The Road Chose Me: Driving a Jeep from Alaska to Argentina

[Grecy]

Originally posted by thrasher22
This is incredibly rad. How have you felt security wise through so far? Or am I acting like an old housewife after watching 60 minutes and shouldn't be so concerned.

There have been a few times where I have not felt great, though not a single bad thing has happened to me.
I certainly hear stories from backpackers though, so I keep a good lookout.

On a lighter note I did a bunch of cool dives to get my PADI Open Water certification in Taganaga, then hiked and camped in Parque Nacional Tayrona



http://dangrec.com/diving-in-taganga...cional-tayrona

-Dan

[Grecy]

I just did another round of Jeep stuff (oil, etc)
Read the details here:
http://dangrec.com/jeep-stuff-again



-Dan

[Unknown303]

Man I want to do that.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Been following the blog since it was posted on JeepForum, such a seriously cool adventure!

[milesmcewing]

You guys should also check out:

www.expeditionportal.com

Great resources for a trip like this and lots of other similar trips too!

as well as:

www.horizonsunlimited.com

Horizons was actually founded by a Calgary couple who have been on the road for years now.

You may be surprised how many people in your own backyard (Calgary) who have completed some epic adventures, I know a couple who have circumnavigated Africa twice now, a guy who biked his way through Bhutan, and several people who have done the South America run.

Here is a link to Tom and Janet who have some amazing stories to tell! The live in the SW
http://www.adventurouspirits.com


Last time I was on the China/Tibet border, I met an Argentinian girl who bought a bike in Athens and was on her way to Vietnam, pedaled all the way, except some of Pakistan, where the government made her ride the train.

Get out and do it! it costs a lot less than you think.

check out www.overlandexpo.com it is a convention for travellers who travel like Dan.

Happy trails Dan! I look forward to the continued adventure,

Cheers
Miles

[ExtremeSi]

So awesome man! I've been reading up on your trip and it sounds really cool. I will be following.

[kaput]

.

[Grecy]

Great info Miles.
There are so many people out there doing amazingly huge adventures that it makes my head spin.
So, so cool.


Drove the Jeep up to 4700 meters in National Park Los Nevados in the Andes, then hiked up to 5125 meters!



http://dangrec.com/parque-nacional-natural-los-nevados

-Dan

[a social dsease]

wow looks like an amazing trip. I plan to read the entire blog when I have some time, but everything I have read so far looks super cool.
when you get to the end what are you going to do? sell the jeep and fly home?

[Grecy]

I have no idea what I'm going to do when I reach the bottom. I don't know if it's legal to sell the Jeep, or if I'll have enough money to drive part way back north then ship the rest.
I'll figure it out when the time comes.


I spent some time in and around Salento, a beautiful little town in Colombia



http://dangrec.com/salento-valle-de-cocora

-Dan

[Grecy]

Drove on some insane back roads on the way out of Tierradentro, Colombia when a main road got washed out.



http://dangrec.com/tierradentro

-Dan

[Grecy]

My time in Colombia has come to an end



You can read my parting thoughts:
http://dangrec.com/colombia-closes

-Dan

[Sugarphreak]

...

[Grecy]

Originally posted by Sugarphreak


Holy crap, good work!!

Did you feel light headed at all hiking that high up?

I felt a bit strange for sure. If I walked even 5 steps in a row quickly I would double over gasping for breath.
I ended up with a huge headache for 24 hours, but it was well worth it.

-Dan

[Grecy]

Starting to get into Ecuador and loving it!
It's absolutely beautiful here



http://dangrec.com/ecuador-begins

-Dan

[Unknown303]

To cool! Keep us updated!

[Tomaz]

How much planning went into your trip? (Hours of looking into maps, legalities of your journey, etc.)

What made you decided to make such an adventure for yourself?

And how the hell do you keep finding internet connections to keep us updated?!?!?! lol

[Grecy]

Originally posted by Tomaz
How much planning went into your trip? (Hours of looking into maps, legalities of your journey, etc.)

What made you decided to make such an adventure for yourself?

And how the hell do you keep finding internet connections to keep us updated?!?!?! lol

For 7 months I knew this was the trip I wanted to do and worked towards it. I had lists and maps on my walls and slowly worked through everything.
I've met people that planned for 1 week.

Why did I decide to do this?
I wonder about that more and more every day.
I think to find myself and my place in the world. Who am I am what am I going to do with my lief - I don't know but I'm slowly figuring it out.

Internet is really common down here. Even little villages have internet cafes so highschool kids can chat on MSN

-Dan

[baygirl]

When you look back years from now, what do you think is going to be the one thing that stands out in your mind?

[Grecy]

Originally posted by baygirl
When you look back years from now, what do you think is going to be the one thing that stands out in your mind?

Woah, tough question.

Lately I've been struggling a bit with being lonely and being on my own so much of the time.. I'm pretty sure I'll remember that even through rose colored glasses.

The beautiful places I've seen have been absolutely amazing, and my photos will help me remember those, but I really think the people I am meeting are number 1. From the locals living a very simple, peaceful lifestyle, to backpackers from all walks of life to other people driving/riding around all in search of something or other.

-Dan