More on our Video

By Steven Shoppman in

March 4, 2007 – 1:17 am

I have had the wonderful privilege of spending the entire afternoon in front of my computer while I watched a beautiful day in Wellington NZ pass me by trying to figure out technology.  We have some of the most advanced software around, but unfortunately none of it wants to work together.  We are still working on solutions to the video codec problems and now it is looking like it will be more like 2-3 weeks before we have the proper drivers that we need to get this show on the road.  We are easily as disappointed as all of you are as we have some really amazing content to show all of you.  But I guess it will just have to wait.

The problem is that there is nothing that we can do.  Sony sold a product that will not allow for editing with any software for at least another couple of weeks; even their own Sony Vegas editing system is not compatible yet.  It is the HDR-SR1 camcorder.  Then the Panasonic cameras that we use were compatible until our new workstations were shipped with Windows Vista, which the drivers are not compatible with.  We did not even have the option of using Windows XP because Microsoft and Dell have an agreement to only offer Vista from here on out.  It is their way of forcing companies like Panasonic to update all of their drivers.  Now, one might say, Microsoft has typically participated in shady business practices like this, but I think that another way to look at it is that they are pushing the limits of technology.  I have to admit that Windows Vista is the coolest operating system that I have used from the graphic interface to the technology behind it; however, everyone else needs to keep up.

With the high prices of the hardware that we are using I feel that it is all of the company’s responsibilities to keep up.  Windows Vista has been in the works for over a year and Microsoft has been working hard to help all of the companies keep all of their software compatible.  Companies like Adobe, Macromedia, and many others have worked with Microsoft and taken the steps to keep things working.  Why are the rest not following suit?  As we go forward with this expedition, I have learned more and more that people regularly put things on the back burner and then make their lack of follow through someone else’s problem.  As we were departing the country we had at least 5 of our sponsors shipping things to LA instead of Denver because they kept putting shipments of our gear off.  They new of our departure date for months.  Some of them are even now having to get us paperwork and gear in Australia because they have fallen so far behind.

I do not want anyone to think that we are not greatful for our sponsors and the help that we receive, we most certainly are.  I do however want to get the point across that many times technology like email and cell phones seem  to make people less efficient.  More often than not I get emails saying that something will get done instead of it has been done.  I find myself a victim of this as well as I have a lot on my plate, so I recommend to everyone…if there is something that you are working on…just get it done, don’t put it off to the next email or call.  In the end someones procrastination at Sony and Panasonic has made us look bad and delayed our content to all of you.

We will have a bunch of photos up tomorrow.  And we will keep as many photos coming as we can until we get all of this worked out.  I again want to extend our sincere apologies to our audience, our sponsors, and our media outlets.  We are not down here screwing around, we just can’t get the help we need from the big guys to get this done.

By Steven Shoppman | Posted in Expedition Updates | Comments (3)

New sponsors added.

By Steven Shoppman in

March 3, 2007 – 7:20 pm

We have recently added many of our recent sponsors.  You can check then out on the sponsor page to learn more about them.

Soon we will have the equipment and vehicle pages so that you can learn more precisely how all of this gear is used in the expedition and why we chose the gear we have.

By Steven Shoppman | Posted in Expedition Updates | Comments (1)

Where is the f-in video?

By Steven Shoppman in

March 3, 2007 – 4:22 am

Daily we have emails and messages from our audience asking when they will get to see the video.  Unfortunately we have encountered a problem with the codecs for both of the formats we are using.  We have contacted both Sony and Panasonic to get the proper updates, and should have some video up in the next week or so, and after that you will be seeing it all, along with pictures and blogs on a daily basis.

We are very sorry for the delay in gettin the video up, but in is just a matter of time.  As soon as we have our crew and the vehicles our lives will be much easier with a little more help and the content you will be seeing will increase dramatically.

