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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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ARGENTINA TO ALASKA
THIS was fun!
The other day..last Wednesday..I happened to meet some travelers who told me of their great Road Trip in a unique vehicle. This young couple, Juan
and Amy, were on the trip of their lives...driving a small diesel-powered 2WD car that looked a lot like the old International Scouts. They started
about 18 months ago from their hometown in Argentina and are shooting at reaching Alaska sometime this summer and heading south again before winter Up
North traps them. (I admire their hectic pace...I've taken a few of those myself over the years.)
........................................ FROM ARGENTINA...UNIFYING THE THREE AMERICAS..................................
I was having a little barbeque on Thursday, so they were invited to camp in my driveway and join the dinner party the next day. More good amigos
well met on the Baja Road...such is life in Baja, where you never meet a stranger, just friends you don't know yet.
Early the next morning, Juan treats us to something special from his homeland .. maté ..a form of tea. I have had this
before in some travels south, and it is indeed more of a social event than just having a refreshment. In Argentina, Uraguay, Paraguay, Brazil, and
other SA places friends gather and share a mate. To be invited to enjoy maté tea in Argentina is a great honor. Although it is more informal, it is a
ceremony of friendship equal to the tea ceremony in Japan.
Maté is made with very hot water from a teabag or dried herbal leaves, as was the case with Juan's on my patio. (No, not those kind of
leaves..)
We thanked Juan and Amy for sharing this traditional drink with us.
And invite them to share our traditional drink. They were naturals.
The youngsters were adding to their travel budget by making and selling vendor-style some nice wooden and agate jewelry. Juan is the craftsman here.
We told them to show us what they had. ( I bought a few pieces to make future points with Co-pilot. You never know when you might need a
kitchen pass.)
I bought a few pieces to make future points with Co-pilot. You never know when you might need a kitchen pass. 
.
.
That afternoon of the patio barbeque was when the UNBELIEVABLE HAPPENED.
The following was truly a wild coincidence..totally weird.
Another young couple showed up ... from Argentina!
Guess what?...they were driving from THEIR hometown in Argentina..to ALASKA! also in a unique little vehicle..a 2cylinder
putt-putt.
My questions:
-What do you think the odds are that they would meet on my patio in Baja California Sur enroute to Alaska??
-Is every young couple in Argentina going to show up on my patio in some old roadster that looks like the funky cars in the final pile-up scene in
'The Pink Panther'?
-Don't young people work these days?
-would they have room for me?
.
The next day the adventurers are heading out together in their little 2 car convoy...at the breakneck speed of 38-40 mph up the Baja Road. To Alaska.
And back...?
See you in about..what.. 18 months?
Bien Viaje y Hasta la Vista, Amigos!
.
[Edited on 3-12-2010 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Woooosh
Banned
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Wow. That is a great story and photos. Are they on a Gum-ball Rally of some type and no one told them? Two vehicles with similar themes and maps
as well. Quite the co-incidence. Thanks!
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Pompano
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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You are right on target, Whoooosh. These Argentina - Alaska rallys are getting to be quite common..except that not all make it! Lotsa fun. Right
now there 12 Renaults enroute...hoo boy.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Woooosh
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I wonder what they do for parts for those rigs? They have to be pretty well-off to make a trip like that- everything in the USA is three times as
expensive for them with their home currency being so low in value. Even Mexico would not seem a bargain. Argentina is a steal is you go on vacation
there- but you just don't see many that can afford even road trips like that. Good for them though! Do it while you are young and can live on the
road- on the cheap.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Pomp
First photo looks like an old 1950's model Willys Overland wagon
http://www.willysonline.com/utilitypages/59wagonAT.html
[Edited on 3-12-2010 by bajaguy]
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Whoooosh, Juan and Amy had to replace an entire engine in Columbia..not new, but still spendyfor them. They are not rich, but hey..young people
don't need much. They find ways. Like my crowd in the early 60's, we saw the world on a budget.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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tjBill
Senior Nomad
Posts: 516
Registered: 10-6-2007
Location: Tijuana
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How did the Argentines manage to drive from Colombia to Central America since there is no road that connects the continents.
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Barbareno
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Registered: 11-4-2007
Location: Vernon BC
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Wow. What a trip that would be. I will be looking for them. Good chance they would come up through the Okanagan Valley here in BC. You never know.
Wouldn't ya just love to read their diary?
