![\"012\"](\"http:\/\/www.theworldbyroad.com\/expedition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/012.jpg\" "\\"012\\"")
<\/p>\n24\/7 means 24\/7, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just how it is on the road.\u00c2\u00a0 Our crew, by far, spends more time together than most spouses do.\u00c2\u00a0 We eat together, spend the day together, work together, drive together, do activities together, and sleep in the same vicinity together.\u00c2\u00a0 It is how it has to be.\u00c2\u00a0 Yes, it takes it toll, but we need each other, that is for sure.\u00c2\u00a0 My fellow crew members are adventurous, talented, and dedicated, but most importantly, they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re pretty stellar humans.<\/p>\n
Fearless leader Steven Shoppman is one of a kind.\u00c2\u00a0 His patience is beyond tested each and every day, for each day is modified utter madness, but he takes it in stride.\u00c2\u00a0 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve seen him patiently and civilly handle an inefficient, long and illogical Honduras border crossing.\u00c2\u00a0 He was running around, sweating, photocopying this and that, all while trying to communicate with people that weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t highly educated.\u00c2\u00a0 Most would go insane, but he came back to the trucks, with a smile, and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Go.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 His idea to embark on something with this magnitude is genius, and his pioneering will go down someday as legend.\u00c2\u00a0 He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s also a heck of a chef, and is fluent in computer code.<\/p>\n
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Stephen Bouey is the other leader that makes up the Steve duo.\u00c2\u00a0 Through education, travel and work experience his mind always analyzing and logically assessing situations.\u00c2\u00a0 Many countries could benefit from a Bouey consulting appointment.\u00c2\u00a0 Leaving behind the suit and tie, and the steady 9 to 5 takes a lot of guts, and that is exactly what Bouey has. He also says the wittiest, funniest one liners I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve ever heard.\u00c2\u00a0 Mustached Bouey cracks me up every day.\u00c2\u00a0 He also is a Triathlon athlete, and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve witnessed him eat one of the hottest habenero peppers in the world.<\/p>\n
![\"DSC_0189\"](\"http:\/\/www.theworldbyroad.com\/expedition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/dsc-0189.jpg\" "\\"DSC_0189\\"")
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Melissa Terry is a warrior.\u00c2\u00a0 She is the lone woman currently on the crew, and I give her a whole bunch of credit.\u00c2\u00a0 Dealing with five dudes has to be beyond difficult, but she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a really tough chick, and handles it more than well.\u00c2\u00a0 She\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s also a great writer, and does a great job translating in all the Spanish speaking countries.\u00c2\u00a0 She hails from Atlanta, has spent a lot of time north of the United States border in Canada, and thoroughly enjoys cutting up vegetables with a large, sharp knife.<\/p>\n
![\"Nikon](\"http:\/\/www.theworldbyroad.com\/expedition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/nikon066.jpg\" "\\"Nikon")
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Craig Johnson has taken on the roll of production coordinator more than admirably.\u00c2\u00a0 His ability to set up accommodations and activities has been incredible from scuba diving, to eco-retreats, to ocean-side villas; he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s done it all.\u00c2\u00a0 His picture taking, with his shock-proof, waterproof camera, has also been a great visual for many blogs.\u00c2\u00a0 He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a comforting soul that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m lucky to be a crew member with.\u00c2\u00a0 Craig eats the craziest food I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve ever seen, enjoys a good run, and gets really excited when he hears or sees water.<\/p>\n
![\"164\"](\"http:\/\/www.theworldbyroad.com\/expedition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/164.jpg\" "\\"164\\"")
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Steel Jones rounds out the cast of characters in this crew.\u00c2\u00a0 He also is a behind-the-scenes guy researching towns, accommodations and our future driving routes.\u00c2\u00a0 His talents are endless.\u00c2\u00a0 He can break dance, do hand-stands for hours, wear the craziest stuff and make it look good, and if you could bottle up energy he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d be a millionaire.\u00c2\u00a0 Steel\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s sense of humor makes him hilarious, and a great guy to be around.\u00c2\u00a0 He was the mascot for the University of Colorado, is rocking a sweet Fumanchu, and has a bottomless pit for a stomach.<\/p>\n
![\"DSC_0059\"](\"http:\/\/www.theworldbyroad.com\/expedition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/dsc-0059.jpg\" "\\"DSC_0059\\"")
<\/p>\n
These are the people I share the road with.\u00c2\u00a0 People from all walks of life, coming together to explore the world in a different light.\u00c2\u00a0 I respect and admire them.\u00c2\u00a0 They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re co-workers, cohabitants, and co-pilots , but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m lucky enough to call them my friends.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
24\/7 means 24\/7, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just how it is on the road. Our crew, by far, spends more time together than most spouses do. We eat together, spend the day together, work together, drive together, do activities together, and sleep in the same vicinity together. It is how it has to be. Yes, it takes it toll, but we need each other, that is for sure. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[560,200,831,719,832,761,830,398],"class_list":["post-2348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trip-thoughts","tag-craig-johnson","tag-expedition-crew","tag-melissa-terry","tag-nels-thoreson","tag-steel-jones","tag-steve-bouey","tag-steven-shoppman","tag-the-world-by-road"],"yoast_head":"\n