How do I get started on obtaining visas for my adventure?
The first step and often one of the most up to date places to start searching for more information is on the Department of State Travel website. Here you can find travel advisories, which are often a little misleading in terms of the level of safety in the country. The US government often tells of the worst case scenarios in the places you might travel, so do not let them scare you with the advisories and warnings.
We ride again. After over a month hiatus off the road we returned to the highway for our voyage north to Alaska. We’d, again, like to thank all of those that supported us in our fundraising efforts that enabled us to finish the expedition. It means a lot to us, and is greatly appreciated.
From Denver, Steve, Celeste and Craig ventured north to Loveland to stay at Steve’s Mom, Judy’s, place, while I headed to Rocky Mountain National Park with an amazing female for one last adventure in Colorado. We met up the following morning for a delicious breakfast prepared by Judy and her husband, Tom, said our goodbyes, and got on I-25 North headed to Bozeman, Montana.
To say this week was jam-packed would be a complete understatement. We began at a beautiful hotel in Chipinque National Park in Monterrey, Mexico, and ended the week in a hostel in Austin, Texas. Sunday and Monday night we had the pleasure of staying at Hotel Chipinque overlooking the city of Monterrey. It was a perfect place to relax, enjoy the views and prepare for our break for the US border. Our recently remodeled luxurious cabana had two living rooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a master bedroom, another room with two single beds, and an outdoor patio. The service, staff, food and accommodations were first class.
After over 2 years we’ve returned to the United States on March 31, 2009 through Brownsville, Texas. In the background, Bouey is being interviewed by KVEO while in the foreground Shoppman is giving his thoughts on this triumphant occasion. See you in Denver soon!
Belize is awesome. It is an especially awesome English-speaking nation coming from all Spanish-speaking nations for seven months. We entered through the only border crossing from Guatemala, simply known as “The Western Border”–They like to keep things…well let’s just say…succinct in Belize.
Throughout Mexico, Guatemala and Belize there are several dozen ruins that are available for tourists to visit, among them the two most recognizably famous–Tikal in Guatemala and Chichen Itza in the Yucutan of Mexico.
A few weeks ago marked the two year anniversary of The World by Road. It is hard to believe that two years have gone by since we pulled out of the driveway in Denver. A lot of people did not think we would make it this far, or even close to this far, and at some points, neither did we. It is a good feeling knowing that we have covered so many miles and also a good feeling knowing that in only a handful of weeks, we will be pulling back into that Denver driveway in the same two Toyotas we left with.
This is Nels’ first attempt at summing up the week. It is actually my fault that it is up a week late as we were out of internet contact for the last few days and I forgot get it posted before we got out of contact. So this one if for a week ago and another one will be up in the next day about this last week. ~ Steve S.
February 9, 2009-February 13, 2009
No more shipping the trucks! When we were in the planing stages of the expedition, we could not have possibly imagined how difficult, complicated, convoluted, annoying and downright painful the overseas shipping process could be. After four international, overseas container shipments during the course of the expedition, one would think that we are now knowledgeable experts when it comes to shipping vehicles abroad. The sad reality of the situation is the only thing we really know about putting a vehicle into a container and sending it to another country is that we never care to do it again.
Photo of the Week-El Capitan!
