Helpful thoughts for both the traveller and those that know the traveller.
http://www.adventurouskate.com/travel-safety-always-consider-the-source/

Don't go there, it's not safe, you'll die. And other more rational advice for overlanding Central and South America.

That's the name of the infinitely helpful ebook we've been referenced many times to prepare for our trip.  As we've been sharing our plans with friends and family, we've received many questions about how we're going to handle different situations that are going to come up.  Here's a list of Q&A's to help answer. :)

• Q: How will you protect your stuff?
• A: As much as possible, we're keeping stuff on lockdown:
• anti-theft lugnuts on all tires
• anti-theft nuts for license plates [sometimes targeted for novelty]
• lockable hitch pin for cargo platform
• lockable gas cap
• locks for cooler
• lock box for car for valuables
• lockable casing for jerry can
• Q: Are you worried about being conspicuous?
• A: one of the reasons we got the 97 4Runner is that it's a common and older vehicle.  Right away that helps us not stand out.  The profile of the solar panel is very small and not really noticeable.  The cargo platform will be noticeable, but doesn't stick out too much.
• Q: Bethany, will you dye your hair?
• A: nope.  Tourists are uncommon but not unheard of in some of the places we're going, and not uncommon in others.  Simply having blond hair doesn't make you a target for crime.
• Q: Will you bring a gun with you?
• A: absolutely not.  Border crossings would be a nightmare, it would be illegal in several of the countries we're going to, and all it would do is serve to escalate a situation that's bad. 
• Q: Are you worried about bears?
• A: A bit! :)  We have a lockable bear-proof cooler, a bear canister, and bear mace.  Scented things [food, spices, personal hygiene items] will be kept 100 yards from the campsite.
• Q:What will you do if 'x' breaks down?
• A: We'll fix it. Our car-part knowledge isn't vast, but we expect to learn more on the trip and to download some basic maintenance guides.  Another reason we got the Toyota is because they are so common in Central and South America, making it much easier to get spare parts for the vehicle when things go wrong.  It's also why we've done so much work getting common things fixed now so we can avoid issues with them later.
• Q: What happens if one of you gets sick?
• A: We're purchasing catastrophic insurance coverage.  Most minor or routine procedures we will get treatment for locally, and for much cheaper than it would be in the US.  We're also stocking up on glasses, contacts, getting dental check-ups, and physicals prior to leaving.  
• Q: How will you stay in contact with people?
• A: We'll have cell coverage until we hit Canada in June.  We'll be purchasing SIM cards in most countries we spend longer than a week in.  This will allow us to access local cell networks on our existing phones.  For the remote parts of Canada without cell coverage [less than you'd think] we'll have a satellite phone.  Labrador Province offers satellite phone borrowing to help encourage tourism for example.
• Q: Isn't it dangerous to drive through Mexico?
• A: The most common question we get, and the most misinformed.  Media coverage of Mexico leads many to believe it is a post-apocalyptic hell-hole with no government, roving bands of rapists and murderers who seek out foreigners to pillage.  Reviewing information from the state department, we found out that tourists who are not involved in drug trafficking are pretty safe.  In fact, my brother in Houston has a greater chance of being a murder victim than we will traveling Mexico [sorry Pete].  We're avoiding Mexico City and Juarez [the more dangerous areas] and things should be fine.  Our current plan is to cross the border early in the morning via the Brownsville / Matamoros border, and to put lots of distance between ourselves and the border, which has higher crime.  We'll plan on camping at Ciudad Victoria day one, then getting to El Cielo reserve [about an 8 hour drive], and then move on to the next Mexican state not long after that.  Much of southern Mexico has no travel advisory warnings issued by the State Department. :)
• If you are still unconvinced, read this excellent blog post.
• In addition, Bethany and I have extensive experience traveling in foreign countries [some safer than others] and have rudimentary experience with how to avoid putting ourselves into dangerous situations while abroad.  Our skills will grow on this trip, but we're taking additional steps of reading about common scams and traps, canvassing the networked groups of current and former travellers on things they encountered and how they tackled them, and making sure that we're prepared as best as we can be to deal with these issues.
• In summary, stop worrying. :)

Cat's outta the bag

I gave work my notice today. Ike did it a couple of weeks ago. It feels good to have it out in the open!

Also, these beautiful guys arrived in the mail today.  :)