Pan American Highway progress updates

[CRH]

Hmm, not of the completely demolished examples. Didn’t think to take a pic and the bin’s been emptied over night.

Here’s an example that’s clinging on still, fused to the nut (the black marks are wear my fingertips have removed the dust):
View attachment 7911575

Others were hanging off Salvador Dali-style (I removed and tossed the remnants) or were gone completely.

Rear wheel indicators are as normal:
View attachment 7911576

I'm guessing they would be made from an LDPE material with a softening point of around 180-220ºC depending on blend

 

[globalgregors]

Ecuador leg completed including the above mentioned detour to the Galapagos islands.

Ecuador prides itself on possessing four landscapes: the coast, the mountains, the jungle and the islands, making it one of the most geographically and culturally diverse countries on the continent.

From an overlanding point of view there is a lot on offer here, and with things relatively close together one can experience some extraordinary one-day drives: morning in the high Andes, evening in the Amazon basin type stuff.

Nothing to report on the vehicular front. Iggy has performed flawlessly up to 4,600m and from tarmac to pot-holed tracks, sand and mud. The Maxtrax didn’t get a run on in Ecuador, although clearly in the Amazon Basin roads are either passable or there’s been rain and they’re not. Seems to me it’s pretty binary no matter the vehicle type, much as it would be nice to suggest that the Gren can go where others cannot.

No warning lights or other exceptions. Vehicle is getting pretty grimy by now and I’ve split the drivers side door seal, but nothing mission-critical is on the list.

Ad-Blue was harder to find (eg in Cuenca, third largest city, appears to be only the one place selling to retail customers) in Ecuador than Colombia. Research was not shining much light on the availability in Peru, so when we came across the 9L canisters as sold in the US I stumped up for two. Across the border now and I see it periodically on sale at the pump again, so the 15L sloshing away in the back seat is a source of regret given it’s going to be in our lives now for weeks.

No problem with diesel grades, the same <50ppm sulfur/Euro4 spec is on sale throughout, which runs fine albeit with more frequent regens than the good stuff (<15ppm).

There’s been a bit of protest activity around Ecuador recently. We got lucky in the North and made it through before road closures could affect our itinerary, however we weren’t so lucky in the South and were essentially forced to drop out of the Andes onto the coastal plain, hence we find ourselves now in the Northern Desert of Peru and continuing to roll south.

Next driving highlight will be back in the Andean highlands of the Cordillera Blanca, something to look forward to.

 

[CRH]

Ecuador leg completed including the above mentioned detour to the Galapagos islands.

View attachment 7911880

Ecuador prides itself on possessing four landscapes: the coast, the mountains, the jungle and the islands, making it one of the most geographically and culturally diverse countries on the continent.

From an overlanding point of view there is a lot on offer here, and with things relatively close together one can experience some extraordinary one-day drives: morning in the high Andes, evening in the Amazon basin type stuff.

View attachment 7911881

View attachment 7911882

View attachment 7911883

View attachment 7911884

View attachment 7911885

Nothing to report on the vehicular front. Iggy has performed flawlessly up to 4,600m and from tarmac to pot-holed tracks, sand and mud. The Maxtrax didn’t get a run on in Ecuador, although clearly in the Amazon Basin roads are either passable or there’s been rain and they’re not. Seems to me it’s pretty binary no matter the vehicle type, much as it would be nice to suggest that the Gren can go where others cannot.

No warning lights or other exceptions. Vehicle is getting pretty grimy by now and I’ve split the drivers side door seal, but nothing mission-critical is on the list.

Ad-Blue was harder to find (eg in Cuenca, third largest city, appears to be only the one place selling to retail customers) in Ecuador than Colombia. Research was not shining much light on the availability in Peru, so when we came across the 9L canisters as sold in the US I stumped up for two. Across the border now and I see it periodically on sale at the pump again, so the 15L sloshing away in the back seat is a source of regret given it’s going to be in our lives now for weeks.

No problem with diesel grades, the same <50ppm sulfur/Euro4 spec is on sale throughout, which runs fine albeit with more frequent regens than the good stuff (<15ppm).

There’s been a bit of protest activity around Ecuador recently. We got lucky in the North and made it through before road closures could affect our itinerary, however we weren’t so lucky in the South and were essentially forced to drop out of the Andes onto the coastal plain, hence we find ourselves now in the Northern Desert of Peru and continuing to roll south.

Next driving highlight will be back in the Andean highlands of the Cordillera Blanca, something to look forward to.

Are you able to speak many languages or are you able to get by with shouting slowly in English and pointing (English on annual summer holidays).
Is there a language barrier or do.you get by quite easily?

 

[globalgregors]

Are you able to speak many languages or are you able to get by with shouting slowly in English and pointing (English on annual summer holidays).
Is there a language barrier or do.you get by quite easily?

I think I’m on a six month streak on Duolingo at this point.

Puedo hablar español en un nivel intermedio, suficiente para la mayoría de las situaciones.

The wheels come off a bit in remote areas (local idioms) or in say Colombia (fast talkers) but we also stand out somewhat and are afforded a special effort by locals.

