Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

https://youtu.be/BGrfhsxxmdE?si=T4uzUuPfzF4-BmgG

 

I finally replaced the shredded auger belt in my snowblower today, so I'm all ready for a late spring snowstorm!

 

It'll? It already has...but I ain't goin' down without a fight.

 

I've been avoiding the doc too. Last time I had a physical done was so I could sign up for Rugby club senior year. Funny how that works with a rough sport like that.


I do know I need to get a stretching routine going. Most injuries are from violent sudden movements that your body isn't used to. I say that with a grain of salt cause obviously if an arm is going to break no amount of stretches can avoid that.

I stiffened up a lot when I stopped playing sports and started focusing on Powerlifting. Bad form and ego lifts are definitely going to contribute to stuff down the road. On top of that my job has become more desk riding that ever before and the scale shows it


Luckily I've avoided anything more than a partially dislocated shoulder and rolled ankles.

 

Here's the rest of the pictures from Big Bend:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KWp07tFffDmjfgsPwFvw43KYxd_qYbKj?usp=sharing

 

Am I missing something? Usually you can get full screen pics & cycle thru, not having to click on a thumbnail & then back click to the next.

 

If I double click on one, it opens a bigger pic and allows to scroll through.

 

That worked T/Y Rich.

Great pics

 

Very nice, thanks!

 

Nice pics Rich! Cool that you got to see some of the cacti and flowers blooming!

 

Thanks for those! Its nice to get out, even if through your pictures...

 

Very nice.
Thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks for posting & jogging my memory, have not been to Big Bend in several years. Beautiful!

 

I hit a major snag planning my trip from Alaska to the Southern tip of S. America. I would have to put ALF on a boat to get around the Darien Gap.. The 4 articles I found indicate that it is a 7-10 day process, bribes will expedite some things and there is a lot....a lot... of waiting in some of the offices. After going through security, I would have to be with the vehicle until it is loaded in the container. Apparently shipping schedules change by the minute, and if your boat does not leave within 24 hrs. you have to go through security again. Then you have to secure a ride (boat or plane) to be sure you're at the dock when the ship arrives with your car. There are several outfits that cater to this crowd, but the authors said it was a major PITA, mainly because their boat was delayed 3 times over 3 days. Which meant 3 more days in a hotel and spending cash in town. Plus rescheduling the boat/plane ride. Lots of paperwork involved and I would have to hire a shipping agent to help get through all the red tape. I told the other guy I would still like to go on this trip, but Panama would be the end of the road for me. He's contemplating the options right now.

This is the paperwork on the Columbian side to ship to Panama. Then there is more paperwork and waiting when you go to pick up your vehicle.

 

Took the dog for a run in the Barrens this morning. On the way back found a cool road that one mile in ended at a FS berm. That so pisses me off-Grrrr!!! Back tracked and went around on FS approved roads to find the other end. Could be cool for bikes. Take some work for trucks... Found a stump because there are no rocks up there and posed for @Supr4Lo! Also found an interesting crossing off another goat track... I decided against this path forward.

 

I wondered if you had done your research yet... There are challenges at EVRY border crossing as well. The boat around is big, but the overall is enormous. I think Expedition Overland has a video of their trip and they talk about this some. Worth a look. Some of the route finding is epic as well because there are no maps...

 

Your dog looks happy to be going for a truck ride.

 

Yeah, I'd heard of these problems from people on bike journeys. It can become a mess. An expensive mess.

 

Dude this is exciting to hear!!! Sounds like it will be a proper adventure. You guys taking one vehicle or two?

How far south are you going? I was watching the Expedition Oversight series they did one where they went down to the southern end of Chile and Argentina. They went to a national park with some glaciers and I couldn’t believe how beautiful it looked, and that was on a TV. And the mountain peaks in the Ushuaia region don’t even look like they’re from this planet. To get all the way down there might be a lot of extra time though.

Couple of supportive thoughts I’ll offer, coming from my extensive expertise watching youtube videos:


-Keep it simple. The more you install into the vehicle itself, the more time you’ll need to test things out to make sure there aren’t problems or annoyances that might take time or enjoyment from the trip.

-study up on history for the places you’re going through. Makes it funner.

-if you have any friends over here with family or friends over there, chat with them and ask if there is anything they want to have Tacoma Expressed to them. (Something cheap and low profile so it won’t be a customs problem, like a Danish kringle from Racine).

Why you ask? To make connections! The friends of your friends might have friends that will show you an awesome spot on a beach, or an undiscovered Inca lost city. You never know.

-Be aware of countries or areas that are run by organized crime. Some bigger countries are fine mostly, but will have areas within them that are run at the local level by mobsters. Steer clear, we don’t want to hear you guys got taken as sex slaves.

-bring lots of bail money and/or bribe money. Know who to bribe, and when to bribe (to avoid needing to use your bail money).

-Find creative ways to hide that money.

-be careful going off the beaten path. While the woods are the preferred hiding spots for troublemakers anywhere in the world, mountains combined with geographically small countries will make it more likely that you’ll bump into trouble.

-The Darrien Gap…not sure if it’s been done by 4wheeled vehicles yet. It’s probably not worth the trouble.