Another Journey South in the diesel Landcruiser

[diesel toyota]

Waves

Hey, thanks for asking. It has been good this past week as storm "Kenneth" went by heading north, but today it went to like 2 feet, and now higher winds are here. I think it will stay flat for a bit now. I switch to fishing and paddling when there no good waves, or head into the hills in the Cruiser. reading up a bit on Guatemala and having been there before I wanted to do a bit of a jungle trip in the Peten area. Today I found a map in a guide book I own that has the 4x4 route from the Flores area to El Zotz ruins, then onto Tikal, and out. Also reading on Nicaragua and Panama and getting excited about both so may now add them to the trip for Jan/Feb. 2012 from here.

 

[diesel toyota]

Pictures from Mexico

More pictures of the road trips thru Mexico. Funny, looking at these, I saw almost the same exact photos used in the last Overland Journal...

 

[diesel toyota]

Baja 250 Race Course

Today was a blast; started off just doing maintenance on my BJ74 changing fuel filter, air filter, cleaning up a bit. Then decided to go exploring in the desert. Came across the marked course from the BAJA 250 Race. Drove it for many miles up in the high mountains/desert northwest of San Jose Del Cabo and back towards Cabo San Lucas. Excellent drive, and would have only been better if I was on a motorcycle, but being in a lifted, and locked 70 series Toyota;it was like a dream! the track had been freshly graded and is so smooth and switch-backed;it was superb!

 

[diesel toyota]

Preparing to go to Mainland Mexico

This afternoon I got my truck back after 3 weeks of waiting for parts from the USA to show up. Dec. 23 rd we went surfing at a local break and as we exited the hi-way I noticed the temp. gauge way hot. Turned out that a 110 volt freeze plug style heater had worked it's way loose and leaked out all antifreeze. This turned into a 3 week ordeal involving 2 countries Christmas Holidays plus New Years too~ Long story and 1 freeze plug, water pump, thermostat & gasket, and 1 radiator cap later, it's fixed and I am within a week of leaving for Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guatemala and more.
After 3 weeks of being truck-less, and walking for groceries, water, etc. I have a new appreciation for the automobile! More soon to come.

 

[diesel toyota]

Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico

We are now in Chiapas (Tuxtla) for the night. We ferried over to Mazatlan, and had a great drive down thru parts of Mexico we had not been to before. The town of Tequila was awesome! Oaxaca City was nice to see again, and I even ran into a good friend of ours in Tehuantepec today! Funny thing is he was only there for ten minutes, and we had just stopped for agua, and some handmade/homemade tamales. I parked in a lot, and walked the dog, then I look up and here comes Pepe or good friend from Barra De La Cruz, Oaxaca; the SURF SPOT. I had unknowingly parked next to his car, and he recognized the BJ74, and was all smiles~ Small world or destiny, not sure which.
The newly replaced water pump and thermostat sure made a big difference as now the temp gauge never moves from it's position, and peace of mind in my truck is everything heading into the jungle of Guatemala soon!
Pictures and details soon. I love Mexico! We keep talking about the coast of Oaxaca as a great possible future home, we'll see. Keeping an eye out for the Equipt guys down here too. My truck is getting the best mileage ever at over 600 km's per tank~ it loves the "old" sulfer diesel running thru it's veins!
Have fun!

 

[diesel toyota]

Just noticed the Equipt expedition experiencing water soaked ground and unussually late seasonal rains where we are headed, so hope it dries up , and FAST! Off to San Cristobal De La Casa today, then Guatemala!

 

[diesel toyota]

pics

Photos mexico trip 2012

 

[mochodurazo]

I met you at San Carlos, Sonora. I asked about your superv RIG! I even remember our conversation, you told me that your toyo is Japanese specific and talkerd about you PROCOMP XTREAM MT tires. I even suggested to re-gear lol.:sombrero:

 

[benedmonson]

Mike it was really great to meet you yesterday on Lago de Itza. Thanks for putting out the effort to look us up! Your BJ74 is very inspiring and my wife loved it.

Safe Travels my friend....

Team Equipt

 

[diesel toyota]

Lago Peten Itza

We are still here near Tikal. Keep extending our time... Ran into the Equipt team, and will post pictures soon, what a great group of people! 4x4 trip into waterlogged jungle yesterday to El Zotz ruins. Used both lockers to get in, no winch needed! Love Guatemala, and yes it is safe! Cheers.

 

[diesel toyota]

Yes Amigo I remember you too! Hope all is well for you! Mike

 

[lostworldexpedition]

Nice to see you on the road! Just subscribed. We loved Guatemala and should've spent more than the 6 weeks we spent there... Make sure to check out Semuc Champey among many, many other places. If you want a nice break and great food stay at Finca Ixobel for a couple of days. Stoked to read more about your life as you go.

BTW did we meet at Proffit's in 2009?

 

[diesel toyota]

Oaxaca

We ended up staying in Casa de Ernesto at Lago Peten Itza for 9 days. Visited many Mayan ruins and got DEEP in the mud! Blown away by what my truck can do with factory lockers and 35 inch tires! Never needed the winch! Going back to Peten after Semana Santa for the real dry season to visit more ruins!
We went thru Antigua, and are now back ion Oaxaca surfing, and looking for land... Surfing Puerto this week, then searching this area for a lot to maybe build a casa on, here. Changed some plans after seeing landslides and closed roads everywhere in Guatemala. and seeing some house get taken out by mudslides...
Enjoying the slow pace again, and a tropical fruit diet! Fishing and surfing is the routine now. Wanted to go further south, but I found what I was looking for here in Oaxaca coast, and have many good friends here as well to help me along. Pictures soon, computer issues...

 

[diesel toyota]

Oh yeah, planning to get the KLR 650 and then go further south!

 

[diesel toyota]