We're in Tamarindo now. I agree Imperial kinda sucks. I like Bavaria Gold. Haven't tried Negra yet. The drive around Arenal and Lago Arenal was incredible.

Sounds like a lot of excuses! I do agree though, central America isn't gonna produce too many awe inspiring landscape photos. Fortunately there are other forms of photography out there

New Costa Rica pt. 1 post is up: http://ushuaiaorbust.com/2018/06/20/...se-torteguero/

Also the forum will probably enjoy the fun 4x4 adventure I recently had down near the Darien Gap in Panama. As always it was stupid non-chalant parking, and then escalating dumb decisions. I wound up in the ditch at probably 40 degrees (ignore my commentary in the video, I was confused):



It rains so much, that ground is like the softest mushiest sod. Basically at some point I got pissed and just decided to back up as fast as I could in the ditch. Which ended up clanging against the drain and getting me fully stuck. But on the plus side I did re-dredge their ditch for them. Luckily a propane delivery driver watched the whole thing and immediately pulled me out with the help of my come along strap.



For the record - I was wrong about the right/left attitude. I was looking at forward/back roll. Looking at those pics the right/left was easily 30 degrees. Also as far as me being bitchy about Dan's interview technique - he'd been getting on me for being a dead interviewee. Which is true. Just saying there's history. Here's their blog btw: https://www.facebook.com/endofallroads/

We ended up drinking mucho cervezas with the guy who pulled me out, and staying at his hospedaje (cheap hotel) down the road, where be BBQed for us. And we saw the end of the Pan-Am highway in Yaviza - where it turns into a footbridge and then impenetrable jungle after that. Fun day.

Costa Rica Pt. 2 is up: http://ushuaiaorbust.com/2018/06/21/...nd-roads-crew/

The tree restaurant in Monteverde! Thanks for the memory, Suzzer. Hope getting the car on the boat to SA goes well and you both get back together quickly sand safely.

Haha I'm still not sure how you ended up in the ditch, but that guy's holier than thou attitude was pretty annoying!

Also +1 for the tree restaurant.

When I was in Monteverde it rained 24/7 so my memories weren't particularly great.

My last two Panama posts are up. These have the longer stories of checking out the edge of the Darien Gap, and crossing the Panama Canal in a small sailboat - really cool experience.

http://ushuaiaorbust.com/2018/07/09/panama-end-road/

http://ushuaiaorbust.com/2018/07/28/...boquete-canal/

I'm currently back in LA looking for a job. I plan to do one more post with a summary and Best Of the Trip kind of thing when I get some time.

You are officially my favorite gimpy, ginger travel blogger.

I have read all the blog entries so far and have been
entertained, educated and sometimes erected by your adventures!!!

Thanks dude, that means a lot. You are in special company with my Mom. Dad and at least 7 friends who have read every blog.

Just read the whole thread and many of the blog post and I enjoyed that a lot, what an experience!

May I ask why you decided to go back to L.A. and if you still want to do the rest of the trip?

Looking forward to reading the epilogue as well.

1) My foot can't do more than 1 day of hiking and I really want to do a lot of multi-day treks in S.A. - like the Inca Trail, Lost City Trail, Patagonia treks. I want to come back when I'm ready.

2) My renter was moving out Aug 1 - and I didn't want to be completely broke when I got back.

3) 7 months is a great trip. The trick is just somehow getting that much time off every few years.

Thanks that helps me get motivated more to write it - before I forget everything.

I'm back in my condo, second day at work on a new job. The whole trip seems like a dream. I almost have to remind myself it actually happened.

Good luck with the new job and transitioning back to "real life". While the desire to not be broke is likely a very effective motivator, it's not uncommon for people who've experienced the freedom of long-term travel to find it hard to re-acclimate to the monotony of "normal" everyday life.

Furiously refreshing website for finale.

Coming soon! Starting a new job where you're in over your head and 50 minute commute each way is a little draining.

Awesome stories!
I hope you ever get to the end of the story and to a new trip

Good day to all! I also love South America very much. Ranging from people, music and the atmosphere to natural beauty, colors and unusual travel routes! Now I am planning my longest journey by car that will start in early January. I am looking for useful applications on the phone that can help. Regarding the compilation of the route, maps, etc I found https://us.maptons.com here, but other. Maybe about languages I am looking for your recomemdation=)

Check out iOverlander: http://ioverlander.com/

For maps, I used Google Maps with the saved maps feature (type "ok maps" in search when on the map you want to save).

Also wiki overlander for border crossing info.: http://wikioverland.org/Main_Page

And the Pan-Am traveller forum on FB for meeting people: https://www.facebook.com/groups/panamtravelers/

I also signed up for the ex-pat FB groups for most of the countries I was going to visit, to get a feel for what life was like for the locals there.

There are probably some more useful apps and stuff.The Pan-Am traveler forum has a lot of good resources for that stuff.

Here are some other links to blogs and stuff I liked: http://ushuaiaorbust.com/home/links/

I just read all of this.

Great story, great trip, great person.

Since it has been 1.5 years, are there any plans for a new trip, e.g. the south america leg of the trip you initially planned?

Thanks!

Yeah I'm planning to quit sometime next year and head to South America, then probably Australia/New Zealand - then maybe the rest of the world. I want to see the whole world slowly - like I saw Mexico and Central America. Having the vehicle makes it a different trip with more adventure and chance to see more out of the way things than the backpacker routes.

I'm writing a travel memoir about leg 1 right now.

Suzzer,

That sounds like a great plan. I should take more inpsiration from you, Dubnjoy, chopstick, etc.

Hope you'lll include us in your adventures.

Bumping this thread in case the forum suddenly disappears. I'm about 4/5ths of the way through the first draft of the book.



The main theme of my book is the great Mesoamerican civilizations that most American high school history classes spend a day on, if that. But also a ton of the recent history of Central America (with CIA ****ery) is becoming a co-theme. The rest is me eating stuff and getting into stupid foibles. if you've ever read a Bill Bryson travel memoir or say Walk in the Woods - it's based on that format - hopefully funny, compelling and informative.

If anyone is interested in a discounted book when they come out - PM me your contact into (email, instagram handle, whatever) - and I'll put you on the list for when it comes out.

Or check in with http://ushuaiaorbust.com/ - I'll have a new blog entry when the book is ready. Unfortunately I never got the mailing list working. But if you sign up as a subscriber I will get your email that way. Just put some 2+2 indicator in your username so I can distinguish from all the spambots.

Really like that cover. Never heard of Bill Bryson before but gonna read something from him and hopefully your book some day when it comes out.

Thanks! For Bryson, Walk in the Woods is a good book to start with. Make sure you get the unabridged version.