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Since entering Europe we received quite the welcome from the local media outlets. In Bergen, Norway we were featured on the front page of the main newspaper in town. In London I was interviewed by the Guardian, and as we were told by a friend in London, it is one of the most respected newspapers in the UK. We were also featured by one of the top 4×4 magazines in the France. Marc, the writer for the magazine also helped us with the recent repairs on the Tundra and is planning a 11 page spread in the magazine in the next couple of months. Marc Mellet was introduced to us by our friend Chenzorig in Mongolia. Chenzorig helped us install the new shocks on the trucks back when we were in Mongolia. He told us about Marc and his trip to Kamchatka peninsula in Siberia during the heart of winter. Chinzo helped Marc to install many of the new heaters and components that allowed him to drive his car there in such temperatures.

As we approached Paris, Steve Bouey started contacting Marc to see if we could get some help with the damage to our trucks. We figured that Marc would just be a nice guy and hook us up with a shop, but things turned out quite differently when we arrived. Not only did Marc help us with the trucks, we are being featured in the magazine and quite good friends with Marc after our time in Paris. He even let the crew sleep on the floor at his house. To top things off, when we took photos of the trucks for the magazine, Marc talked with the Police and we parked the trucks on the Arc de Triumph for photos (this is one of the craziest intersections on the planet, for those of you that have not seen it in person).

For whatever reason, we continue to find the right people. People like Marc and Chinzorig, others like Thomas or Carlos who run hostels in Barcelona and Munich, and the countless other people around the world that go out of their way to help us out are what keep our operation from getting stopped in its tracks, literally. As we drive down tollways crossing numerous borders in a week, we tend to accumulate a myriad of different currencies. Often we get to a toll booth and do not have enough of the local currency, but over and over the toll booth operators call their supervisors to either use our credit cards, take the other currency, or in some cases take multiple different currencies to come up with enough money to get us on our way. Hostels and hotels continue to give us discounts and in some cases, like at the Easy Palace hostel in Munich, we were even given free beer for one whole night along with beer tasting lessons. Often it is hard for me to understand why so many people take it upon themselves to make sure that The World by Road succeeds. Over and over when it seems that we have hit a barrier, a smiling face, a phone call or an email come through to prove that there is always a way to a solution.

Since we started the trip one of our biggest hurdles has been video. Although we film every day, with all of the trials of the road and technical difficulties we have obviously been far behind on our original plan to have more regular video up. Much like all of the other problems encountered since our exit from the comforts of home, this problem has also worked itself out. Brook Silva Braga is the latest addition to the crew here and his background is just what we have needed to take the load off my back managing the expedition and editing video. Since he has been here we have already managed to put together two different video shorts. So how did we find Brook? It is a long story, but when I was planning for the expedition the trailer for his documentary, A Map for Saturday, was referred to me by a friend. I thought it looked great and wrote a blog about it. A day later Brook contacted me…”Good luck on your trip, hopefully I’ll be back on the road sometime soon, maybe our paths will cross.” Our paths did cross again as he interviewed us in the Czech Republic for his site, The InterviewPoint. As a bit of a joke I poked Brook saying that he should join the expedition in Africa. I never really thought he would join, but only a month or so after the interview, Brook is now here in person.

It really is amazing how all of this works out. Each day brings us new challenges and difficulties, but each day also brings us miracles, for lack of a better word. In Tim Cahill’s book “Road Fever” he states, “This would not be possible without the help of all of the great people along the way.” I read that book very early on in this adventure and every day that statement rings true more and more everyday.

Below I have listed some links to the the articles and media I have mentioned above:

Brook sent me a copy of his movie when we first met, it is worth a watch. You can purchase a copy of it on Brook’s site - http://www.amapforsaturday.com/contact.html. It also is airing on MTV and some other stations worldwide, check out his site to see the latest times.

The InterviewPoint Interview
http://www.theinterviewpoint.com/ITP/Interviews/1E468135-B7D5-4CB0-87B2-47B8E74C8E6C.html

The Guardian Article - http://www.guardianweekly.co.uk/?page=editorial&id=505&catID=8

Interview in Bergen, Norway - Click here

Tim Cahills Book

Phnom Penh. The capital city of Cambodia. It is without a doubt one of the most interesting cities we have been to yet. It is a city full of life, culture, history as well as intrigue and mystery. A lot has gone down in Phnom Penh but from the looks of it, the city has a bright future. Signs of investment and development are everywhere. The streets, cafes and bars are nearly full with a mix of locals, expats, NGO workers, and international travelers -and it is off season here.

