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04-27-2006, 05:07 PM
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#1
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Members
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Location: St-Grégoire, Québec, Canada
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Hi everybody!
Me and my friend planing a trip to south america. We will leave Qc, Canada in august and drive to south america. We will have a old, ugly pontiac firefly with a 3 cylinder engine, so it's should be pretty cheap on gaz. I want to know if somes of you have ever done this before or if you know people or story about this kind of road trip. Every kind of advice is welcome! ( custom, gaz, roads, people, etc. )
Thank you
Dan Blanchette
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04-27-2006, 05:09 PM
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#2
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I'll rock your socks off
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Wow. Mad mad mad props, are you going to write a book afterwards?
Sorry, I dont have much to tell you other than make sure you dont go through war zones, keep your passport close, and I hear gas in venezuela is like .14 a gallon. Sweet. Do yall speak any spanish at all?
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"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."
-T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom
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04-27-2006, 05:51 PM
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#3
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TPunk Emeritus
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Awsome trip dude!!
First thing, learn some Spanish if you don't already know some because english speakers are few and far between in central and south america.
The main roads through central and south america are quite good, they are comparable to any decent roads of the world. Some of the roads can get a little interesting, but mostly they are fine. Central and South have extremely good bus services, so if the buses can get around those places then you should be able to as well.
The people are very friendly for the most part. However, some areas could be a little dangerous, particularly in Columbia and Venezuela, just avoid the known bad areas and you'll be fine.
Exchange rates are extremely favourable over there.
Fire away with any other questions. I can't wait to hear about this trip.
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04-27-2006, 06:27 PM
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#4
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To Smart For Mensa
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I know there are several books about driving HWY 1 from alaska to tierra del feugo so you might some good info there. I met several people in SA that had rode through central america either on a motorcycle or a bicycle and all of them had ferried around the darien gap in columbia.
Have fun and let us know what you find out!
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04-27-2006, 06:40 PM
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#5
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TPunk Recognized
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Its always cool to get on and see new and interesting traveling plans.
All i know is your going to have one hell of a trip!
I would read up on gas saving tips. That could save you alot of money.
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04-27-2006, 06:41 PM
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#6
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Wow!!!! Sounds amazing!!! You definitely have to stick around to keep us updated. That's going to be one amazing drive. All I've read is on Mexico driving and suggestions were: don't drive at night or on Sundays as they have a lot of drunk driving incidences there. And be careful in some towns. You can google safety info on Mexico and probably anywhere else.
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~~ Jamie ~~
You give me the most gorgeous sleep That I've ever had And when it's really bad I guess it's not that bad
Have some general questions such as whether or not to get a rail pass or how much money you'll need? Visit here!
First time travelers/travelers with a lot of questions - this forum is for you![b]
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04-27-2006, 06:49 PM
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#7
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The " ... " queen of TP!
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Ugh sounds like fun!!!! I hope to do something similar when I graduate, go around canada US, and all the way through to the tip on South america. (That's my goal anyways). If I didn't have school, I'd ask you to take me with you! Good luck!!!!
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04-27-2006, 07:22 PM
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#8
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You want fries with that?
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I'd suggest backing up parts that wear out, having a good tool kit, and a pretty open-ended credit card! Otherwise, an awesome idea.
The Pan-American HWY will lead you all the way down, but in some areas its less a highway and more a dirt road. I've often thought about refurbing the 4Runner and turning it into an Expedition vehicle... :D
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04-27-2006, 07:35 PM
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#9
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T-PUNK VICE ADMIRAL
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Holy Roadtrips, Batman!
I would love to do this. I have pondered it a couple times but damn the money involved would be insane. You will definately have to take spare parts and mechanical skills. I would also dump the car down there and fly back. I have also been to south america so ask away.
Foo
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I am traveling around the world until I find something that makes me want to stop. I am an aspiring photographer and hope to find whatever it is I am looking for...
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04-27-2006, 10:18 PM
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#10
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TPunk Emeritus
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Hey!! cool. That is going to be a really crazy trip!!
Actually there is an Argentine couple that did this trip (Hernán and Candela Zapp), they wrote a lovely, really inspiring book. On someparts, I think Panamá or Colombia they actually had to take their car on a raft!! It took them 2 years I think to make the whole trip, and they even had a baby on the road!! Their book is full of little details of their trip and it's just great! I bought my sister a copy for her b-day (she hates reading, but it's the only book that actually caught her eye).
I really hope you speak Spanish.. or at least the basics and make it better though your trip.
Argentina-Alaska is the site of Hernán and Candela's journey. It's not in English (they are translating it and it says that it'll be up soon), but give it a try anyway, at least to see some pictures and maps. This is the cover of their book: Atrapa tu sueño (Catch your dream). And yes, that IS the car they travelled with!!!
I met them once at the beach in Cariló, Argentina. They are really nice, down-to-Earth people. They've been all over the news and TV here, but they just go from place to place, still traveling with that car (I also saw them on the high way!!) and they promote their book.
I hope this helps to make u guys catch your dreams!!!
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04-27-2006, 10:36 PM
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#11
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I'll rock your socks off
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Wow! They had a baby on the trip? I need to check that book out. Sounds amazing.
Open ended credit card? pfft. That takes out all the fun of it. You run out of money? great. stop and get a shit job. or sell the car and then hitchhike. thats all a part of the adventure. Adventures are not supposed to be safe.
__________________
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."
-T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom
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04-30-2006, 02:27 AM
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#12
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TPunk Emeritus
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Sounds great, but take a long look (via internet, books like florencia suggests, AAA, etc.) on the part through Panama. I think the "highway" pretty much peters out and you're left with a dirt track. Not sure if your old "beater" will be do as well as the jeep the Argentinian couple took...
Good luck, and keep us posted!
worldwidemike
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04-30-2006, 10:59 AM
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#13
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***** gear guru
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NICE! While I was living in Belize me and a couple buddies were looking into taking a road trip from there down to South America, but never did it. Would be an awesome experience no doubt!
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05-05-2006, 04:02 PM
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#14
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Members
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Thank to all of you, no doubts, this will be a nice trips for sure. I found so far very goods informations. I think the biggest problem is the ferry that we will have to take in Panama / Columbia.
I found this story of some guys who did it in 1996, take a look if you went
http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/ecars/Places/...erica/Hal1.html
thank you!
Dan Blanch
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05-09-2006, 11:15 AM
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#15
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TPunk Emeritus
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Thanks for the link! What a great story
__________________
~~ Jamie ~~
You give me the most gorgeous sleep That I've ever had And when it's really bad I guess it's not that bad
Have some general questions such as whether or not to get a rail pass or how much money you'll need? Visit here!
First time travelers/travelers with a lot of questions - this forum is for you![b]
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