BajaNomad - ARGENTINA TO ALASKA

ARGENTINA TO ALASKA

Pompano - 3-11-2010 at 09:05 PM

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]

Woooosh - 3-11-2010 at 09:19 PM

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!

Pompano - 3-11-2010 at 09:27 PM

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.

Woooosh - 3-11-2010 at 09:34 PM

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.

bajaguy - 3-11-2010 at 09:41 PM

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]

Pompano - 3-11-2010 at 09:43 PM

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.

tjBill - 3-12-2010 at 12:18 AM

How did the Argentines manage to drive from Colombia to Central America since there is no road that connects the continents.

Barbareno - 3-12-2010 at 05:57 AM

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?

ELINVESTIG8R - 3-12-2010 at 06:10 AM

What a great story Pompano. Thank you for sharing it. I wish those couples a safe journey to Alaska and back home!

Pompano - 3-12-2010 at 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
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]

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?!

wessongroup - 3-12-2010 at 06:46 AM

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]

k-rico - 3-12-2010 at 06:54 AM

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?

Pompano - 3-12-2010 at 07:04 AM

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.

k-rico - 3-12-2010 at 07:08 AM

Thanks!

abreojos - 3-12-2010 at 07:21 AM

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!

re-size

wessongroup - 3-12-2010 at 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano

Quote:

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]

Pompano - 3-12-2010 at 07:28 AM

Question:

How does the photo size edit fit everyone's screen now?

Timo1 - 3-12-2010 at 07:32 AM

much much much better....Thank you sir

abreojos - 3-12-2010 at 07:34 AM

Looks the same to me...perfect!

k-rico - 3-12-2010 at 07:36 AM

Excellent, you got it, no left-right scroll bar at 1024 pixels.

desertcpl - 3-12-2010 at 08:43 AM

i never had a problem.

I really enjoy your posts

Martyman - 3-12-2010 at 10:40 AM

I'm planning on driving to South America when I retire in 7 years. Can't wait! That ferry to Chile sounds like a plan.

Friends helping friends

Dave - 3-12-2010 at 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
would they have room for me?

You could drop Amy at my place.

Not your first Maté Roger!!

fixtrauma - 3-12-2010 at 01:06 PM

What a great story Roger! It looks like you all had a great time.

Just to remind you about another encounter with Maté in the back patio of your house!

Our son was living in Santiago, Chile and we had traveled there to visit him there. He introduced us to the cultural experience of the maté circle.

A few years later when deciding on a name for our new pup we decided on Maté!

Here are a few pictures of Maté enjoying your place at Coyote.

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Thanks for your hospitality!!

toneart - 3-12-2010 at 03:45 PM

I guess Rogelio isn't posting many pictures of that party to protect the guilty. I confess...I was there. It was a fiesta well done by a master host! There was BBQ'd steak, roasted chicken, sashimi, Oysters Rockefeller, many wonderful side dishes and mystery dips. That flagstone patio and the view is magnificent. I met the first Argentenian couple but had not heard their story. Missed the Mate' too.

Glad you filled us in on that, Roger. :yes:

Oso - 3-12-2010 at 04:46 PM

That's a Willys alright. The second vehicle is a Citroen 2CV, the legendary "Deux Chevaux", essentially a 4 wheel motorcycle with a 2 cyl opposed bike engine. Some earlier models had corrugated sheet metal bodies over tube steel frames. The seats were tube frame lawn chairs with canvas supported by rubber bands. You could take the seats out for a picnic. They were kinda fun and very economical but I wouldn't want to drive one on LA freeways.

Bajahowodd - 3-12-2010 at 04:56 PM

I wonder if there is a cult that encourages people to make that trip. :lol:

A couple of years ago, we got into a panga at San Ignacio to play with the whales. Our only fellow boatmates were a couple from Austria, who had flown to Buenos Aires with their motorcycles, and had gone South from their so they could then journey North to Alaska. When we had our encounter in San Ignacio, they had been on the road almost one year.

Another distinguished member of the adventure.

Pompano - 3-13-2010 at 11:32 AM

A vintage 1928 touring car. Imagine riding this at a sizzling 35 mph on the Pan Am Highway.

Pompano - 3-13-2010 at 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart
I guess Rogelio isn't posting many pictures of that party to protect the guilty. I confess...I was there. It was a fiesta well done by a master host! There was BBQ'd steak, roasted chicken, sashimi, Oysters Rockefeller, many wonderful side dishes and mystery dips. That flagstone patio and the view is magnificent. I met the first Argentenian couple but had not heard their story. Missed the Mate' too.

Glad you filled us in on that, Roger. :yes:

Tony...find yourself in this crowd collage?..and your dog, Paco?

Stickers - 3-13-2010 at 12:31 PM

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.

