Spirited Away

So before we get moving there are a couple of items we'd like to get posted. We spent last Monday visiting each destination's embassy and consulate. We had varying degrees of success, but the really interesting thing was how each construction, staff, and interaction resembled some of the expectations we have for each country. This discovery will be fleshed out in a future post. We'll also be sure to get a basic itinerary up on the web and a more thorough equipment list. I dropped a fair amount of cash on a satellite phone rental last week. Its not cheap, but it will give us the ability to make a call to anywhere in the world as long as we've got a view of the sky.

This post's primary objective is to describe our stallion--the hoss that will take us to and hopefully into the promised land. Don Quixote had Rocinante and Alexander the Great had Bucephalus. Andrew and I have Randal. Randal has some clear advantages to other vehicles. First, Randal is no stranger to fame. He won't get psyched out by all of the press and publicity our travels may garner. Also Randal and his 'old gold' paint coat aren't likely to draw any undo attention that flashy rides get in impoverished areas. On the other hand, there may be some inherent risk to traveling in a car that could legally vote and drink were it an American-born man. The car could break down in North Carolina or Nuevo Cuaudo. This brings me to the first interactive blogging activity for which I'd love your help:

I want you to try to guess which US State, Mexico State, or Central/South American country will be Randal's final resting place. Keep in mind that under no circumstance do I plan on getting Randal back to the US. For the modest Detriot-built sedan, this is the final mission. I will post all the sensible states and countries and the drive distances in each one tomorrow, but for now I'd like to enlighten everyone to the current shape of the vehicle to avoid insider trading.

Randal is a 1991 V6 Dodge Spirit. Currently, he gets 26-29 miles per gallon of regular gasoline based on city versus highway driving. He's passed the DC inspection and emissions test as recently as September 2011. He seats 6 (the elusive front middle is in play) has two non-functioning front power windows and a slight oil leak. All new belts and spark plugs were installed on 6/12 and 9/11 respectively. Randal is a reconstructed title since he sustained more damage than current evaluations deemed due to a 2010 collision with a telephone pole. Other major work includes PCV valve replacement in 1998, Gasket Valve cover replacement in 2001, a 2002 replacement of the rear axle assembly, a catalytic converter replacement at 53k miles in 2001, an exhaust system replacement in 2009, a new radiator installed in 2011, battery changes in 1998, 2001, 2006 and 2010,  a Powertrain Control Model replacement in 1998, yearly tire rotations and coolant flushes, and oil changes as needed. Randal currently has 119,142 miles on the odometer.


Get ready to place your bets on final resting place with the next entry. Until then enjoy these sweet picts including one of me behind the helm!

Borders

Many of you have probably heard Andrew or I talk about our plans for this July and August. I wanted to carve out a place to capture some ideas and chatter prior to departure. The same space is designed to house updates of progress and adventure. We've got a lot of driving ahead of us and while one adventurer needs to keep eyes fixed to the road and hands gripping the wheel, the other will be free to tap out stories to loved ones back home.

In case you haven't heard:

THE PLAN: Drive south from Washington, DC journeying to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama

THE DATES: JULY 8th, 2012-August 5th 2012

THE SUPPLIES: 1991 Dodge Spirit, Macbook, GoPro, Satellite Phone, Tank tops, Swimsuits

THE ABSTRACT: All of our lives we constantly discover, create, and cross borders both tangible and intangible. From wide rivers to the boundaries that prevent two contrasting ideas from being weighed earnestly, many of the borders can be traversed. Indeed Andrew makes crossing borders routine every time he crossed the Delaware to follow his favorite sports team or the Anacostia to mentor DC youth. My border crossing tripped man-made borders working in Iraq and physical ones taken a step at a time in the mountains of Morogoro, Appalachia, or Jura.

Life in the United States has provided opportunity for many of these border crossings. This adventure is similar. How close are the borders with Mexico and the countries of Central America? How is it that they've gone uncrossed by so many? A 36 hour car ride may seem distant, but given the car parked out in front of my house, I can't help but wonder how I haven't already spent a mere 36 hours on this pursuit. I routinely spend 36 hours or more socializing with friends, putting in time at work, or playing sports. It seems like a very low cost to experience different cultures, strange foods, and challenging ideas. Upon realizing this math, I find no other recourse than to make a break for the border.