There is a good vibe in Phnom Penh. However, sitting on the rooftop of the Foreign Correspondent’s Club, drinking a beer while watching the sun set over the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, you can’t help but wonder if the vibe is genuine. In my own lifetime, a westerner not unlike myself was probably sitting on a similar rooftop patio only to be caught up in and witness to one of the worst genocides the region and world has ever seen. I won’t go into much detail about what happened under the reign of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, but if you ever visit Phnom Penh, make sure to stop by Tuol Sleng Museum. It is disturbing, but something everyone should see. If you fancy learning about what happened here in less intense fashion, try picking up a copy of Cambodia: Year Zero or Brother Number One: A Political Biography.

Things have changed a lot since those days and the country has made some giant leaps, but the gap between the rich and the poor is very apparent and political conversation is still extremely taboo. There is some sense of political and thus overall stability under the current government led by the Cambodian People’s Party which captured 98 percent of the vote in the last election. Rumor has it that some of the CPP’s success may be due in part though to the current prime minister hinting at the possibility of another civil war if his party were to ever loose. Given what Cambodians have gone through in their history, war of any kind is the last thing people want.

Nonetheless, the people of Phnom Penh, and Cambodia in general, are amazing, and the city is buzzing with life. A modern international airport welcomes those traveling by plane. Lexus SUV’s share the road with cyclos, motorbikes and pushcarts. The riverfront park along Sisowath Quay is filled everyday with people either out for a stroll, enjoying a picnic or relaxing in the cooler evening air with their families. Hip Italian and Spanish wine bars share small alleyways with French restaurants and Khmer street vendors. The markets are a treasure seeker’s dream and there is a plethora of other activities to occupy your time… everything from floating down the Mekong to rooting for your favorite Cambodian kickboxer at the local stadium. Most people seem to be having a great time and enjoying life and for their sake and the sake of the country, I hope it lasts well into the future.

When you start an expedition like TWBR, you want to believe that at least on some levels you are the first, or the fastest or the longest.  You want to feel like all of you efforts are worthy of maybe a prize or commendation or something.

In the process of researching this adventure we found many other people who had done similar journey’s to ours.  We certainly cannot go by a week without someone asking whether we knew about Ewan McGregor’s trip on a motorcycle. Yes we are well aware that Obi Wan drove his motorbike around the world, thank you for belittling what we are doing once again.

But all jokes aside, we are honestly stoked and have our hats off to anyone that has done or will try to do something like this.  It is well worth your time and effort.  Everyone who accomplishes these types of journeys certainly have something unique about them that sets them apart.

The most recent book I have read about fellow adventurers is Road Fever by Tim Cahill.  It is a very humorous book about breaking the record for the fastest journey along the Pan American highway. As another one of those books that you will not be able to put down once you start reading, it will teach you about everything from defining Guinness records to evading bandits it Africa.

So why did I chose the title for this blog? After reading this book I found out that Tim Cahill’s partner in crime is Gary Sowerby the man that has the record for the fastest trip around the world by car, the fastest journey along the Pan American highway by car, and the fastest journey from the North Cape to South Africa.  So I ask you…when will we get our chance to break some records or make our marks in the history books.

I have placed a link below to the book.  I highly recommend it.  It will make you laugh and it is pretty cheap too.  Plus you will be helping us out by purchasing the book through this link.  That is like a win⁸ situation.

One of the things that you need to carry you along for the long days on the road is good tunes.  I am going to recommend music that I am listening to in the hopes that if you like it, you go to Amazon and buy it so that we can help to fund our trip.

Recently I have been listening to the new album by Spoon.  It is called Ga Ga Ga Ga. Spoon is an American Indie rock band from Austin, Texas with a wide underground following. I am no music critic, but these guys have a bit of Beatles mixed with Indie rock with a little something extra sprinkled on top. Their music is a great way to make it through those lonely days on the road since Bouey and I are driving the cars solo right now.

So have  listen.  If you like it, click the link below and you will be able to purchase it through our affiliate program with Amazon.

 

 Spoon - You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download