On Google Maps

A looooong time ago, in a faraway land I spoke to a guy driving a Google Street View Car (the ones with all the cameras on the top). I’ve wondered ever since if they snapped a couple of pics of the Jeep at that gas station, and finally sat down and found them.

Check it! – not only the Jeep, me as well. This might be my favorite photo of the trip yet!
(it’s worth zooming in one step)


View Larger Map

It looks like the Jeep is right on the join between two photos, so it’s kind of blurry.  Moving south on the highway there are 3 or 4 more similar snaps, though they are from further away and more blurry.

I know I passed one on an open stretch of highway in Alaska too, but it’s going to take a while to find that one.

-Da

5 Responses

  1. That IS a cool photo, though it kind of freaks me out a little. I mean, trekkers like us aren’t privacy-mongering wallflowers or anything, but it’s a little disconcerting how easy it is to find almost anyone anywhere these days. BTW, @MargieKinney just tweeted about your site, which is how I found it… and I love, love, love what you’re doing. Very exciting & inspiring, and the photos are great. May all your roads be only as rough as your jeep can handle, because I’ll be back for more vicarious adventures.

    • Dan says:

      Thanks Cara,
      It is pretty strange that companies like Google have all our data, and now photos of our whereabouts. In fact, the guy driving the car told me it’s not just photos, those cars are taking full HD video, all the time.
      Glad to have you on board for the adventure :)
      -Dan

  2. Cisco says:

    I’ve seen those full steel doors sell in the US for ~$800. Maybe you could part it out, or sell every part to someone who already owns a TJ. Then they could figure out a way to legally drive it, or just have lots of backup parts.

    Ideally you could find someone with a wrecked TJ, sell them “every part”, and then swap the VIN tag, plates, identifying stickers, etc.. Possibly get one of the interested buyers to buy a wrecked Jeep.

    • Dan says:

      Hey Cisco,
      You are absolutely correct – down here it’s worth something like $20,000 USD (if it had Argentine plates) and surely as parts it’s upwards of $12-$15k.
      That is all assuming I have a few months to part it out, and the patients to deal with “tire kickers”, and do all that in Spanish, and….. I just don’t have the patients right now for all that.
      Of course, your solution means it would not officially leave Argentina, breaching the temporary import papers I signed at the border. I have no idea what the consequences of that might be…
      These are options I have explored, for certain.
      -Dan

  3. Ross says:

    Thank God you were just walking and not peeing or worse!

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