Truck Camper Trip Reports – V2.0
Introduction This sticky thread is designed to capture a selection of trip reports members have created over the years. There is a lot of great stuff out there and it would be a real pity for it to...
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EX-MILITARY - Especially those who served in PANAMA. 100th Anniversary of the PANAMA CANAL is being celebrated this year, and this is just one of the events, I will be seeing on my trip traveling from McAllen, Texas to the tip of Argentina!
Traveling the Pan American Highway to the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, Argentina. Will be starting on the 25th of July and may have up to 9 other truck campers and smaller RVs going on the route of the trekoftheamericas.
I have photos of my Lance : http://trekamerica.wix.com/photos-of-my-campers
Panama is VERY SPECIAL, you know if you lived or been stationed here, and the visit will surely bring back some very good memories. I have stayed both on Rodman Naval Station and Howard and Allbrook AFB. I hope to make a short trip back to Panama within the next month or two, to look for some retirement location in Panama...lots of ex pats there too!!!
I assisted 3 friends move to Panama last August, we traveled from Texas to Panama in about 3 weeks via RVs, enjoying the different cultures. One of the friends was from Hawaii and decided Panama was his choice (he had visited before), another served at the base there and had several friends living in Panama. Panama offers retired persons more special treatment than any other country. For example "any person over 50 yrs old" get a 20% discount in all restaurants - this is not a courtesy - it is the law!
I have traveled via truck camper to South America several times, this is a story I am working on about traveling the world's LONGEST highway:
TRAVELING AND GIVING ON THE PAN AM HIGHWAY
The reason I am going once again on the RV trip of a lifetime, it may seem repetitive, but it is not, one lady traveled three times with the group, and then flew down again.
The RV expedition groups have traveled the Pan American Highway for 14 years, and this next expedition is the 15th Anniversary. The trips focus on really seeing the countries realistically, as they truly are. The people, the communities, the cultures, the schools, and the nature are seen from the RV window in REAL LIFE! just as it is!, not a “show” put on for cruise ship tourists!
We also saw everything the “fly-in” tourist would also.
Living the trip is everyday! One day we may start out and the destination might be the famous Machu Picchu the pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site l, and another day it may be Pozo Almonte, a little known town of 1500 persons! But, in those little known, off-the-beaten-path places and towns, you may find the most rewarding observations and experiences – by “living” the trip.
These are the times you must, take a breath, sometimes close your eyes, and maybe even pinch yourself, to realize where you actually are! You are living next to “new neighbors” who have accepted you, not as a “tourist”, but as a person (with also your home with you) who has the interest to visit their small town, and interact with them.
They really want to “show” you everything, again not as a tourist, but a friend from a far away place. We were often asked from other foreign tourist we met enroute – “have you had any problems?” The response usually was, the main problem we had encountered was: saying NO! No we can’t stay any longer, NO, we can’t eat anymore of the homemade bread, NO, we could not take that shirt off your back! And on and on. The people were so friendly, and most of all SINCERE!
THE GIVING BACK – We were advised to bring some children’s clothes, some school supplies, and photographs from home, of our home, town, and family to show enroute. These items all “broke the ice” with our new neighbors.
Some of our people showed the children (and the adults also) what their areas have to offer, especially the birds and nature, they were so surprised to see we had the birds in our materials, and they appreciated this learning of birds and also flowers. They taught us about many plants used for medicines, and new fruits that we never knew existed!
Besides the tourist attractions, we visit small country schools, community halls, coffee plantations, sugar factories, handicraft areas, farms and grain elevators, and many other offbeat places. At the schools, we visit with the permission of the staff, and see the everyday school life. Afterwards, we leave some school supplies, and share photos with the children and teachers. Also maybe send an old computer from home afterwards to them.
The trek staff has a emt or paramedic present, and many times there is an opportunity to do a community blood pressure check, and this is also done in the rural areas, while the groups sees the points of interest. The people are so grateful that we show an interest. Most of the time there are some retired nurses, who also participate in this. - This is part of the GIVING BACK! This is enjoying the tourism, the countries, and the people, and leaving with a great feeling of the experience! Nothing against the Cruise Ship Tourist, but only the RV tourist can do this!
