The Equator, Gabon
The Road Chose Me Volume 2 OUT NOW!!
The Road Chose Me Volume 2: Three years and 54,000 miles around Africa
After just over a year into this massive expedition I have reached a huge milestone.
Not far into Gabon, on a highway thick with monster logging trucks, I watch the numbers on my GPS count down to the mighty line on the Earth.
The Jeep, the sign.
For the second time in my life, far, far from home, I drive my Jeep across the Equator, grinning from ear to ear the entire time. While hanging out at the sign I have strong memories of last time I did this in Ecuador. This time I am happy to get the Jeep right on the line.
Dan and Jeep. Equator.
Oh Southern Hemisphere, it’s good to be back!!!
I can not wait to see the Southern Cross at night.
About thirty yards from the sign
Extremely happy to be at the equator
In the back of my mind, I know I will cross again, likely many tens of thousands of miles and more than fifteen countries from now, somewhere on the East Coast.
Adventure rolls on!
-Dan
Dan – you are not “far, far from home”. You ARE home! Continue to enjoy the journey.
My wife and I just got back from southeast Alaska (via plane). Now we are focusing on the Jeep again to get it ready to go back by land.
Hey Jim,
Awesome! I hope you thoroughly loved SE Alaska – I miss that place and daydream about it often.
I can’t wait to hear how the trip with the Jeep goes!
-Dan
It was everything we hoped for and more. We did an Un-Cruise Adventures week-long sail through Glacier Bay NP and other incredible fjords the big boats dare not go.
The Jeep is well into the CAD (cardboard aided design:) ) stage of interior fit-up design. Our LJ Rubicon is not as big as your JKUR, and must accommodate two people, so we have even more imperative space economization requirements.
Cheers,
Jim & Jean
Hey Jim,
I have yet to get into Glacier bay – it’s high on my list when I eventually return to the North.
Have fun outfitting that LJ! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Do you have an in-progress build thread somewhere?
-Dan
It’s worth the $$ and time to get up into GBNP.
I do not have a build thread on the LJ. Had not really thought about doing one, since so many folks have one. We are incorporating what I think are some unique design details and engineered solutions, so perhaps we could avoid another “me too” build thread. I’ll let you know if I do start one.
Hey Jim,
What is GBNP?
I think many, many people appreciate the LJ more now, and having a Rubicon makes it all the more special.
I know many people would love to see a unique “overland” build of an LJ, especially me!
-Dan
GBNP = Glacier Bay National Park. Sorry.
The LJ Rubicon is a pretty unique little truck. Only ~12k units in total were made in 2005/2006. The 103″ wheel base is just about right to improve the ride (over the 93″ wheelbase of your old TJ), but does not compromise breakover angle too much. The rear overhang is not as long as the old CJ-8, so departure angle is also still good. I have rock crawled this rig many times, and never encountered an obstacle that a TJ could take that I could not.
I’ll probably do a summary write up of our build after it is done. I hate trying to do an in-progress build documentary.
This might be my favorite post from this trip so far. I’d love to see that sign and put a sticker on it.