[Grecy]

I went flying through the treetops in Monteverde, Costa Rica...



The road chose me

-Dan

[Grecy]

I went White Water Paddling in La Fortuna, Costa Rica.



The road chose me

-Dan

[Grecy]

I've crossed the border into Panama, country number 10



Into Panama | The road chose me

-Dan

[Grecy]

I spent a while on the island paradise of Bocas Del Toro getting my PADI open water SCUBA certification, then moved onto Panama City...



Bocas Del Toro to Panama City | The road chose me

-Dan

[mobileXterror]

I'm sure many people have already told you this, but i look forward to hopefully seeing a book written about the experience down the road. You seem like the perfect candidate for the new age of travel writers. Peter Jenkins Jr along the way haha.

[Grecy]

Originally Posted by mobileXterror

I'm sure many people have already told you this, but i look forward to hopefully seeing a book written about the experience down the road. You seem like the perfect candidate for the new age of travel writers. Peter Jenkins Jr along the way haha.

Hey Xterror,
When I set out I figured that because I'm a computer guy that my website would be my book. Along the way I've had many people tell me I should write an actual book and the idea is growing on me.
I'm sure sure it will be after I get to Tierra Del Fuego, or in many years after I've journeyed around much more of the world so I have many more stories to tell.
There certainly is a lot going on that I'm not putting on my website that needs to be recorded somehow/somewhere.

-Dan

[Grecy]

So it turns out there is no road from Panama to Colombia, a place called The Darien Gap.

I've begun the insane process of loading the Jeep into a shipping container and shipping it from Colon, Panama to Cartagena, Colombia.



This is going to take a while...

Shipping across The Darien Gap Pt. 1 | The road chose me

-Dan

[Grecy]

I spent a few days checking out Panama City & the Canal, and now I'm in Colombia!



The road chose me

-Dan

[Grecy]

The whole episode of shipping the Jeep from Panama to Colombia around the Darien Gap has come to an end.
Final price was $770.



Shipping across The Darien Gap Pt. 1 | The road chose me
Shipping across The Darien Gap Pt. 2 | The road chose me
Shipping across The Darien Gap Pt. 3 | The road chose me
Shipping across The Darien Gap Pt. 4 | The road chose me

I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about the whole process.

-Dan

[Pallando]

Originally Posted by Grecy

I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about the whole process.

-Dan

Just one. you're in a Jeep, mate. Why didn't you just drive across the Darien Gap?

[Grecy]

Originally Posted by Pallando

Just one. you're in a Jeep, mate. Why didn't you just drive across the Darien Gap?

haha, you know I didn't even really look into it.
(I'm no expert at all, so take the following with a grain of salt)
I heard rumors that *if* you show up at the right season, and *if* it's been a pretty dry year, it's quite possible to drive through in a well equipped vehicle.

For sure you would want winches front and rear and at least one other vehicle to pull you out, probably more. The distance of the remote stuff is actually not too far, so I don't think gas is a concern.

One of the biggest problems is the nasty Colombian FARC who are thick in those areas and ruthless (so I'm told)

It certainly would be an amazing adventure, though I think by the time I get around to driving there again in 20 years there will more than likely be a road/bridge punched right through.

-Dan

[Grecy]

Did a bunch of cool dives to get my PADI Open Water certification in Taganaga, then hiked and camped in Parque Nacional Tayrona



Diving In Taganga & Parque Nacional Tayrona | The road chose me

-Dan

[jclaudii]

Just played catchup and your adventure is moving along great! Congrats on getting published in the Australian Jeep magazine, I'm sending out a few e-mails to some of our publications and tv shows to see if they can at least give you some air time in your awesomeness!

I have only been diving off the coast of FL at an old barge site and wow the water is so clear...I got my certification from Scuba Schools Intl and took the course in one of the clearest lakes in Arkansas at about 20-25 feet of water. When I looked at my depth gauge out at that barge site, I was 85 feet under and could still look up and see the wavy surface! Amazing!

I look forward to hearing how this next part of your trip goes, but before you head out we need a shot of you and the Jeep with a huge cup of Columbia Coffee.

I also noticed you started taking some of the fuses out under the hood for "security", that is GREAT! I was hoping you would just in case someone jacked with your Jeep. Speaking of which...how is the old heap holding up?

[Grecy]

Originally Posted by jclaudii

Just played catchup and your adventure is moving along great! Congrats on getting published in the Australian Jeep magazine, I'm sending out a few e-mails to some of our publications and tv shows to see if they can at least give you some air time in your awesomeness!

I have only been diving off the coast of FL at an old barge site and wow the water is so clear...I got my certification from Scuba Schools Intl and took the course in one of the clearest lakes in Arkansas at about 20-25 feet of water. When I looked at my depth gauge out at that barge site, I was 85 feet under and could still look up and see the wavy surface! Amazing!

I look forward to hearing how this next part of your trip goes, but before you head out we need a shot of you and the Jeep with a huge cup of Columbia Coffee.

I also noticed you started taking some of the fuses out under the hood for "security", that is GREAT! I was hoping you would just in case someone jacked with your Jeep. Speaking of which...how is the old heap holding up?

Hey man, glad to hear you are enjoying my adventure
Thank you so much for putting the word out about my trip, it really means a lot to me. Thank you.

The Jeep is going great, the little trooper that she is. In fact I just did another round of oil change, etc. and noticed a few little things.

Read it all here:
The road chose me » Jeep Stuff Again

I thought you Jeepers might like this photo - there are TONS of these around Colombia.


-Dan

[Grecy]

Drove the Jeep up to 4700 meters in National Park Los Nevados in the Andes, then hiked up to 5125 meters!



Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados | The road chose me

-Dan