THIS TRAVEL EXPERIENCE REALLY GIVES YOU A GOOD FEELING – NOT ALL TAKING, BUT ALSO GIVING!
Traveling the Pan American Highway to the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, Argentina. Will be starting on the 25th of July and may have up to 9 other truck campers and smaller RVs going on the route of the trekoftheamericas.
I have photos of my Lance : http://trekamerica.wix.com/photos-of-my-campers
Panama is VERY SPECIAL, you know if you lived or been stationed here, and the visit will surely bring back some very good memories. I have stayed both on Rodman Naval Station and Howard and Allbrook AFB. I hope to make a short trip back to Panama within the next month or two, to look for some retirement location in Panama...lots of ex pats there too!!!
I assisted 3 friends move to Panama last August, we traveled from Texas to Panama in about 3 weeks via RVs, enjoying the different cultures. One of the friends was from Hawaii and decided Panama was his choice (he had visited before), another served at the base there and had several friends living in Panama. Panama offers retired persons more special treatment than any other country. For example "any person over 50 yrs old" get a 20% discount in all restaurants - this is not a courtesy - it is the law!
I have traveled via truck camper to South America several times, this is a story I am working on about traveling the world's LONGEST highway:
TRAVELING AND GIVING ON THE PAN AM HIGHWAY
The reason I am going once again on the RV trip of a lifetime, it may seem repetitive, but it is not, one lady traveled three times with the group, and then flew down again.
The RV expedition groups have traveled the Pan American Highway for 14 years, and this next expedition is the 15th Anniversary. The trips focus on really seeing the countries realistically, as they truly are. The people, the communities, the cultures, the schools, and the nature are seen from the RV window in REAL LIFE! just as it is!, not a “show” put on for cruise ship tourists!
We also saw everything the “fly-in” tourist would also.
Living the trip is everyday! One day we may start out and the destination might be the famous Machu Picchu the pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site l, and another day it may be Pozo Almonte, a little known town of 1500 persons! But, in those little known, off-the-beaten-path places and towns, you may find the most rewarding observations and experiences – by “living” the trip.
These are the times you must, take a breath, sometimes close your eyes, and maybe even pinch yourself, to realize where you actually are! You are living next to “new neighbors” who have accepted you, not as a “tourist”, but as a person (with also your home with you) who has the interest to visit their small town, and interact with them.
They really want to “show” you everything, again not as a tourist, but a friend from a far away place. We were often asked from other foreign tourist we met enroute – “have you had any problems?” The response usually was, the main problem we had encountered was: saying NO! No we can’t stay any longer, NO, we can’t eat anymore of the homemade bread, NO, we could not take that shirt off your back! And on and on. The people were so friendly, and most of all SINCERE!
THE GIVING BACK – We were advised to bring some children’s clothes, some school supplies, and photographs from home, of our home, town, and family to show enroute. These items all “broke the ice” with our new neighbors.
Some of our people showed the children (and the adults also) what their areas have to offer, especially the birds and nature, they were so surprised to see we had the birds in our materials, and they appreciated this learning of birds and also flowers. They taught us about many plants used for medicines, and new fruits that we never knew existed!
Besides the tourist attractions, we visit small country schools, community halls, coffee plantations, sugar factories, handicraft areas, farms and grain elevators, and many other offbeat places. At the schools, we visit with the permission of the staff, and see the everyday school life. Afterwards, we leave some school supplies, and share photos with the children and teachers. Also maybe send an old computer from home afterwards to them.
The trek staff has a emt or paramedic present, and many times there is an opportunity to do a community blood pressure check, and this is also done in the rural areas, while the groups sees the points of interest. The people are so grateful that we show an interest. Most of the time there are some retired nurses, who also participate in this. - This is part of the GIVING BACK! This is enjoying the tourism, the countries, and the people, and leaving with a great feeling of the experience! Nothing against the Cruise Ship Tourist, but only the RV tourist can do this!
THIS TRAVEL EXPERIENCE REALLY GIVES YOU A GOOD FEELING – NOT ALL TAKING, BUT ALSO GIVING!