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ELINVESTIG8R
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Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
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What a great story Pompano. Thank you for sharing it. I wish those couples a safe journey to Alaska and back home!
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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I was thinking along the same lines, too, bajaguy...but couldn't remember the name 'Willys Overland'..thanks for the mention.
| Quote: | Originally posted by tjBill
How did the Argentines manage to drive from Colombia to Central America since there is no road that connects the continents. |
tjBill...here's what we did, but in reverse directions. You can take the Pan American Highway from Alaska to Chile. The best way south from
mainland USA to South America is to get to Texas whichevery way you like...and begin from there...starting south on I-35 and so on. There are various
roads you can plot out with good maps or merely using AAA service.
From Central America to Columbia you have the Darien Gap:
You want to bypass this. Be aware that the Pan American Highway temporarily stops near the Darien Gap (Panama-Columbia border), which is a dense
rainforest with dirt roads and inhabited by..er... 'dangerous animals.' Rather than drive through the rainforest, have a cargo ship or ferry carry
you from Panama to Columbia. Ports are located in the cities of Tolu or Turbo. You can also ship your car, motorcycle,
motor home, whatever, from Panama down the entire Pacific length of South America to Chili....and start the drive back up the Pan American Highway...a
great way to make the adventure and take a little sea cruise.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Barbareno
Wow. What a trip that would be. I will be looking for them. Good chance they would come up through the Okanagan Valley here in BC. You never know.
Wouldn't ya just love to read their diary? |
Barbareno...keep your eyes open for these travelers. The odds are good that you might see them...or others..along your stretch of Pan-Am
& Al-Can Highway.
Approximate distances from Delta Junction, Alaska - Castro, Chili = 17,500 kilometers or 10,800 miles. Who's up for a Road Trip?!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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wessongroup
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Sure glad you are not afraid to take and have your picture taken, really a treat to see you having such fun... and really glad you got that new camera
(again)
Good for you.. and getting to meet such nice people too... life is good.. thank you for sharing.. a treat
[Edited on 3-12-2010 by wessongroup]
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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Pompano,
Always like your posts and this is a great story. But there's one problem. I use a Dell Mini and the maximum screen width is 1024 pixels. Many of the
photos you post cause a left-right scroll bar because of their width. That makes reading the comments a pain because I have to pan.
Anybody else have this problem or am I the only one running a width of 1024 pixels?
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
Pompano,
Always like your posts and this is a great story. But there's one problem. I use a Dell Mini and the maximum screen width is 1024 pixels. Many of the
photos you post cause a left-right scroll bar because of their width. That makes reading the comments a pain because I have to pan.
Anybody else have this problem or am I the only one running a width of 1024 pixels? |
k-rico...excuse the error and I know panning is a pain. I am using a new Windows 7 replacement for my Vista and am learning on the fly. I will reset
the re-sizer feature on these photos to fit the screens better..hang on, here it comes.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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k-rico
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Location: Playas de Tijuana
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Thanks!
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abreojos
Nomad
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Thanks Pompano, you made my morning! Been hoping my property here in Baja would sell so I can buy one in Argentina and move there. Wondered what the
drive was like, but I wouldn't want to take that long to get there!
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
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Location: Mission Viejo
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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re-size
| Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
Pompano,
Always like your posts and this is a great story. But there's one problem. I use a Dell Mini and the maximum screen width is 1024 pixels. Many of the
photos you post cause a left-right scroll bar because of their width. That makes reading the comments a pain because I have to pan.
Anybody else have this problem or am I the only one running a width of 1024 pixels? |
k-rico...excuse the error and I know panning is a pain. I am using a new Windows 7 replacement for my Vista and am learning on the fly. I will reset
the re-sizer feature on these photos to fit the screens better..hang on, here it comes. |
Use a 17" laptop.. only time I have to scroll is for the text... which is worth it for the bigger than life pictures... for me.. I'll take the scroll
for the big pictures..
Off topic.. Pompano, can you share a bit more about your home.. the patio is just super.. and we get hints from other photos of you home, of what it
is kinda like.. it looks really comfortable and folks around you seem to be always having a great time..
Thank you again for sharing.. your life with us... 
[Edited on 3-12-2010 by wessongroup]
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Question:
How does the photo size edit fit everyone's screen now?
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Timo1
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 11-2-2007
Location: Homeless
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much much much better....Thank you sir
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abreojos
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Looks the same to me...perfect!
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k-rico
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Excellent, you got it, no left-right scroll bar at 1024 pixels.
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