Adventure Americas

[rain76king]

Many of you probably read the March/April 2013 Toyota Trails story of "Adventure Americas". A pretty cool story about a couple who set off from Wyoming to drive their Tacoma to Argentina.

My hats off to them for taking on such a huge trip.
Though my trip wasn't as extravagant as theirs I most certainly understand the amount of work that it takes in planning, prepping and setting forth on a long road trip.
It's a very accomplished feeling that you get after completing such a feat.

Unfortunately for this couple the trip didn't really end the way they had envisioned.

Traveling through South America is beautiful and also pretty dangerous. This is how their story ends if anyone is interested in the read http://adventureamericas.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/nightmare-in-peru/.

My thoughts and prayers go out to them. I wish for them all a quick physical and emotional healing.

 

[rain76king]

As I read more it looks like they decided to fix the vehicle and continue on their trip.
Incident happened in late December/early Jan and they are continuing their trip!

http://adventureamericas.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/moving-on/

 

[Wrench]

Wow incredible story. Can't imagine. Thanks for posting. I wonder if they had guns if things would of turned out better. Rather than bear spray. Or carry more spray. But things went south real quick once they blew the whistles. In hindsight just keep driving would of been the best option.

 

[landtank]

if they had guns they would have been dead I think. Sounds like the village had an inherent dislike for strangers and were likely fueled by a lye from the presidente. Being American is not so good either.

I've ran into my share of American haters in my travels for work.

 

[remy1974]

Wow that was quite the story gald to see that they got back on the horse and kept heading forward.

 

[chill will]

I had followed their whole story from the beginning. It's sad that it had to go this way. It's expected when traveling to run into an individual with bad intentions but couldn't imagine being treated like that by a whole village.

 

[Sporin]

if they had guns they would have been dead I think. Sounds like the village had an inherent dislike for strangers and were likely fueled by a lye from the presidente. Being American is not so good either.

I've ran into my share of American haters in my travels for work.

I agree, it would have just escalated the violence that much more.

Such a sad story but also an illustration of how dangerous this kind of travel can be. I honestly think they are lucky to have survived and I doubt very much that they will get any real "justice" from Peru as sad as that is.

 

[REDrum]

Horrible, just horrible. Their saga has been discussed at length on EXPO. Something happened around their 3rd paragraph....

Something that only they know, something that leaves a hole in their story.

While I have not spent anytime in south america I do spend ~4 weeks a year in central america. We have found people extremely welcoming and hospitable; from Belize to Panama, couldn't ask for nicer. However, law is like 3G down there, it exists, but its scarce... Humor, humility, beer, money, and knowing when to leave are your best self protection tools.

PAX

 

[Wrench]

What are these "documents"? And why are they so valuable that people would become violent over?

 

[Splangy]

What are these "documents"? And why are they so valuable that people would become violent over?

Religious documents?

 

[yodafrick]

Pretty sure it's passports, visas, travel papers, etc. don't think it was the papers that made them violent, many third world countries are "run" by rebel groups that capture and torture tourists, especially Americans.

 

[Wrench]

Pretty sure it's passports, visas, travel papers, etc. don't think it was the papers that made them violent, many third world countries are "run" by rebel groups that capture and torture tourists, especially Americans.

So what your saying is regardless if they handed over the documents or not the out come would of been the same. In other words they were screwed right from the beginning.