YOU DROVE THAT, HERE ??!!

That's what they usually say, as they are looking at us in shock.  Then we tell them we are going to Panama and back again to Canada and they don't know what to say.  Sometimes they ask us if we've come from a safari in Africa!

Driving the Land Rover gets us smiles, waves, honks, our picture taken but most usually we get the thumbs up.  Our friend Rasta says Justin is a 'rock star' because of all the attention he gets driving, as he noted from being a passenger in the truck.  We've had offers to purchase the vehicle and have been asked to take groups on jungle tours (this happened three times).  The Land Rover has broken the ice countless times, especially at border crossings and at military check points.  It has taken a hardened look of a soldier and replaced it with a smile, especially after they take a look inside.  If another Land Rover owner (past or present) spots us they go out of their way to stop and talk.  The Land Rover seems to be a star attraction, we never knew how much attention it would get!

after almost 100 days, we have only passed on the highway four vehicles

On the flip side, there has been a learning curve to driving this star attraction.  The roads here are narrow and heavily rutted.  Given the narrow width of the truck and the manual steering, the truck likes to change lanes spontaneously, keeping my total focus and arm muscles intact.  The erratic driving styles in Mexico and the 1967 braking system is a constant battle.  You have to not only watch the road in front of you, passing vehicles coming towards you and impatient vehicles behind you - overtaking you any chance they get (blind corners included).  On top of that throw in an eight speed manual gear box with two shifters and no tachometer, making this the ultimate multitasking experience.  At the end of a long driving day I am mentally and physically exhausted.  Because of this I feel I am earning my vintage Land Rover driving diploma.

"is that a Perkins or a Mercedes" they ask as they hear the clatter coming from the engine bay

one stream crossing so far

its also works as a kitchen counter

This vehicle isn't just nuts and rivets - it has its own fiery personality.  It likes to cruise at 80-85 km/h (feels like 150 km/h to us!)  It enjoys low seaside elevations and tropical heat, like us.  It does not like to pass other vehicles, its more than happy to draft a semi truck.  In particular, it enjoys having its fiery red knob shifter pulled back into 4-low, so it can really flex its muscles.

replacing the rear shocks

removing the rear diff

BROKEN, REPAIRED AND ADDITIONAL WORK SINCE LEAVING

• temperature gauge, proving to be inaccurate 
• broken Hella headlight lens, rock chip early on in the trip
• lost cover to the fuse box
• speedometer and odometer quit working
• replaced rear shocks
• replaced worn bushings in leaf spring
• replaced broken trans mount
• replaced universals in front prop shaft
• wedged front axle to prevent further universal wear
• broken step on driver side
• broken weld on roof rack
• some rivets are coming loose on the body panels
• one flat tire
• and the grandaddy of them all so far - an exploded rear end (differential) As an update to our current problem we have a donor used rear end on route to us and a small army of people sourcing new parts and a True Trac from Canada and the UK to rebuild us a new rear end

finding specific motor oil has proven difficult

WISH I WOULD OF...

• put in both front and rear limited slip differentials (Eaton True Trac)
• frame mounted spare tire on the rear (lowering the center of gravity)
• rear mounted the high lift jack
• installed windshield washer nozzles with pump 
• added in rock grills for headlights
• installed hazard lights
• purchased a Rover Drive Overdrive
• purchased steel, locking jerry cans for the roof
• installed a rpm gauge

first flat tire

WHAT WORKED

• Corbeau Baja Suspension seats - so comfortable
• Rocky Mountain Parabolic Suspension - stable in all road conditions
• Toyo M-55 off-road tires - only one flat and wear like rocks
• Tuffy locking center console 
• Wolf 16 inch rims - 1/4 inch thick steel never bend
• Snorkels on all driveline components - has made wading depth 2 feet
• B-Quiet sound proofing - Amazing, if you own a rover, you know they are deafening 

After we bought the Land Rover we started making lists of spare parts, tools and other necessities we thought we would need for this trip.  We added a lot of items for comfort and security. We did some repair work and inspections to make sure our forty-four year old vehicle was up to the task.  We thought we thought of everything.  We ran through scenarios, methods of roadside repair - etc.  The thing is, something two control freaks like us need to learn, is that regardless, things still do go wrong.  Shit happens.  The Land Rover is sure teaching us a lot - how to adapt and overcome.  So when something breaks on it and it is hurting we feel its pain (except on occasion, Nadine wants to drive it into the ocean with me inside)  This current breakdown has caused us sleepless nights, anxiety, and many pesos spent on phone cards.  Our Land Rover support team back home, you know who you are, have been incredible!  It feels like you guys are riding along with us on this adventure!

Even though we have been having a lot of problems lately, the choice to bring a difficult, labor intensive and rare truck on this trip was still the correct one.  The truck has added another dimension to this experience and has become a member of the family.