Ditto, there is no road connecting Baja Sur to the continent either.
It's interesting how these intrepid travelers make the decision to 'ship' their vehicles over to Baja to see this rare and exotic place.
Or maybe it's just the huge hospitality magnet pulling them towards Pampano's patio?

Bajahowodd - 3-13-2010 at 05:02 PM

I can't speak for those, especially from Europe, But I do think that the idea of transiting a continent has an appeal. The diff between traveling up the main continent versus Baja, is a wash. But there are people out there, with a sense of discovery who do this kind of stuff.

Pompano - 3-13-2010 at 05:23 PM

It's all about....."The Great Race" It lives within all of us..especially Bajaphytes.

(1965, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon)

Iflyfish - 3-14-2010 at 10:04 AM

Epic journey indeed! You have a charmed life for a kid from Fargo! I recall looking at the flax fields from the roof of the barn in Pembina County and thinking "this is what the ocean must be like".

I greatly enjoy your posts, great stories and pictures.

Iflyfish

Baja12valve - 3-14-2010 at 11:00 AM

That Willys Overland was my first car, 4 cyl, 4x4, F-head engine, not a flathead. Top speed was 45 until we put in a Warn Overdrive gear splitter, which bumped the speed to 55. Can't tell you how many times I drove it into Baja during the 60's and 70's. Can't tell you how many times if broke down, I learned a lot about cars during that time. That particular car in the post is a later model. Mine was a '51, split windshield with a single tail light, no turn signal. Later they added two tail lights and towards the end, 61 or 62 being the last year of production, a single windshield. Seeing that picture sure brought a smile to me and lots of memories. I never heard of them being a diesel, I wonder if they put one in.

Bajalover - 3-14-2010 at 08:23 PM

Pampano, You've been really blessed. I've lived in SA for many years and Mate .... really is a great treat. Wow, an old jeep and a citreon cv2 - what a combination for travel.
God I wish I could have been there. Very impressive and exciting.
Good luck to both couples. :bounce:

Pompano - 3-15-2010 at 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajalover
Pampano, You've been really blessed. I've lived in SA for many years and Mate .... really is a great treat. Wow, an old jeep and a citreon cv2 - what a combination for travel.
God I wish I could have been there. Very impressive and exciting.
[size=4Good luck[/size] to both couples. :bounce:

Bajalover...you reminded me of a 'good luck' thing we did with the Argentine couple, Juan and Amy. We gave them the 'wishbone' to see who would get their wish.

As luck would have it, the wishbone broke evenly in half, so both get their wishes. :yes:

I kinda think that Good Luck for these youngsters is redundant, but we wish it anyway! Buena suerte, travelers.

fishingmako - 3-20-2010 at 06:30 PM

Pomp, those were really great pictures, you do such a good job, one time in here there was a thread on sunsets your's was so really great I had you e-mail it to me,which I sill use now and again for my wallpaper on my Lap Top, I had no problem with size or anything with these.

But here is the real kicker, that pad you have in COYOTE BAY is awesome,I see you have a few parties,wanted to know if I could come? what a place to get it together maybe even a RETREAT.

Later

fishingmako - 3-20-2010 at 06:32 PM

Pomp, those were really great pictures, you do such a good job, one time in here there was a thread on sunsets your's was so really great I had you e-mail it to me,which I sill use now and again for my wallpaper on my Lap Top, I had no problem with size or anything with these.

But here is the real kicker, that pad you have in COYOTE BAY is awesome, I see you have a few parties,wanted to know if I could come? what a place to get it together maybe even a RETREAT.

Later

Hola mako,

Pompano - 3-21-2010 at 07:09 AM

Thanks, and I'm glad you like my photos..it's been a hobby I've enjoyed for many years and am happy to plaster them on Nomads. No matter what....

One thing though, mako.. the sunsets. Those are actully sunrises as my home in Coyote Bay is on the Sea Of Cortez and faces east. It would be terrific if I could see the Pacific sunsets from here, but there's a few mountains blocking the view.

Here's today's sunrise view for you.

It's STILL very windy. I woke up this morning listening to The Whistling Wind and thought I was in Hawaii just before a hurricane hits.

Yesterday was so bad Bouyweather classed it here with small-craft warnings.

A bummer. I am here in Baja. Therefore, I need to fish.

As for parties at mi casa..those happen when they happen..and you are always invited to join. Better yet, stop by for a cup of coffee or a cold one..we'll visit and play a few games of 3 ball, talk about sharks, etc..

Hasta pronto.

lounging at Roger's place.

capt. mike - 3-21-2010 at 07:32 AM

i second that.

showed up last sat morning at Roger's place un announced (been 2 years!) and he welcomed me with cold beers and his normal generous hospitality.

and he was busy with other biz to boot. (selling a boat)
just said - "relax on my patio while i take care of a few items."

P2230034 (Small).JPG - 39kB

fishingmako - 3-21-2010 at 07:26 PM

what a great picture I will use that for wall paper, thanks great stuff.