“Okay, mas rapido por favor,” Melissa said jokingly to the group. The guide turned and said, “Do you have somewhere you need to be this afternoon?” At this point we were already 5 levels deep in a Bolivian mine at 13,500 ft.
Category Archives: Environment
Reaching New Heights
December 4, 2008 – 11:40 am
Headache, insomnia, breathlessness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, rapid heartbeat, loss of appetite and in more serious cases, lack of coordination, confusion, difficulty breathing and coughing up frothy, bloody phlegm. These are all the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness.
Out of This World Off Roading
November 24, 2008 – 7:01 am
Even though some of the toughest and most stressful segments of our expedition have revolved around the conditions of roads we have traversed, traveling down those difficult sections of roads can also lead you to some amazing places. Places that are hidden and inaccessible to someone without a 4×4 and in some cases a large set of balls. In a lot of the countries we have been through, we did not have a choice of whether we wanted to go off road or not. Going off road in many places is simply the only option to get from point A to point B.
There is Definitely Something Cool About Chile
November 9, 2008 – 12:35 pm
Trying to decide which country one likes the most is a difficult task that necessitates a lot of reflection. Again, different countries on the expedition each hold different meaning to individual expedition members. Each country we have crossed through presents memorable moments that make impressions on all of us that will last a lifetime. In some cases, even a few of the bad experiences we have encountered along the way can sometimes transform themselves into positive memories over the course of time. Personally, the type of mood I am in at the time might also affect how I respond when asked what country I enjoyed the most on the trip. No matter what mood I am in though, there are certainly a few countries that always stand out in my mind above all others and one of those countries is Chile.
Taking it One Step Further
October 21, 2008 – 10:59 am
When it comes to driving around the world, obviously there are several different routes you can take because as far as I know, there is no one official path to take. I assume that if you make it a full 360 degrees from east to west, or from west to east, you can lay claim to driving around the world, barring of course the time and distance that you and your vehicle(s) spend crossing the bodies of water that lay in between. On our particular expedition, we are covering the appropriate east-west distance to fulfill our goal of driving around the world but in the process, we are also deviating quite a bit north of the equator and quite a bit south …
El Calafate, EcoCamp and Perito Moreno Glacier
October 17, 2008 – 5:13 pm
For all of us, visiting the far reaches of the Patagonian region of Argentina has been a dream come true. It’s generally in the destination top ten list of any traveler and is now one of those places that will one day require a return trip. Driving on the famed Austral is an extra bonus that few will ever know. Keep in mind though that it is a long way down and some stretches can be pretty difficult. Most roads roads aren’t paved and the barren land outside the window is exhausting.
New Photos – Volcano Chaitén
October 12, 2008 – 6:24 pm
Melissa recently wrote a more objective point of view about the devastation left behind by the Chaitén volcano. More simply and more personally, all of us agree that this is one of the most devastating things we have ever witnessed firsthand. Just looking at photos or the video we will have up soon can only paint a small picture to the feeling that comes over you when entering a town that has been abandoned for all practical purposes …
Futaleufú y Volcán Chaitén
October 11, 2008 – 11:10 am
On May 2 of this year in the early morning, Chaitén Volcano began to erupt for the first time since what is believed to be 7,400 BCE. For most of the world, this particular eruption is but a vague memory from a segment of international news, but for residents in close proximity it was and still is life altering. Surprisingly, for all of the destruction only one life has been lost …
Península Valdés
October 9, 2008 – 6:58 am
Well, folks, the zig-zagging of the southern cone of South America has officially begun! Saying that we have covered some serious ground since leaving Bahia Blanca, Argentina would be an understatement. Over the dizzying 1,300+ miles that we have driven in 10 days, we have toured the East coast of Argentina all the way to the West coast of Chile …
Is This Really Africa?
July 16, 2008 – 10:12 am
South Africa is a large and diverse country, but here in the Western Cape Provence, I can not help but feel like I am somewhere else. I do not know exactly where it feels like I am… maybe Australia, maybe Central Coast California, but it definitely does not feel like Africa. I guess that it […]
