To the Arctic Ocean via the Dalton Road

[geovalue]

We Have Our Trucks

Finally we managed to free our trucks from the Cartagena Port Authority in Colombia. I did not know that so many things could go wrong with one shipping event. We have enough shipping stories to last our life time and I just keep thinking, "We have to do this again and ship the truck back home!!" This was our 4th shipping of a vehicle and certainly the most disorganized and complicated but despite it all we are still smiling. Thanks to all for your good wishes.

Tom, Logan and Antonia our translator

Happy to have our truck back

Safe travels all

 

[geovalue]

Trucks in Good Condition

Trucks in Good Condition
To those who watched the Squeeze Team putting the trucks into the container, this is just to let you know they came out fine. Logan had a little light broken but otherwise it there were no problems. The video of this shipping will follow soon

 

[DiploStrat]

Good Mojo!

Was in Cartagena today. Thought of you! Great news on the trucks! Hope you have a great visit to Colombia and beyond. :wings:

 

[geovalue]

Was in Cartagena today. Thought of you! Great news on the trucks! Hope you have a great visit to Colombia and beyond. :wings:

Thanks sorry we missed you. YOu could have joined us for a celebration drink

 

[geovalue]

Truck Put into Storage in Medellin and we Fly to Italy to Visit Family

With our truck freed from the Port Authority and we have been told the reason there is so much red tape is to cut down on corruption. Although while we were trying to get our truck out of the Cartagena Port, Colombia made one of its biggest drug bust 12 TONS of cocaine and we were there.

We have been on the road a year now, having driven over 40,000km through 11 countries so it is time to take a break and head to see family again.

We drove our truck to Medellin and found a great place to store our truck while we are off to visit our son David, our daughter in law and 2 grandchildren who live in Milan. We anticipate being away for one month.

Our finally days of getting the truck out of the port were not without incidents and included Tom sneaking through security to videotape the removal of the trucks from the containers. So the sequel to the Squeeze Team Loading the containers should follow shortly.

The drive to Medellin was hairy with high mountain passes, fog, rain, washed out roads and Colombian truck drivers. But we made it safely and are now just excited to be going to see family especially our 2 grandchildren

We have updated our blog
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/truck-freed-and-we-fly-to-milan/

Trucks Passing Colombian Style over solid double lines

Miles and Miles of Trucks

Foggy Mountain Pass

Safe travels all

 

[DiploStrat]

Enjoy Italy!

Sadly, I was only on the ground long enough to transfer to/from a smaller plane. The Howes (http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Site/Home_Page.html) are already busting my chops for spending less than 48 hours in country. Especially such a pretty country, but sadly, I am still working for a living.

Things may have changed, but Peruvians used to be the worst truckers on the continent! :Wow1:

Safe travels!

 

[suntinez]

This is such a great story. Amazing pics.

Enjoy your time in Italy but don't let the squeeze team get chubby - you have to get back!

 

[cigarluvr]

Attentively awaiting your return from Europe...

 

[geovalue]

Video of Getting Trucks out of Port in Cartagena Colombia

Travel is wonderful but I have a confession to make, nothing is as wonderful as the hugs of grandchildren. Being away from family is always the worst part of overlanding for extended periods. Do we appreciate our family more because we are apart? Go ahead and hug a family a friend today.

We have uploaded our video of us retrieving our trucks from the ports of Cartagena in Colombia. What an interesting process. We were told that there is lots of paperwork in an attempt to decrease the opportunity for corruption. Hope it is working.

Enjoy the follow up to the Squeeze Team video.
Logan and Brianna from PanAmNotes were with us during this shipping episode as we shared a container. We both decided next time RORO, container shipping is more difficult even if it is supposedly safer.


Safe travels all

 

[geovalue]

Reconnecting with family and friends

We are already getting ready to return to Colombia this weekend to continue our journey south. Reconnecting with family and friends has been such a treat, confirmation as to how much we miss them all. Although very grateful for all the fellow overland friends we have met to date on route. We loved our previous stay in Colombia and really hope we can get an extension on our vehicle permit so we can stay much longer and explore the countryside. We loved the people, food, landscape and birds.