Stay tuned for more…

By Steven Shoppman | Posted in Expedition Updates | Comments (0)

New Zealand Update

By Steve Bouey in

March 1, 2007 – 5:16 pm

It has been a busy first week out of the country for Steve and I. Hard to believe it is day 9, but when you think that we still have 2 years or so to go, it isn’t much at all. Fiji went by in a blur and we spent 3 days in Auckland getting a lot of work done, including wading through the endless b.s. pile of paperwork for the cars, getting some stories lined up for the next few weeks here in New Zealand and popping into the Tourism Australia office to start the ball rolling over there. We have, however,  been living very cheaply thanks to the Explore New Zealand media passes we got hooked up with from Vanessa and Gabrielle at the NZ tourism board.

After getting a lot of work done and making decent headway on a lot of tasks, we finally experienced our first bit of adventure and it came in the form of a shark tank dive at Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World in Auckland. It was actually Jane, a nice tourism rep from the Northern Territory, Australia who suggested we check it out. After suiting up and getting a briefing from the staff, we plunged into an aquarium tank full of half a dozen or so10 foot long Seven Gill and Bronze Whaler sharks. Not bad for really only our second “real” open water scuba experience. It was a little intimidating at first, but it actually became quite tranquil and you truly got to see first hand how beautiful and graceful sharks are even if they can fit your entire head into their mouths if they wanted to.

As soon as Steve, myself and the ink our on Shark Survivor certificates dried off, we were off in our Mazda wagon for a 3 hour drive south to Rotorua, navigating left hand drive roads in a right hand drive car for the first time in quite a while. If signaling a lane change by turning on the windshield wipers was good motoring, we would be kings of the road.

Rotorua has become quite a hot spot for activities and tourism in New Zealand and is also a location that has a lot of cultural significance for the Maori people. Today was a busy day filled with Zorbing, mud baths in geothermal springs and a traditional Maori hangi dinner and concert. It also seemed as though we inadvertently followed part of the course of the first season of the Amazing Race today, although I think we had more fun and learned a lot more. 

Stay tuned for some video and photos of the days activities (Once we get situated with our editing process… that is another blog entry). I think we are finally staring to get into a happy balance of getting work done, planning, filming, learning and enjoying our travels. Keep in mind that it is just Steve and myself at this point shouldering all of the tasks from visas, logistics, filming, editing, website maintenance and producing so it will also be a nice change when we meet up with more of our crew in Australia in a few weeks. By that time, TWBR will be a well oiled machine even if we have to wait a little longer for the Toyotas.

By Steve Bouey | Posted in Expedition Updates, New Zealand | Comments (0)

Bites, Heat, Headaches, Customs and One-sided Sunburns

By Steven Shoppman in

March 1, 2007 – 4:49 pm

Over and over I have spent a lot of time reminding myself that this is all worth it.  I continually made jokes to my friends just before leaving that I made a huge mistake a year ago when I presented this idea to Bouey.  Next thing you know, I was on a plane after the emotional roller coaster of goodbyes and the stress and chaos of getting out of the country, only to find myself with a stomach ache from the food on the plane.

From there we got off the plane in Fiji to a pretty amazing sunrise and some pretty fierce heat.  Customs was a breeze in Fiji as we were greeted with a group playing acoustic guitar and singing local tunes with a soothing South Pacific flavor.

Off the plane we made our way to the money machine only to find that we could not withdraw money.  After some further investigation and runaround we finally figured out a way to get some cash.  From there we met the Margaret, the travel agent to book our stay at Walu Beach.  We lugged our 300 pounds of camera gear, clothes and laptops to the bus station that was about 5 blocks away, and then sat in the rising morning heat for about 35 min waiting for the bus to the marina.

From there we proceeded to work out our situation for our boat ride to our island.  On our boat ride we did ourselves the courtesy of sriding on the top deck and setting the stage for a nice sunburn in the intense Fijian sun.  After we arrived in our little paradise, our exhaustion and idocy helped us finish off that sunburn with a nice nap in the hammocks for a couple of hours sealing our sunburned fate, but only on our stomachs. 

