on your blog by the way.
Cheers
Grolar

dmc · 03-07-08, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkCloud

dmc,

What are your plans concerning Chavez's and Correa's recent display of stupidity? Might be hairy going through Ecuador and Colombia on your way back.

putting the truck on a boat and shipping it home

actually that has been the plan all along. way too expensive to drive it home. i saw tonight that the ecuador situation has been resolved. but chavez is still egging on colombia. i am glad i'm in chile

dmc · 03-07-08, 10:03 PM

tons of pics posted in the gallery...

Welcome to Expedition Americas

i found the cruiser mecca. Uyuni, Bolivia. 7 out of 10 vehicles is a cruiser and ALL you see on the roads is cruisers. i hope to get a write up done sunday on the last 5 days.
dmc

robmir · 03-08-08, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmc

putting the truck on a boat and shipping it home

actually that has been the plan all along. way too expensive to drive it home. i saw tonight that the ecuador situation has been resolved. but chavez is still egging on colombia. i am glad i'm in chile

Dave: Unfortunately this dispute is far of been resolved, Chavez have some dark and demented motives to keep it up and will add more of his personal diabolic touch to fuel it, just wait and see.

It's the best that you ship your cruiser from Chile to home as you planned.

Watching your latest pictures, is any place in your cruiser and your ass which has not been assaulted by dust, LOL

I guess you will need a tooth brush and a couple of months of hard, dusk to down, work to clean it up, right after you also work your ass off to pay for your unforgetable trip

Romer · 03-09-08, 09:49 PM

Those are some cool pics Dave. Stay safe man. When are you heading back to the states?

Ting · 03-10-08, 01:06 AM

Wow... love those pictures... Be safe, and thanks for sharing

TEPUI · 03-10-08, 12:24 PM

Dave,

What's your current location? PM me when you make it to Santiago.

Tapage · 03-10-08, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEPUI

Dave,

What's your current location? PM me when you make it to Santiago.

I saw in TA few pics ... San Pedro, or place close to Atacama ..

TEPUI · 03-10-08, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tapage

I saw in TA few pics ... San Pedro, or place close to Atacama ..

I think he may have already left San Pedro, he PM'd me this morning saying he'll be in Santiago soon, but did not tell me where he is exactly...

Tapage · 03-10-08, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEPUI

I think he may have already left San Pedro, he PM'd me this morning saying he'll be in Santiago soon, but did not tell me where he is exactly...

Please .. take plenty of pics !

ddorsch · 03-13-08, 09:35 PM

Dave great pictures!! Wish you the best. Thank you for sharing your trip.

Dave D

Grolar · 03-14-08, 08:21 PM

Are you in Puerto Montt already? Looks like you've rushed your way through chile and its geografia loca!

dmc · 03-17-08, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romer

Those are some cool pics Dave. Stay safe man. When are you heading back to the states?

just about in time to try and beg my way into Cruise Moab. i figure if you can't make it happen i can always bribe cheeseman.

Actually i'll be home by then but i think my truck will still be en route. we'll see.
dmc

dmc · 03-17-08, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grolar

Are you in Puerto Montt already? Looks like you've rushed your way through chile and its geografia loca!

I had a friend join me from the states. When that happens i am sort of at their pace because of flights and vacation time. so he wanted to see the north and the south so that's what we did. two long days in the middle made it happen. i've slowed due to delayed ferries in Quillon. Carratera Austral lies just ahead however.
dmc

dmc · 03-17-08, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEPUI

I think he may have already left San Pedro, he PM'd me this morning saying he'll be in Santiago soon, but did not tell me where he is exactly...

Tepui,

I know you are in Cali right now but i'm sure you'll see this eventually. it's too bad things didn't work out with us hooking up. but chances are i'll be back before too long. i had lunch with Patricio Rios Garay and he invited me back for the Raid de Atacama and to watch the 08 Dakar. if finances allow i'll be back.
dmc

robmir · 03-17-08, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmc

Tepui,

I know you are in Cali right now but i'm sure you'll see this eventually. it's too bad things didn't work out with us hooking up. but chances are i'll be back before too long. i had lunch with Patricio Rios Garay and he invited me back for the Raid de Atacama and to watch the 08 Dakar. if finances allow i'll be back.
dmc

You ARE a lucky S... B !!!!! Fulfilling your dream expedition AND be able to watch from the bench the 08 DAKAR

I just started to envy your future grandsons !!!!!

dmc · 03-17-08, 10:34 PM

Well dakar will depend a lot on the bank account by then. I will be starting from scratch when I get home and it will be a short turn around to come back if I make it. But I damn sure going to try

womacje · 03-17-08, 11:39 PM

Hope you get to see Futa before it joins the ranks with Atlantis and other underwater cities. Eat lots of pan and avocado for me. Thanks for helping with the winter passing, wonderful writing and the photos as well.

elmariachi · 03-22-08, 01:03 AM

Dave,

Been keeping up with your expedition for a couple months now. THIS PICTURE is without a doubt one of the coolest I have ever seen. I'd love a high-res for my desktop if you care to share.

Your blog and your journey kicks ass, I am envious.

Take care.

Jim

Beowulf · 03-22-08, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

THIS PICTURE is without a doubt one of the coolest I have ever seen. I'd love a high-res for my desktop if you care to share.

Funny you mention this Jim. Not 2 minutes before I read your post I clicked on that image, got a bit larger version, and saved it as my desktop. A high-res version would be great but that version works OK 'stretched' to 1280x1024.
-B-