Flashback: Colombia or Switzerland?

Yes, yes, I know you know: I am back in Switzerland. And looking at the picture below you might think that is all prove for it. And now, watch out, this is a Flashback thing. Believe it or not and not one... 

...that is going back all the way before I even set off to explore the Americas. This is not a Swiss Chalet, or actually it is a Swiss Chalet. But it is a Swiss Chalet in Colombia. The picture was taken exactly two years ago, on January 21, 2013 in Colombia. This is Hotel Sindamanoy at Laguna de la Cocha in Colombia. 

We were nearly the only off-season guests and to give them some little business we decided to take a room vs. camping in the parking lot. It was cold, rainy and windy, so the hotel night was a welcome change to the nights out camping. The staff was super friendly as usual in Colombia and super sweet on top of it. It was a cold rainy night, cold even in the cosy chalet room. At around 9pm the girl from the front desk was knocking at our room door and, without saying a word, just with a big smile, handed us two super hot hot-water-bottles. 

Photo by ancientindusries.com

Unloading

I am currently unloading my truck. Check out this mess: This is all that came out of the front storage compartment containing tools, recovery stuff, tent and, as you can see, much more.

Still amazes me that I managed to fit all the stuff in here. See below for just about one third or about 60 kilograms/about 132 lbs that were stored in here.

Here is a snap shot at most of my recovery gear. Stay tuned for a review of what I needed most and what I would not leave without and what was maybe just "optional". Coming soon on The Good, the Bad, the Ugly of the blue truck. 

4 Years of Travel: 4 Times January 7

January 7, 2014: Dakar Rally in Uspallata, Argentina

January 7, 2013: Free Camping in Guatapé, Colombia

January 7, 2012: Plaza in Oaxaca, Mexico

January 7, 2011: Pelican at Padre Island National Park, Texas, USA

It's not over yet

Now being back home, you might think that I take it all easy and everything, the vacation after the vacation kind of thing. 

But - you are wrong! Not just because after the trip is before the trip...

...but also because there are thousends of pictures waiting to be sorted, galleries to be cleaned up and pictures to be up-loaded. 

One of the most visited galleries is the one with...

...the pictures of classic cars and bikes on the...

...Panamericana. And this is also the first of the Photo-Galleries that is completed with the...

...the rework. So by now, visiting Classic Cars of the Americas, you can...

...find many photos in high resolution of classic cars and bikes.

Some in wonderful colonial towns, others...

...restored and on display but even more...

...daily drivers.

O.k. some retired ones as well.

CLICK here and get directly to the photo gallery "Classic Cars of the Americas".

Enjoy.

Greetings to the Summer

Here is one for all my friends in the Southern Hempisphere SUMMER. 

This picture was taken a few minutes ago, here in wintery Switzerland. 

Whether you are here or over there or some where else, take care and be safe!

The blue truck Water to Wine Miracle

You know, when you are travelling with a 4 wheel drive travelling vehicle having water in your watertank is almost as important as having diesel in the fuel tank. But when you are shipping your vehicle over the Atlantic ocean things are a little different and you might start working on that Water to Wine miracle. 

By now, the blue truck has found home again and it is parked in my little workshop in Switzerland. Still, it has not entirely been unloaded and is still waiting for some TLC. But what I have done already: I have opened the top of the watertank and look what I have found when opening the lid. 

Interesting, here in the tank there always used to be around 80 liters of water. And now as I started unloading the whole sh... I hauled around the Americas I discovered all of a sudden there is a lot...

...I mean a lot of Uruguayan wine in the water tank.

A Miracle at last! 

Well, well, well...

It's been awfully quiet on the blue truck blog. But now, after over a month without Internet aboard the Italian vessel Grande Francia its over with the quiet time, as much as you might wish it for the coming Holidays. 

I wish you a super wonderful Christmas with friends and family and thank you for having travelled aboard the blue truck the past months. 

Stay tuned, it's not over yet!

Happy Holidays