Below is a pic of Hannah amongst Quechua in the Ecuador highlands

For these old ladies it was like we’d landed from space so chatting to them even in childlike Spanish, while only partially successful (they speak Spanish blended with Quechua vocabulary), was charming and a laugh nonetheless.

 

[CRH]

I think I’m on a six month streak on Duolingo at this point.

Puedo hablar español en un nivel intermedio, suficiente para la mayoría de las situaciones.

The wheels come off a bit in remote areas (local idioms) or in say Colombia (fast talkers) but we also stand out somewhat and are afforded a special effort by locals.

Below is a pic of Hannah amongst Quechua in the Ecuador highlandsView attachment 7911965

For these old ladies it was like we’d landed from space so chatting to them even in childlike Spanish, while only partially successful (they speak Spanish blended with Quechua vocabulary), was charming and a laugh nonetheless.

Sadly I am a typical English person in that I am unable to speak any other language and would expect everyone else to have learnt English in order to communicate (as they should). When we are young we do not realise how much we are loosing out in our narrow view of the world. I like to joke that going overseas is full of foreigners who don't bother to speak English so there is no point. The reality is I am mocking myself and people like me who never bothered to learn any other language and as a result will loose out in the hospitality when travelling overseas.

 

[CRH]

Ecuador leg completed including the above mentioned detour to the Galapagos islands.

View attachment 7911880

Ecuador prides itself on possessing four landscapes: the coast, the mountains, the jungle and the islands, making it one of the most geographically and culturally diverse countries on the continent.

From an overlanding point of view there is a lot on offer here, and with things relatively close together one can experience some extraordinary one-day drives: morning in the high Andes, evening in the Amazon basin type stuff.

View attachment 7911881

View attachment 7911882

View attachment 7911883

View attachment 7911884

View attachment 7911885

Nothing to report on the vehicular front. Iggy has performed flawlessly up to 4,600m and from tarmac to pot-holed tracks, sand and mud. The Maxtrax didn’t get a run on in Ecuador, although clearly in the Amazon Basin roads are either passable or there’s been rain and they’re not. Seems to me it’s pretty binary no matter the vehicle type, much as it would be nice to suggest that the Gren can go where others cannot.

No warning lights or other exceptions. Vehicle is getting pretty grimy by now and I’ve split the drivers side door seal, but nothing mission-critical is on the list.

Ad-Blue was harder to find (eg in Cuenca, third largest city, appears to be only the one place selling to retail customers) in Ecuador than Colombia. Research was not shining much light on the availability in Peru, so when we came across the 9L canisters as sold in the US I stumped up for two. Across the border now and I see it periodically on sale at the pump again, so the 15L sloshing away in the back seat is a source of regret given it’s going to be in our lives now for weeks.

No problem with diesel grades, the same <50ppm sulfur/Euro4 spec is on sale throughout, which runs fine albeit with more frequent regens than the good stuff (<15ppm).

There’s been a bit of protest activity around Ecuador recently. We got lucky in the North and made it through before road closures could affect our itinerary, however we weren’t so lucky in the South and were essentially forced to drop out of the Andes onto the coastal plain, hence we find ourselves now in the Northern Desert of Peru and continuing to roll south.

Next driving highlight will be back in the Andean highlands of the Cordillera Blanca, something to look forward to.

This all looks amazing, I would love to be able to travel like this. Loving it all

 

[globalgregors]

Sadly I am a typical English person in that I am unable to speak any other language and would expect everyone else to have learnt English in order to communicate (as they should). When we are young we do not realise how much we are loosing out in our narrow view of the world. I like to joke that going overseas is full of foreigners who don't bother to speak English so there is no point. The reality is I am mocking myself and people like me who never bothered to learn any other language and as a result will loose out in the hospitality when travelling overseas.

Aussies of my generation inherited this disposition and honestly it took a bit to wean myself off an equivalent hesitancy.

It becomes easier as in most situations people one encounter tend to mirror one’s disposition. Stand off with caution and they’ll often do the same.

But unleashing one’s curiosity and charm can give them license to do the same and all sorts of surprising events happen off the back.

We carry business cards with a map of our journey on the flip side and between this and Instagram it’s enough to convey one’s basic story even if language is not there.

Sharing this triggers an innate hospitality/curiosity in most people which can ease one through borders and security checkpoints as well as more casual interactions.

It also helps that people love the car, it’s a design with seemingly universal appeal.

At a practical level language translation apps are so good these days that one can proceed in a functional sense without speaking a word of the local language.

 

[globalgregors]

On the topic of encounters, here’s a message from a recent host:

Hanna I would like to share this story.

Our 7 year old son drew last week a camper, he said mom and dad I will create a big truck to take you both and grandpa and grandma for a long trip

Then your 4x4 arrived to the Condo and Jay was mesmerized he said you see mom this trucks exists, I will buy one and adapt more levels so everyone can fit

We don’t see very often this vehícles in Latin America

We admire Jon & you this will inspire our family to travel more