Places I Plan to Volunteer

I’m approaching this adventure from a point of view slightly different than a typical tourist. Instead of looking for hotels, restaurants, and major tourist attractions, I’m trying to figure out interesting places that I can volunteer & document, as well as places to stop & work for a short while if I need to ear some more gas money. With a camper to live & cook in, lodging & food is already taken care of. Granted, I will probably book a room in an inexpensive motel from time to time, in order to get a proper hot shower, do laundry, and re-organize & re-pack everything in the truck. And there’s no way I would pass up on delicious street tacos & other affordable local cuisine along the way. If I encounter any tourist attractions along the way that are worth checking out, I will do just that. But I won’t be going far out of the way for them, nor will they necessarily be a goal.

A very rough outline of my proposed route south. Subject to nearly infinite changes!

Air Compressor Test

The entire team was exited to hear that Expedition Overland has just launched episode two of their awesome series, don't miss it!

About: Expedition Overland is a Docureality-based web series that will follow six overlanders and their outfitted expedition vehicles through overland trips in North America. The desire for exploration and adventure is at the heart of this series. The show will feature the characters adventures and mishaps, as well as personal insights into their struggles, successes, and experiences as their travels unfold. This adventure is about the journey, not the destination.

Check out their site here.

Here's a seriously good deal for this holiday season, until December 31st, if you purchase a qualifying ARB Air Locker; You get a free tough-as-nails ARB differential cover.

Curious about how the ARB Differential Cover Performs? Check out our write up here....

The offer is valid at any ARB Dealer who carries Air Lockers.

Last week we had our first weekly challenge, we asked you to name what motorcycle this engine was attached to.  Several of you got it, it's was attached to a BMW R 100 GS Paris Dakar! This week we have to raise the bar a little bit. Here's another engine, what is it attached to?

This week, the first person to correctly comment the answer below answer gets a free Expedition Portal Sticker!

We will now be returning you to a regularly scheduled broadcast of The Arminus on Tour Series; with a new article very Monday and Friday. 

If you'd like to read a little bit more about the travels of Ingrid and Joerg and their trusted Unimog Arminius, check out their website here

For a repository of previous stories, check out our story here

Amqui, Québec – We are squatters

30.5.2010

In the middle of nowhere in Québec we are in front of a totally unknown house, belonging to totally unknown people, I am sitting at their dining table writing this blog. I am looking after the totally unknown cat that continuously wants to go in and out, as cats are. Travelling is pretty interesting but even more interesting is to meet people. Finally Mike and Mélie are drifting in, both kids, and the grandparents. We eventually get to know the people whose house we are occupying since two days. With relief we recognize that all of them, even the children, speak English what makes communication easier. That isn’t self-evident here. In rural areas only French is spoken. You could ask why the ambitions to learn English, to be able to communicate with the mainly English speaking rest of the country, doesn’t have the same level everywhere. Answer: It’s simply not necessary. Perhaps you imagine the size of the area: Québec is the largest of Canada’s provinces and nearly as big as Europe. Isn’t that reason enough?

Mobil1 Synthetic Fluids

I recall when Scott Brady drove the Expedition West 2004 Toyota Tacoma up to the Arctic Ocean & back to Arizona on just one fill of Mobil1 synthetic engine oil. Upon returning from the 9,000 miles of harsh winter driving, those fluids were drained & analyzed, and still had plenty of life left in them.

Since I just hit 100,000 miles on my Tacoma prior to departure on this trans-continental drive, I decided it would be a good idea to switch over all my fluids to Mobil1 synthetics. After a quick trip to AutoZone, I came back with quite a few quarts of the good stuff. Not only would I fill up the engine oil with it, but also the automatic transmission & differentials.

via West County Explorers Club: I spotted this heady mix of a motorcycle in San Francisco a while back. It looks like a vaguely Japanese heart beating in the frame of cafe-racing bobber, set up with knobbies and a long swingarm for hillclimbing.

I have no idea what it is but it’s awesome—much better than the sum of its originally far-flung parts. Hats off to whoever created this crazy thing.

I salute you.