Flying Over Bogota

Introduction to Colombia Food

Bird of Colombia

We are flying back to Bogota on Sunday and will be heading back to Medellin where our truck is being stored. We cant wait to get back on the road

What we found really interesting in Italy was reconnecting with our grandchildren who are growing up knowing us through Skype. We were concerned they would not know us but it was as if we stepped out of the computer they immediately recognized us and were excited to see us. I love this new technology and the ability to stay in contact with family. I think our grandchildren believe, "Grandpa and Grandma live in Computer"

Updated blog
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/travelogue/

Safe travels all

 

[geovalue]

PAN AM HIGHWAY closed due to FARC attacks in Colombia

We arrived back in Colombia and spent a few days exploring Bogota before flying back to Medellin to pick up our truck which we had in storage there. We knew immediately driving from the airport in Medellin, something had happened, there was a change and military and police were everywhere. We soon learnt that there had been an FARC guerrilla attack on the Pan Am highway north of Medellin buses and a truck attacked and burnt and when the police arrived a car bomb exploded killing the police and injuring others. We felt sick it was the road we had driven on from Cartagena to Medellin. IN fact if we had been successful in storing our truck in Cartagena we would have not been able to drive the Pan Am to Medellin. The locals were "rattled" and there were concerns about driving south on the Pan Am Highway.

We asked the locals how they manage such situations when having to get back on the road. We were told that should we not see a vehicle for 15 minutes to pull over as there maybe a road block ahead. We decided to proceed to Ecuador, no driving after sunset and no camping. We would stay in truck stops and keep with the traffic. There were military and police stops everywhere but when pulled over they were so nice to us and welcomed us as tourists to their country.

We are now in Ecuador having crossed the border. The drive was spectacular, Colombia certainly has to be one of the most stunning countries we have driven. It was unfortunate timing for us, that we could not spend more time as we had planned. It takes some of the fun out of overlanding when always having to stay alert for challenges, whether it was landmines in Angola, conflicts in the Congo, rebels in Nigeria, or sudden increase in guerrilla attacks. We have traveled through such countries and now decided life is too short and the world still has so much to offer and explore so we hurry through and move on.

ON to a happier note Tom uploaded his video on Guatemala a country that blew our socks off with all it had to offer.


We also updated our blog from Bogota

http://www.adventurouspirits.com/bogota-colombia-we-are-back/

We will post video soon off our drive south from Medellin to Ecuador until then

Safe travels all

 

[rockandroll]

We arrived back in Colombia and spent a few days exploring Bogota before flying back to Medellin to pick up our truck which we had in storage there. We knew immediately driving from the airport in Medellin, something had happened, there was a change and military and police were everywhere. We soon learnt that there had been an FARC guerrilla attack on the Pan Am highway north of Medellin buses and a truck attacked and burnt and when the police arrived a car bomb exploded killing the police and injuring others. We felt sick it was the road we had driven on from Cartagena to Medellin. IN fact if we had been successful in storing our truck in Cartagena we would have not been able to drive the Pan Am to Medellin. The locals were "rattled" and there were concerns about driving south on the Pan Am Highway.

We asked the locals how they manage such situations when having to get back on the road. We were told that should we not see a vehicle for 15 minutes to pull over as there maybe a road block ahead. We decided to proceed to Ecuador, no driving after sunset and no camping. We would stay in truck stops and keep with the traffic. There were military and police stops everywhere but when pulled over they were so nice to us and welcomed us as tourists to their country.

We are now in Ecuador having crossed the border. The drive was spectacular, Colombia certainly has to be one of the most stunning countries we have driven. It was unfortunate timing for us, that we could not spend more time as we had planned. It takes some of the fun out of overlanding when always having to stay alert for challenges, whether it was landmines in Angola, conflicts in the Congo, rebels in Nigeria, or sudden increase in guerrilla attacks. We have traveled through such countries and now decided life is too short and the world still has so much to offer and explore so we hurry through and move on.

:Wow1::Wow1::Wow1:

Glad you two made it out of there safe! Goes to show you how quickly things can change in a place like Colombia!

 

[trailsurfer]

Thanks for the Update.

 

[geovalue]

:Wow1::Wow1::Wow1:

Glad you two made it out of there safe! Goes to show you how quickly things can change in a place like Colombia!

Yes we had some anxious moments deciding on best course of action. Fortunately the regular Colombians have to be one of the nicest people on the planet!

We have updated our blog of our drive south from Medellin

http://www.adventurouspirits.com/panpanam-highway-closed-due-to-farc-attacks/

Heading South on Pan Am Highway

Locals Heading South on Pan Am Highway

Beautiful Colombia

We are now in Ecuador and had a delightful surprise when we entered Quito an email from Luis and Lacey from Lost World Expedition saying they were in Quito and could we meet. Finally we were able to meet them after following them on their blog. They had notice our SPOT indicating we were in Quito don't you just love technology.

Safe Travels all

 

[trailsurfer]

Great Photos