 

Then it heated up and the mosquitoes came out to assult both of us.  Between the heat, no air conditioning, and our sunburns it was nearly impossible to sleep.  Our third morning was welcomed with a nice headache from the local Kava we drank with all of the local guys the night before.  This was followed with rain for the remainder of the afternoon.

Our last night was plagued with some pretty annoying roommates and the unfortunate news on the phone that our paperwork for the vehicles is still not in order.  All of this and you might ask , "Is this all worth it?"  Was this crazy idea something that should have never gone farther than a conversation over a couple beers? 

As you travel around the world, as in my past experiences, you encounter a great deal of adversity as we certainly have.  However, as we meet people like the Tarns, who are travelling with their 3 year old daughter around the world for the next 6 months, drive down coastlines the seem to look like paintings and are greeted by the smiling faces and laughs of people from around the world, the adversity pales in comparison to the memories that you end up with on a daily basis.

And in regards to my jokes with my friends, this continues to be the best decision I have made in a long time.

By Steven Shoppman | Posted in Fiji, Trip Thoughts | Comments (1)

Photos from Fiji

By Steven Shoppman in

February 26, 2007 – 5:42 pm

We have all of the photos up from Fiji.  Keep in mind that Steve Bouey has the worst run of Mosquito bites I have ever seen and there is a nice picture of them in there.  Make sure to check the pictures of the bites out right before dinner, they will help with your appetite:)

Click here to check out the photos.

Walu Beach Fiji

By Steven Shoppman | Posted in Fiji | Comments (5)

What you can plan to see in the coming weeks…

By Steven Shoppman in

February 24, 2007 – 6:25 pm

As we roll through New Zealand, we will be showing you a little slice of what the country is like including AJ Hackett bungy jumping, volcano mud slides, Maori culture, the Sounds and general life on the island.  We are still working on it, but our hope is to make it to a sheep farm as well.  So get ready the New Zealand adventure is beginning.

By Steven Shoppman | Posted in Expedition Updates, New Zealand | Comments (2)

Sorry for the lack of blogs…it has been a rough start.

By Steven Shoppman in

February 24, 2007 – 6:23 pm

The most grueling is done…I hope.

We are in Fiji now and I can rightfully say that the last month has been the most trying of my entire life.  Between the goodbyes, bureaucracies, last minute planning, last minute lack of planning and trying to accomplish all of this predominately between Steve Bouey and myself, I am exhausted.  However, for the next three days we will be enjoying the sun and good life in our little paradise called Walu Beach in Fiji.  It is a quiet little mini resort about an hour boat ride from the airport in Fiji.  We get to sit in hammocks all day and east delicious fresh fish and sit by the pool with nothing but the breeze through the palm trees and the sound of the ocean as a distraction.

From our room up on the side of the mountain we can see miles of blue and green water that almost glows because the colors are so bright and the visibility in the water is so good.  The Fijians all wear skirts (boys and girls), which gives it an even greater sense of laid back flavor.  In all honesty, I want one too as it is incredibly hot and humid here.  When you arrive at the dock in the little dinghy there is a group of locals waiting to greet you playing guitars and singing.  Everyone smiles and says, “Bula” to greet you, and the best part is the smiles keep coming even after the first greeting.  In a tropical paradise, I would guess it is hard to find many reasons not to be smiling.

There are fresh coconuts on the trees outside and we even went to the trouble of picking some of them for your viewing pleasure and will have a video up soon for you to see of the adventure with coconut fetching, boat riding, scuba diving, and even a Kava ceremony with some locals.  We hope to have it up in the next couple of days.

I am eagerly awaiting the chance to give you all more details on this experience, and truly looking forward to the content we will be producing for you in New Zealand.  For now, I will be saying goodbye, I think there is a snorkel and fins waiting for me at the activities hut.

