I like roadtrips. About ten years ago I bought a $1,400 Isuzu 4x4 and drove it to Honduras and back. I was thinking it's about time for me to have some adventure after I finish this next job(in approx 6 months) I told a pal of mine I was thinking of driving the '51 Ford to Brazil, and he said why not just buy a car in Chile and drive it back? He just got back from there and said there's a great hot rod community. That would solve a lot of problems and save time/money/less financial risk(I have a pretty decent amount in the '51) I'd *really* like to drive across Africa, but I'm not rich, I just can't imagine I could swing it. I could always just punt and drive the Ford around the US to national parks, but I'd kinda like to do something more exciting. So anybody have any other cool ideas that are relatively affordable? I just read that article about the guys driving the Shelbys across India. Hats off to them for doing it. Thanks!
I dont' know about cars, but the Enduro style bikers have been doing it for years. Perhaps you could read up on their exploits and pick a suitable excursion. I'd like to do it myself some day, but on a little more casual note - bypassing the Darien entirely and juking around most of the gravel roads. Australia, Japan or Europe sound good to me. Gary
mid ninties fzj80 ome, 35's.. Ih8tmud.com = super fun.... how about heading north to alaska, and canada. you can get across from texas up on dirt roads and you dont have to deal with mexican drug loards...
You can't drive to So America or back.... it's closed off in S Panama - no roads, and when the cartels build some through the jungle Panama blows them up. do a search and check out my thread on my road trip through New Zealand
There has been a ferry from Panama to Columbia for a few years. The Darien is virtually impossible to cross. For a variety of reasons, I doubt there will ever be a road there. Didn't Panama one belong to Columbia? FYI, a retired US Army officer, Ed Culbertson, once completed the overland trip thru the Darien to Columbia and later all the way to the tip of South America. Sadly, his trip was undocumented (he lost his notes and camera!) but his book, Obsessions Die Hard - Motorcycling the Pan American Highway's Jungle Gap - is a good read. His bike was hauled on rafts and winched up cliffs. He had to hire locals to machette a path for him! He made some amazing discoveries on his trips - including the remains of previoius failed attempts at the Pan American Highway - Corvairs I think - that GM abandoned. He did the entire highway, but not all at once. He did sections over the years. He has passed, I believe, and I met him once in Panama. I also saw his BMW at the AMA museum in Columbus one year. I think BMW has it now. There are TONS of good books, blogs and videos on motorcycle trips all over the world. Not much on cars. Perhaps caravans (RVs?) have the same? To me these kinds of trops are far more interesting than doing a power tour, every Goodguys show in one year, or something like that. Later, Gary
Thanks fellas! Yeah I'd have to ship the clunker to Columbia from panama, there's no beating the darian gap, which like you said ain't likely to be highway anytime soon, too many people like it as is. Riding a moto has a lot of advantages, I can see why people do it. I'm not a good rider and frankly too chicken to do that myself I think. I looked at buying a classic in SA. Maybe if you're a local you can get a barn find car affordably, but I don't think I'd rely on that kinda luck without a hookup. What I saw advertised online was $$$$. I know in Guatemala taxes on cars are through the roof, so they rebuild total Junkers and an 83 Toyota wagon with 300k goes for thousands. I dunno, maybe I'll warm up to the moto idea. Thanks for the suggestions! You've got me thinking.
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