Ends of the Earth Expedition: Central America

[flyingwil]

Nice pictures on your blog. I like the topographic map look you put on the Taco.

Yes the wrap looks great, James.

I'm loving the updates, please keep them coming!

All the blogs are very enjoyable, between Stephanie's, this thread and now James' blogs we can get a good grasp of the great adventure you are all on.

Scott, How did the OME swap work out?

 

[Scott Brady]

The EarthRoamer XV-LT is doing awesome overall, but we did not take it to Holmul. Just too tight.

We leave for Lago Izabal in a few hours.

 

[Christian P.]

Guys I am so jealous....looks like my Syncro would be just right at home over there...




can someone remind me of the link for Scott & Stephanie's blog? can't seem to find it right now.

 

[Scott Brady]

Camped at Rio Dulce on Lago Izabal in Guatemala. We are heading to Copan tomorrow.

We are starting to see more overlanders too. Fun stuff.

 

[ttora4runner]

Awesome, trip report. Keep it coming.

How do you plan for something like this? I guess I never understood what all is involved in something like this.

 

[viter]

can someone remind me of the link for Scott & Stephanie's blog? can't seem to find it right now.

check pg 4 of this thread

 

[Desertdude]

More video clips please :smiley_drive:

Great work Scott - We really like the video style and quality, it almost like being there :ylsmoke:





::::

 

[allochris]

i see u r heading over to antigua soon. i just got back from there.

A tip for u guys w/ campers & need to find a free secured place to camp w/ your trucks.

it's on the sw corner of town, the entrance is on the north side & west end of 6a Calle Poniente. It's the Antigua Tourist Policia Compound. Just drive in there, talk to whoever is in the office & ask for a permission to camp. It's free. I just tented there w/ my rental vehicle last whole wk w/ a couple other campers from BC & Cali.

While u are in antigua, depending how much time u have, u might as well drive up to the summit trail of acatenango. (Ask Old Town Outfitter in Antigua for trail info. They are on the same street: 6a Calle Poniente). U can drive up the forest road all the way up to around 3200-3400m, then u can park there & hike up 500-700m to the summit of Acatenango (3975m). From there u get the highest view of active Fuego volcano just next col over & 360degree view of surrounding area.

map here:
http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150356/volc-n-de-fuego.html

Pacaya is also an option. u can get right next to free flowing lava!

also, monterico beach is only 1:45min (90km) or so from Antigua.

Buena suerte, have fun!

 

[goodtimes]

. . . can someone remind me of the link for Scott & Stephanie's blog? can't seem to find it right now.

I added links to the blogs to the first post in this thread.

 

[haven]

Scott commented in the 5 Blues Lake Road video clip that the forest is quickly reclaiming the open space created by the road. In the tropical forest, the plants stage a continuous race to daylight. Any place where daylight is available (a clearing created when a large tree finally falls, for example) is quickly colonized by shrubs and vines, and spindly saplings shoot upwards at an amazing rate to try to beat competitors to the sunlight.

Any roadside creates an edge that offers more sunlight than the interior of the forest. Over time, the forest will create a "living tunnel" of greenery across the road. The passing of vehicles will keep the center of the tunnel open.

While the edge has a luxuriant tangle of leaves and shoots, the interior of the forest is often too dark for most plants to grow leaves. The plants and vines that grow in the interior have to be specialists that can survive in the low light. It's also a place where you'll find lots of fungus fruiting bodies (mushrooms and such). The interior can be a gloomy place in a mature forest.

Keeping a machete or small chain saw in the vehicle is a good idea for travel off the main roads. Vines in particular grow quickly, and are very strong. A tiny vine stretching across the road can pull your roof rack off if you're not alert.

Trees in many parts of the tropics achieve massive size. When one of these giants falls across the road, it's often easier to make a trail around it than cut and remove it. I remember one trail in Panama where a large tree had fallen across the road. It was hung up on another tree on the other side of the road, creating a barrier about six feet off the ground. The local folks simply dug out the roadway beneath the tree until their vehicles could squeeze beneath it.

Chip Haven

 

[viatierra]

From there u get the highest view of active Fuego volcano just next col over & 360degree view of surrounding area.

map here:
http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150356/volc-n-de-fuego.html

Pacaya is also an option. u can get right next to free flowing lava!

Great link!
Following along is great inspiration... I want this trip.

 

[Ducks]

Awesome to follow along with your adventures.

 

[corbin8or]

Corbin here

hey guys, i really think I only know Stephanie and Scott, but hi and safe travels to all of you. sign me up for the next trip!!

 

[Scott Brady]

We are now in Honduras (a change in plans), and at Copan Ruinas. The closer I got to El Salvador, the less I was interested in the long drive to Antigua and then through a country I had little interest in (just a personal thing, I am sure there are some great things about El Salvador). So far, we are glad we did, as it gave us an extra few days in Honduras and Nicaragua.

The little town of Copan Ruinas is great, with a few good restaurants, and a killer "eco" style hotel that let us park the trucks in the back.

So far, I think Guatemala is my favorite country. I will be coming back, as you can see this place and its people are working very hard for change. Infrastructure is coming in at a rapid pace, and there is a general sense of optimism. You quickly get over the shotguns and 1911s everyone carries. Not much different than Prescott .

The whole Peten region is rich with adventure, and loaded with ancient, nearly untouched ruins. The people have been wonderful.

The border crossing into Honduras this morning was mellow. It took some time, as nothing was computerized. There was a group of F800GS riders there, currently traveling around the world. We are seeing other overlanders more frequently now.

I find myself already planning my next trip to Belize and Guatemala, but on a KTM:elkgrin:

 

[Nullifier]

So just out of curiosity how is the jeep doing with mpg as an overall average?