Antique Land Cruiser on the road since 2003

[Jim K in PA]

This is the picture I have been waiting for Coen! The Cruiser back in its natural habitat. :sombrero: Fantastic to see it all back together. Thanks again for sharing.

Thanks guys for all the moral support.


The test drive to the customs.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[landcruising]

Thanks Jim,


some more:



This is how we camp between the other overlanders at Hotel Oberland in La Paz.

I still have to get the lines out between the countries. This is a very delicate work but I must say I like the result.

The side logo looks great!

Now with Le Dakar and Rainforest Challenge logo!

We start off with a problem right away when we begin our long distance test drive. Friends have suggested I use Nylock nuts on the u-bolts of the leafsprings. This has proven to be a not so good idea. Because these nuts are shorter and wider and have given me headaches.

So on our way to lake Titicaca I had to make a quick pitstop and change them back into the original ones.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[esh]

The truck looks fantastic! Are you planning to watch Dakar this year from the roadsides?

Definitely use standard U-bolt nuts. If you are using new U-bolts, they will stretch some and the nuts will loosen, but after 2 or 3 re-torques (200-500 miles worth, probably less on Bolivian roads?) they will settle and you won't have to think about them for 1000s of miles.

 

[landcruising]

We will have to see if we can see the Dakar for the third time in a row. I might be in a press car if all goes well.... But the changes are slim..

more:



The holy lake lies on 3800 meters. Very strange for such a large body of water.

Famous for its reed boats of which Thor Heyerdahl made them even more famous when he sailed one of his expeditions on one of them.

We land up at a workshop where the fabricate them boats and I can assist in pushing one of the smaller ones outside. I must say I underestimated the weight.

On reeds it slides slowly to its designated parking.

The little boat sells for about 200 USD. The big boat is being build for an exposition in Norway.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[dirty Bakers]

Those Boats are very cool and I am excited to follow you on your adventurers.

 

[landcruising]

some more:



We cross over with a small ferry in order to get to the famous Copacobana beach of Bolivia.

Between some yachts lies a reed boat.

We are getting ready for our blessing at the cathedral of Copacobana.

We are not the only ones that want to bless their cars. Every car needs to be adorned with flowers and the likes.

I am buying several flowers and slings at the bowler hat ladies.

After some good old negotiations I am getting all this stuff for five dollars.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[stainless40/45]

some more:



We cross over with a small ferry in order to get to the famous Copacobana beach of Bolivia.

Between some yachts lies a reed boat.

We are getting ready for our blessing at the cathedral of Copacobana.

We are not the only ones that want to bless their cars. Every car needs to be adorned with flowers and the likes.

I am buying several flowers and slings at the bowler hat ladies.

After some good old negotiations I am getting all this stuff for five dollars.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

Love reading about your adventures,and love the new cruiser. I'm might steal that idea of the part that seperates the top to the sides. I like the idea of more headroom.

James

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Man, your postings really motivate me to travel more when I get back home.

 

[landcruising]

more:




Figuring out what goes where.

Karin-Marijke does the top.

Everywhere kisses, flowers and champagne fly.

Next to us is a little brother of our car which gets nice flowers on the bonnet.

Very nicely decorated.

Next step is to buy a coupon somewhere in the back of the church. This enables you to lure the priest to your car an have him bless it.

The motor has to be blessed as well, so I open up the bonnet.

Right in front of the entrence to the cathedral we are waiting for the priest.

A nice speech will provide ample blessing for years to come.

The priest does his round with holy water.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[goodwoodweirdo]

great !!!


:ylsmoke:

 

[Mr. D]

thats cool to have your ride blessed

 

[DexGtr]

very very awesome :wings:...i just spent the whole morning reading the whole thread... now I have to go back to work LOL.

 

[landcruising]

a bit more:


On the way back, crossing the water we even see a decorated micro.

We are rewarded with nice views of the cordillera and lake Titicaca.

Back in La Paz we cross this nicely done statue of Che Guevara made up from scratch pieces of metal.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[matt s]

Love the blessing of the truck. I am going to have to look into that!

 

[landcruising]

more:


Karin-Marijke is very happy with her new office.

Hotel Oberland in La Paz is filling up quickly as the dry season is progressing. Notice we are the only non white vehicle.

I got myself a plank on the bonnet. So that we are not cracking the new paint when climbing on the roof all the time.

So these are the old 14 volt glow plugs. Two of them have exploded and the remaining two are burnt severely. That is why she started so very poorly the last few times. Raw power starting in the cold! When we did a compression test and the motor was on the floor, we did the most stupid thing we could do: we glowed her with 24 volt direct. Now I know where all those coils and transistors are good for.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen