Explorer I
Sneak peak at to where we are right now. Ready to come to Mexico yet? ~ E
We are driving around the world. Right now.
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Explorer I
Well, we did it! We made it to La Huasteca Potosina, essentially a tropical paradise deep in the interior of Mexico. We got 5 hours of footage so we are breaking up the video into several parts as we feel it is worth showing. This little video shows an area called Aldea Huasteca. Wait until you see where we camped and how much we paid.
Hit me up with any questions if you have any. ~ Eric
Hit me up with any questions if you have any. ~ Eric
Explorer I
I don't normally make public posts on our Patreon but I think this is something worth showing publicly as it is often overlooked in the full-time overlanding life. Feel free to read or just look at the photos, but if you are really curious about the drawbacks of overlanding full-time here is one major one.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/58932780
https://www.patreon.com/posts/58932780
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
Awesome. I want to get us to mexico sooner than later. Pack up PAT and our sylvansport and go! We got dealt some crap this year, but nex spring we are going to be out and on the go all year.
Explorer I
We haven't put the full pricing on our build yet. But we do have a comprehensive article that details out the Jeep Gladiator build if anyone wants to take a look:
Jeep Gladiator Build Sheet for Overlanding Around the World
Jeep Gladiator Build Sheet for Overlanding Around the World
Explorer I
Awesome you guys! When is your launch date?
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
May 2/4 is our first trip out I would say. We are going to Twillngate area of Newfoundland I think. Lots of things to do and great Central Newfoundland scenery!
Explorer I
We are currently overlanding through Mexico during our global overlanding adventure.
Last week, we introduced you to the La Huasteca Potosina region of Mexico. In this week's episode, we take you deeper into La Huasteca to show you some of the most amazing things we've ever seen in Mexico, including:
-A wild animal sanctuary
-Our favorite paid campground we've ever stayed at
-An insane drive through a mountaintop city
-A journey through the surrealist gardens of Sir Edward James
-Much more!
We hope you enjoy watching this video about La Huasteca. It is an amazing place and we can't encourage you highly enough to visit. If you have any questions, please ask! Happy to be a resource for anyone coming into Mexico. ~ Eric
Last week, we introduced you to the La Huasteca Potosina region of Mexico. In this week's episode, we take you deeper into La Huasteca to show you some of the most amazing things we've ever seen in Mexico, including:
-A wild animal sanctuary
-Our favorite paid campground we've ever stayed at
-An insane drive through a mountaintop city
-A journey through the surrealist gardens of Sir Edward James
-Much more!
We hope you enjoy watching this video about La Huasteca. It is an amazing place and we can't encourage you highly enough to visit. If you have any questions, please ask! Happy to be a resource for anyone coming into Mexico. ~ Eric
Very cool!! Im so excited to follow y'all around on your journey!!! water damage ceilling michigan God Bless!!
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Explorer I
Right on Hammo. Welcome to our journey. If you ever have any questions don't hesitate to reach out!
Member III
I hear that water crossing between South America and Africa can get a little deep in places. 
Trail Blazer III
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We are enjoying following along on your adventures on YouTube, and did not realize you guys were Overland Bound members till now! We have been seriously considering upgrading to the Gladiator/Alu-Cab and have enjoyed your build videos, looking forward to seeing how it holds up, and hopefully a build update video of what you like and don't like so far. Love your guys family dynamic and looking forward to seeing your trip unfold. Travel Safe.
Explorer I
We're getting either a REALLY long snorkel or we'll ship it in a container. Still checking prices on both.I hear that water crossing between South America and Africa can get a little deep in places.
Explorer I
Hi Dave and Michelle! Thanks so much for being part of our journey. If we can ever be a resource, please don't hesitate to reach out. We do our best to answer the questions we can.
Explorer I
Just when you thought overlanding through Mexico's interior couldn't get any more amazing. Wait until you see this.
We've now been in Mexico on three separate overlanding trips over the past three years.
This city of Guanajuato is probably our favorite city yet. It is a UNESCO World Heritage City and it is mind blowing!
In this video we take you on a day in the life with us. From the moment we wake up until we call it a night.
The first part of the video is during the day, and the second at night. They couldn't be more different. It is like 2 different cities in one. I really hope you take a moment to watch this. I think if you do, it will convince you to head south of the border and give Mexico a try if you haven't already.
Any questions at all please don't hesitate to ask. ~ Eric
We've now been in Mexico on three separate overlanding trips over the past three years.
This city of Guanajuato is probably our favorite city yet. It is a UNESCO World Heritage City and it is mind blowing!
In this video we take you on a day in the life with us. From the moment we wake up until we call it a night.
The first part of the video is during the day, and the second at night. They couldn't be more different. It is like 2 different cities in one. I really hope you take a moment to watch this. I think if you do, it will convince you to head south of the border and give Mexico a try if you haven't already.
Any questions at all please don't hesitate to ask. ~ Eric
Explorer I
(Long post ahead, but I hope worth a read. Also open to civil discussion.)
On an online forum that I'm on, I received a comment today that essentially said, and I'm paraphrasing,
"Not in a million years would I go to Mexico, let alone take my kid. They could get kidnapped or worse. But more power to them for taking the trip. I don't have that risk tolerance."
We get these kind of comments all the time. I thought I'd share my response for open discussion.
My response:
"Interesting comment.
Not trying to be argumentative, rather trying to understand your position.
Why would you assume the worst about the people of Mexico? What information is your comment based on?
Has it been your first hand experience that you've had a negative experience in Mexico? Are you basing this on what you've heard in the news and on social media about the country? Or are you basing this on a story that you heard from someone who had something happen to them first hand?
I'm really curious, because we get these types of comments all the time, and most folks, when asked just say that "they've heard" terrible things and it has caused them to be afraid of making this journey.
I can tell you that this is our third overlanding trip in to Mexico in three years. In 2019 when our son was 2 we did 2000+ miles into the interior of Mexico. In early 2020 before COVID was a thing, and my son was 3 years old, we did 2000+ miles covering the entirety of the Baja Peninsula. Now in 2021 we're about 2000 miles into interior Mexico again.
Not once throughout all of Mexico have we felt that our security or safety were in question on any of those trips in over 6000 miles through the country.
Actually what we've found is that the people here are kind, beyond hospitable and incredibly humble. That's been our first hand experience. Many of our friends have reached out and expressed concern but they are always the ones who haven't done the journey, or "never in a million years" would do it.
Whenever we talk to folks that have actually made the journey, they all echo our thoughts and experience.
Unfortunately I feel that mass media, social media and the like love to share stories that get them views. A kidnapping, car jacking, or murder will always get more views than a walk through a Mercado. It's sadly the way our consumption of media has gone. The horrific story of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie was all over the media and they sadly got more than their 15 minutes of fame. Right?
But most people have never heard of Dan Grec, Richard and Ashley Giordano, Scott Brady, or Graeme and Luisa Bell. These are folks who have overlanded vast sections of the planet. At least one of them has overlanded on every continent including Antarctica.
Why is it we don't hear these stories and people aren't familiar with them?
Honestly because they aren't sensational enough for mainstream media.
Bottom line, you know a little of our story because you ran across one of my posts on a forum. But very few people know who we are or what we're doing. Because our story isn't picked up by any major outlets. But believe me, if something horrific were to happen to us and we got car jacked, kidnapped or worse, we (just like Gabby and Brian) would get our "15 minutes of fame" and millions of people would hear our story. The folks who said, I told you they shouldn't have gone would be right and I probably wouldn't be around to hear about it.
But the reality is that we could complete our drive around the world in 10-15 years, and unless you follow us on YouTube, Patreon, Instagram, Facebook etc, or heard us speak at an event like Overland Expo you'd never even know we existed.
Unfortunately this is the way of the world.
Anyway, I hope you take this in the heart it was intended, My point is that if you really want to know what it is like to be down here, ask folks like us who are doing it and take with a grain of salt the stories you hear from news outlets and other second hand information.
I'm really glad you posted, because my hope is to at least provide something to think on for those that would have grave concerns about doing so.
Appreciate your "more power to the OP" comment. I know that your intention was not to blast us, and my response was not intended to blast you either. Just to give perspective.
Appreciate you reading if you read this far.
All the best from Guanajuato, Mexico. ~ Eric"
Thoughts? Discussion? Comment below.
On an online forum that I'm on, I received a comment today that essentially said, and I'm paraphrasing,
"Not in a million years would I go to Mexico, let alone take my kid. They could get kidnapped or worse. But more power to them for taking the trip. I don't have that risk tolerance."
We get these kind of comments all the time. I thought I'd share my response for open discussion.
My response:
"Interesting comment.
Not trying to be argumentative, rather trying to understand your position.
Why would you assume the worst about the people of Mexico? What information is your comment based on?
Has it been your first hand experience that you've had a negative experience in Mexico? Are you basing this on what you've heard in the news and on social media about the country? Or are you basing this on a story that you heard from someone who had something happen to them first hand?
I'm really curious, because we get these types of comments all the time, and most folks, when asked just say that "they've heard" terrible things and it has caused them to be afraid of making this journey.
I can tell you that this is our third overlanding trip in to Mexico in three years. In 2019 when our son was 2 we did 2000+ miles into the interior of Mexico. In early 2020 before COVID was a thing, and my son was 3 years old, we did 2000+ miles covering the entirety of the Baja Peninsula. Now in 2021 we're about 2000 miles into interior Mexico again.
Not once throughout all of Mexico have we felt that our security or safety were in question on any of those trips in over 6000 miles through the country.
Actually what we've found is that the people here are kind, beyond hospitable and incredibly humble. That's been our first hand experience. Many of our friends have reached out and expressed concern but they are always the ones who haven't done the journey, or "never in a million years" would do it.
Whenever we talk to folks that have actually made the journey, they all echo our thoughts and experience.
Unfortunately I feel that mass media, social media and the like love to share stories that get them views. A kidnapping, car jacking, or murder will always get more views than a walk through a Mercado. It's sadly the way our consumption of media has gone. The horrific story of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie was all over the media and they sadly got more than their 15 minutes of fame. Right?
But most people have never heard of Dan Grec, Richard and Ashley Giordano, Scott Brady, or Graeme and Luisa Bell. These are folks who have overlanded vast sections of the planet. At least one of them has overlanded on every continent including Antarctica.
Why is it we don't hear these stories and people aren't familiar with them?
Honestly because they aren't sensational enough for mainstream media.
Bottom line, you know a little of our story because you ran across one of my posts on a forum. But very few people know who we are or what we're doing. Because our story isn't picked up by any major outlets. But believe me, if something horrific were to happen to us and we got car jacked, kidnapped or worse, we (just like Gabby and Brian) would get our "15 minutes of fame" and millions of people would hear our story. The folks who said, I told you they shouldn't have gone would be right and I probably wouldn't be around to hear about it.
But the reality is that we could complete our drive around the world in 10-15 years, and unless you follow us on YouTube, Patreon, Instagram, Facebook etc, or heard us speak at an event like Overland Expo you'd never even know we existed.
Unfortunately this is the way of the world.
Anyway, I hope you take this in the heart it was intended, My point is that if you really want to know what it is like to be down here, ask folks like us who are doing it and take with a grain of salt the stories you hear from news outlets and other second hand information.
I'm really glad you posted, because my hope is to at least provide something to think on for those that would have grave concerns about doing so.
Appreciate your "more power to the OP" comment. I know that your intention was not to blast us, and my response was not intended to blast you either. Just to give perspective.
Appreciate you reading if you read this far.
All the best from Guanajuato, Mexico. ~ Eric"
Thoughts? Discussion? Comment below.
Enthusiast II
read though the whole thread. Awesome! Look forward to following along. I am planning on my first short trip into Mexico after Jan 1. Lived here on the border all my life and have crossed into our sister city, Acun, since I was a kid. Never felt scared. Going down to Muzquiz and then up to Boquillas Del Carmen, just across the Rio Grande from Big Bend National Park.
I followed Dan Grec on his Pan American, African and now Australian expeditions. You’re right, 9/10 times the media only picks up the sensational stories of violence, etc.
I followed Dan Grec on his Pan American, African and now Australian expeditions. You’re right, 9/10 times the media only picks up the sensational stories of violence, etc.
Explorer I
Right on Josh. Thanks for catching up on our story. Hopefully you've had a chance to watch at least one of our videos. Glad you are making the trip down. We'll be leaving Guanajuato on January 1 and heading to Puebla, Mexico.
Dan is good people and a personal friend. He's been very influential in our journey. I've been chatting him up the past few days. We keep talking Gladiator stuff together lately haha.
Good to have you on our journey! ~ Eric
Enthusiast II
I think it’s pretty dang cool yall entered Mexico just an hour from where we live!
Explorer I
Welcome to Guanajuato. The first time I've really had a chance to update on the city itself. Guanajuato is a magical city. Essentially the topography of the city resembles that of a bowl. The Centro Historico is in the bottom of the bowl, and the city rises up around it.
Interestingly enough, Guanajuato was raised almost 30 feet from where it originally sat. Underneath this city is a vast network of tunnels. Google Maps does not work here. The tunnels were originally used for drainage, but have now become part of the daily traffic pattern. We were lost for 2 hours inside the city itself trying to find a way to get to our airbnb.
Airbnb? That's not overlanding!
It is when you are making a 10-15 year global journey. At least it is for us.
(And our airbnb is right in the heart of the historic district about a 3 minute walk from this photo.)
We need to make the trip sustainable so extended stays in various cities around the world are part of our plan to make it so. Right now our 5 year old is in Spanish immersion school 2 days a week and Spanish preschool 2 days a week. Brittany my wife is also taking Spanish two days a week. I speak it fluently so I get. a pass on the language classes (at least for now).
We arrived in Guanajuato on November 15th, and we'll be here until January 1st. We are in love with this city. The city is alive with music, art, culture, and activity at all hours of day and night. There is a major theater that hosts free performances on the regular. We've been to several. Oh and the food here is incredible. It is truly a cosmopolitan city where you can get food from all over the world. In the past week alone we've had Italian, Hungarian, Thai, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cuisine.
This is our 3rd overlanding trip into Mexico in the past 3 years, but our first time in Guanajuato, and I have to say that it is so far our favorite city in this country.
Happy to answer any questions about the journey or the city if any come to mind. I'll try and get better about posting photos from time to time.
~ Eric
