So finally, even if not completely ready, it was time to go. I have to pass the Mexican border before the end of the month, and have to stop in few places, including Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas and Houston. So I left on November 14 at 10:30 in the morning after piling way too much things in the truck.
Pix 177 lefferts
I said good-bye to the guys of my block, including Jay, my Brooklyn landlord (on the right), and Smash from Global Block (Yellow jacket) who may meet me somewhere in Central America where he is traveling regularly to host hip-hop events.
Nadia, the woman in the middle, is an old friend from childhood, and decided few days ago to come with me across South America, until she runs out of money.
Pix BK
I also stopped at the BK mechanic shop to say goodbye to Mike and Singh, two guys who helped me a lot with the few vehicles I owned in Brooklyn, including a vintage Mercedes 280SL I had to sell to finance the trip.
Pix Bridge
Then, along with my new passenger, we passed the Manhattan Bridge, went across Chinatown, and took the tunnel to New Jersey.
Pix NJ
After crossing Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, we arrived in Virginia, and as the night was already here, after grabbing something quick to eat, we tried to find a campground. Difficult goal, it turned out, as it is kind of late in the season. As the night went darker, few miles outside of Front Royal, we found a mysterious place populated only by remains of broken cars. We went to the office, but nobody was there, and a glance by the window revealed an incredible mess. As a thick fog came down on us, we agreed we had to stay here, even so we could not decide if the place was open for business or not. We opened the tent, and the light was off by 9 p.m.
Pix tent
So finally, even if not completely ready, it was time to go. I have to pass the Mexican border before the end of the month, and have to stop in few places, including Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas and Houston. So I left on November 14 at 10:30 in the morning after piling way too much things in the truck.
The crew from Lefferts place wishes good luck to the expedition
I said good-bye to the guys of my block, including Jay, my Brooklyn landlord (on the right), and Smash from Global Block (Yellow jacket) who may meet me somewhere in Central America where he is traveling regularly to host hip-hop events.
Nadia, the woman in the middle, is an old friend from childhood, and decided few days ago to come with me across South America, until she runs out of money.
Mike and Singh say good-bye after checking the car one last time
I also stopped at the BK mechanic shop to say goodbye to Mike and Singh, two guys who helped me a lot with the few vehicles I owned in Brooklyn, including a vintage Mercedes 280SL I had to sell to finance the trip.
Crossing the Manhattan Bridge
Then, along with my new passenger, we passed the Manhattan Bridge, went across Chinatown, and took the tunnel to New Jersey.
Entering New JerseyPennsylvania
After crossing Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, we arrived in Virginia, and as the night was already here, after grabbing something quick to eat, we tried to find a campground. Difficult goal, it turned out, as it is kind of late in the season. As the night went darker, few miles outside of Front Royal, we found a mysterious place populated only by remains of broken cars. We went to the office, but nobody was there, and a glance by the window revealed an incredible mess. As a thick fog came down on us, we agreed we had to stay here, even so we could not decide if the place was open for business or not. We opened the tent, and the light was off by 9 p.m.
Albert Podell and Nicolas Rapp meet at AP headquarter in NY
I was lucky enough yesterday to receive the visit of Al Podell, a New Yorker and veteran traveler who has visited 178 out of 192 countries in the world. Back in the mid-1960s, Al and his friend Harold Stephens circumnavigated the world in a Toyota Land Cruiser. They drove across 42,000 miles and crossed more than 30 countries at a time where it wasprobably more difficult than today. They wrote a book when they came back, which I bought few years ago. It was a major inspiration for my trip, and I was incredibly surprised when Al, through a common acquaintance, agreed to meet with me. He was doubtful I could succeed in my journey, but he gave me valuable advice about my safety, and finally offered to recruit and pay thewages of a 3-women-with-machine-gun team who would protect me through Colombia. I had to decline, but the fact that he cared went straight to my heart. Al, you are the best.
I recommend the book “Who Needs a Road?” which describes their trip, and hope I will prove the authors wrong when they they asserted, back in the nineties that “it was a motor trip that cannot be repeated in our modern day and age.”
On another note, I was really busy in the past days wrapping up everything at work, and didn’t have much time to work on the trip preparation. I am also busy answering hundreds of supportive emails I received in the last week, as my story became popular across the U.S. If you wrote to me, please be patient, you will eventually hear something.
I received numerous donations, and I can’t thank enough all the people who want to be part of the adventure. Thanks also to all of you who invited me to their house, I will see you guys soon.
Lastly, i can’t thank enough the people who were on my side for many years at the Associated Press. I will have time in later posts to go back and reflect on my career and the wonderful people I met there.
Yesterday was my last day at work, and now, I really should work full time on the car and on packing up my apartment. I will post more updates soon.
