Full Loop
Talk about anti-climactic.
We finished the South American loop.
We drove a giant circle around the perimeter of South America in a 1971 VW bus. Slowly. This continent took us three years, mas o menos.
There might have been a high five when we reached a recognizable dusty round-about in Santa Marta. For sure, it was subdued.
Things we’ve forgotten about Colombia….
Broaster chicken. I still don’t know what it means, but it’s good… and you eat it wearing clear plastic gloves.
Drinking water from bags. Bite the corner and leave it dangling from your mouth… walk around. It just feels right. It’s cheaper and somehow colder. And, less waste.
Lights that turn yellow before green. Why doesn’t the rest of the world do this?
This happened: a motorcyclist pushing a taxi with his foot. The taxi has a passenger. We have photos.
Oh, man. Back in Taganga. That’s the South American loop.
The best of travel seems to exist outside of time, as though the years of travel are not deducted from your life.
-Paul Theroux
What are you going to do now – ship Red Beard across the Atlantic to Europe – or ship back across the Darien Gap and drive north? Or something else? Chris
Congratulations! It’s been fun to watch. Thanks for taking us along!
” Lights that turn yellow before green.”
It is common in Europe
Woo Hoo…congrats on an incredible trip!
next up?
Congratulations! What a ride it has been! Looking forward to the next adventure…..
Congratulations!!!! You did it!
What an awesome trip!
How long are you gonna stay in the US? When do you ship out and where to?
By the way, all traffic lights in Europe turn yellow before green – you will like it. 🙂
That last photo of Angela and Bode is lovely, just lovely …
Congrats on reaching such a great milestone! And thanks for tres años, mas o menos, of inspiration!
Congrats!!!! was very nice the short time together in Ecuador,
so whats next??
i was traveling in Europe the last month and you’ll love it, and is much more easier than south America
Don’t stop guys, i lived a lot of things through your pics!!!
Hooray! You guys are awesome and I miss you a lot.
Well – congratulations are well deserved!
I also believe I’ve never encountered such pushy motor bike riders as in Colombia – and they are everywhere…. You forgot to mention the coffee vendors with their thermos flasks and small plastic cups (I believe they’re typical Colombia too).
So, after shipping the ‘Kombi’ to the USA – what comes next?
Not all lights in Europe turn yellow/orange before green. In most contries they dont…. What they do do is turn yellow/orange before they trun red 🙂
Shipping to Lisboa to start you Europe tour. If you do, let me know as can help out in Portugal, norht and south.
ooh yeah keep enjoying 😀
From my desk chair … THANK YOU for taking me along. I have enjoyed the ride.
I’ve dreaded the “end” of this trip, but you guys certainly deserve a rest! I was part of the 1971 “orange-frame-backpack and a ticket home on Icelandic Airways” crowd in Europe, so I’ve re-lived many of those miles along with the four of you (the Bus counts as a person to me). My wife & I took a vacation trip to Peru last year, and used your pictures & advice as a big help. The last picture here of Angela & Bode is great, but the “looking ahead” picture of Angela in the bus mirror really tugs at my travel heart, now 70 years ticking. Roll on, you guys. I’ll catch up.
hmmmm, i’m pretty sure a full loop would deliver you back to alameda ; )
I have read all your post from day one. Congratulations and thank you for taking me along. I could not have done the trip myself. Will really miss your adventures.
Time to think about what’s next, no doubt you’d had lots of time to think about………..
Time for Bode to attend school with other children his age?
Time to reintegrate yourselves with the regular workaday world that you left behind 4 years ago?
Time to return to family and friends that have missed you this long while?
Time to leave the dream world behind for awhile?
Time…….it wil be interesting to see what you have time for.
This is so badass…if only Shannon didn’t get homesick every 6-8 months (sigh)
Thanks for all the well wishes! The near-term plan is to ship the bus to the US for repairs (at our leisure), rest and spend some time with friends and family. Then, off on the next adventure – still uncertain exactly where that will be. Bode says “Europe, then Africa”. Easy for him to say…