By Steven Shoppman | Posted in Expedition Updates, Fiji | Comments (1)

South of the Equator… in part

By Steve Bouey in

February 22, 2007 – 6:22 pm

You could say that this is our first blog entry from the road, although we are not really on the road just yet. As I sit on the deck of the lodge house we are staying at on Malolo Island in Fiji, I am greeted by the smell of fresh air, the sight of crystal blue waters and lush green vegetation and thoughts of our Toyota’s sitting on the dock in Long Beach, CA.  We are in Fiji for a handful of days before moving on to New Zealand. We are here to clear our heads and ensure that they are screwed on correctly. It is extremely relaxing here, especially in the island groups off Nadi where we arrived. But no matter how calm, peaceful and beautiful it is here and no matter how many friendly locals greet you with a comforting “Bula!,” there are always thoughts of the task at hand and the road ahead.

The Department of Motor Vehicles in Colorado has to be some of the most incompetent people around yet they control the initial fate of our expedition. We are waiting for a title for the Sequoia which should have been in our possession over three weeks ago, but the bureaucracy that is the DMV has somehow managed to turn a simple task into one of the most drawn out, stressful and complicated processes I have ever had the misfortune of being involved in. Compounded by the difficulties in obtaining a carnet for the vehicles, simply getting the cars out of the United States has been a true test of our wits and determination to make this trip a success. These trials have been a good experience though as I am sure this is the tip of the iceberg in terms of dealing with the red tape of getting in and out of counties… wait until the language barrier comes into play. However there is some comfort in knowing that in some countries, for the right price or product, bureaucratic necessities can be more easily and quickly overcome.

I guess if something like this were easy, everyone would be doing it. We have definitely blazed some new trails and have had to do so with little or no guide. We have learned as we go and many lessons have been learned the hard way, but nonetheless, we are now out of the country and it is hard to imagine two years ago that we would actually be where we are at now. Hopefully the DMV will get there act together in the next day or two so that the shipping company will have the proper documents to set the collective minds of U.S. Customs officials at ease and ensure them that the cars have not been stolen even though we have numerous documents proving that they are not. After that, the long wait continues while the Tundra and the Sequoia make their own journey to meet up with us down under.

 

 

By Steve Bouey | Posted in Expedition Updates, Fiji | Comments (0)

TWBR Hits the Road

By Steve Bouey in

February 15, 2007 – 9:27 pm

Well, the moment we have been waiting for for nearly 2 years has finally arrived. Steve and I left Denver on Monday February 12th at about 5 in the evening. We were planning on leaving several hours earlier but it took a lot longer to leave than we estimated. It was pretty emotional as Steve said goodbye to his family and we both said goodbye to Mogulee. I have a few more days to say my goodbyes as my parents are meeting up with us in L.A.

After leaving Denver, Steve and I headed for Vail where we were meeting up with Kira and a photographer from the Vail Daily who is working on a story about the expedition. Kira is also a photographer who we met that will be joining on the expedition next month in Australia. After taking some pictures and eating some food, we hit the road bound for Las Vegas. It was a rough drive and with only about 45 minutes worth of sleep over the course of the last emotionally draining 24 hours, we were forced to pull over in the middle of Utah to rest. A few hours later at around 8 a.m. Vegas time we arrived and were surprised by our room mate Mark who secretly flew out with my girlfriend Karie (who flew out a day early) to surprise us. Our friend Lori was also there and we all spent a nice "low key" day together Vegas style.

About 1,000 miles into our trip around the world, we are now in L.A. where we are finalizing some things with sponsors, getting the final necessary paperwork to take the cars out of the country and reassessing the pile of gear that we threw in the back of the Tundra in a effort to get out of town as quickly as possible. We are here for a few days, getting the Sequoia and the Tundra ready for their 4 week journey across the Pacific and are then flying out of the country on Tuesday the 20th.

The last 3-4 weeks have been probably the busiest and most stressful in my entire life. I think Steve would agree that they have probably also taken a few years off off of our lives as well. We should have some time in the next few days to catch our breath and give everyone a full update, post some new links and sponsors on the website and finally show people that we are in fact driving actual Toyotas around the world since we have yet to put pictures of our sweet rides up.

By Steve Bouey | Posted in Expedition Updates, Trip Thoughts | Comments (2)