Sunday, December 28th, 2003
I left home today. Flew from Portland, Oregon to LAX and met Pete and then we boarded out flight for Fiji.
Monday, December 29th, 2003
Today was lost to the international date line.
Tuesday, December 30th, 2003
We arrived in Nadi, Fiji in the morning and went to the Western Hostel. Spent the day looking around.
Wednesday, December 31th, 2003
Today we headed out to a remote Fijian island and to the resort of Melbravo.
Thursday, January 1st, 2004
Still on the island and staying at Melbravo.
Friday, January 2nd, 2004
Took the ferry back to Nadi and stayed at the Aquarius Fiji Hostel.
Saturday, January 3rd, 2004
Another day in Nadi.
Sunday, January 4th, 2004
Flew to Sydney, Australia and then flew to Melbourne.
Monday, January 5th, 2004
Melbourne.
Tuesday, January 6th, 2004
Melbourne.
Wednesday, January 7th, 2004
Melbourne.
Thursday, January 8th, 2004
Melbourne.
Friday, January 9th, 2004
Melbourne.
Saturday, January 10th, 2004
Melbourne.
Sunday, January 11th, 2004
Melbourne.
Monday, January 12th, 2004
Melbourne.
Tuesday, January 13th, 2004
Melbourne.
Wednesday, January 14th, 2004
Drove to Lorne with Pete & Kip. Stayed at the Lorne Chalet.
Thursday, January 15th, 2004
Kip headed back to Melbourne. Pete and I stayed at the Great Ocean Road Backpackers.
Friday, January 16th, 2004
Took the bus from Lorne to Melbourne.
Saturday, January 17th, 2004
Took the train to Adelaide.
Sunday, January 18th, 2004
Hung out in Adelaide during the day and continued on the train towards Perth.
Monday, January 19th, 2004
On the train to Perth. Had a few hours stop over in Kalgoolie.
Tuesday, January 20th, 2004
Arrived in Perth around noon. Checked into the Swan Barracks Hotel. A pretty cool hostel.
Wednesday, January 21st, 2004
Perth.
Thursday, January 22nd, 2004
Perth.
Friday, January 23rd, 2004
Perth.
Saturday, January 24th, 2004
Perth.
Sunday, January 25th, 2004
Perth.
Monday, January 26th, 2004
Perth. Australia Day. Big party all day at the hostel and down by the river for the fireworks.
Tuesday, January 27th, 2004
Perth.
Wednesday, January 28th, 2004
Rented a car and headed south with Anders & Martin and Ben in his own car. Made it to Margret River and statyed at the YHA there.
Thursday, January 29th, 2004
Drove to Pemberton and stayed at Pemberton Backpackers. Ben stayed in Margret River. Bought a Johnny Cash tape.
Friday, January 30th, 2004
Drove to Albany and stayed at Albany Backpackers.
Saturday, January 31st, 2004
Drove back to Perth and dropped off the rental car.
Sunday, February 1st, 2004
Big Day out music festival in Perth.
Monday, February 2nd, 2004
Perth.
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2004
Perth.
Wednesday, February 4th, 2004
Perth.
Thursday, February 5th, 2004
Perth.
Friday, February 6th, 2004
Perth.
Saturday, February 7th, 2004
Perth.
Sunday, February 8th, 2004
Perth.
Monday, February 9th, 2004
Perth.
Tuesday, February 10th, 2004
Left for the roadtrip north. Rented a car with Anders, Martin & Misung. Made it to the Pinnacles and camped on the beach at Kangaroo point with half of the Swan Barracks crew.
Wednesday, February 11th, 2004
Drove to Geraldon and met up with the rest of the crew.
Thursday, February 12th, 2004
Drove to Kalbari and stayed in a trailer at the caravan park there.
Friday, February 13th, 2004
Drove to Hamlin Bay and camped there. We were lured in by the “Cold Beer” sign. This was a boys only drive up: Myself, Anders, Donnie, Ben & Chris.
Saturday, February 14th, 2004
Saw the Stromatolites and drove up to Monkey Mia and camped there. The rest of the crew joined us that evening.
Sunday, February 15th, 2004
Saw some dolphins. Anders and I went on a wildlife boat trip. No wildlife though. Drove to Carnarvan and camped there.
Monday, February 16th, 2004
Car troubles today. Finally got on the road and drove to Coral Bay and stayed at the Nigaloo Club Hostel as it was pissing down rain.
Tuesday, February 17th, 2004
Coral Bay. Went on a snorkling boat trip.
Wednesday, February 18th, 2004
Drove to Exmouth and camped at the Caravan Park there. Hot as hell out.
Thursday, February 19th, 2004
Exmouth. Went snorkling at Turqouise Bay. One of the best days of my whole trip. Birthday celebration for Gemma at the pub that night. Drank lots of Guiness.
Friday, February 20th, 2004
Exmouth. Girls left to head back to Perth.
Saturday, February 21st, 2004
Anders and I made a break from the rest of the crew and took the Easyrider Backpackers Bus headed towards Broome. Made it to Tom Price and stayed in the dorms at the caravan park there.
Sunday, February 22nd, 2004
Went on a walk around the national forest. Made it to Port Hedland and stayed at Dingo´s Backpackers. Had a big spagetti feed.
Monday, February 23rd, 2004
Got up at 4am for the drive to Broome. Stayed at the Kimberly Klub hostel. Went to Cable Beach for the sunset.
Tuesday, February 24th, 2004
Broome. The roads to Darwin were flooded so Anders and I bought airplane tickets for Darwin for later in the week.
Wednesday, February 25th, 2004
Broome.
Thursday, February 26th, 2004
Broome.
Friday, February 27th, 2004
Broome.
Saturday, February 28th, 2004
Flew to Darwin. Stayed at Globtrotters Lounge.
Sunday, February 29th, 2004
Leap Year Day. Darwin.
Monday, March 1st, 2004
Darwin.
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2004
Darwin.
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2004
Got on The Ghan railroad headed for Alice Springs.
Thursday, March 4th, 2004
Arrived in Alice Springs. Stayed at the Alice Lodge.
Friday, March 5th, 2004
Left on a three day tour to Uluru and King´s Canyon. Did a hike in King´s Canyon. Camped in swags.
Saturday, March 6th, 2004
Made it to Uluru and did a walk around the base. Camped near Uluru in swags.
Sunday, March 7th, 2004
Got up at 4:20am and did a walk through the Olgas. Rode back to Alice Springs and back to the Alice Lodge.
Monday, March 8th, 2004
Alice Springs. Anders and I had our own party that night at the hostel. Went out to the pub for a few jugs and then back for some late night snacks and tunes care of AC/DC.
Tuesday, March 9th, 2004
Alice Springs. Anders left for New Zealand.
Wednesday, March 10th, 2004
Alice Springs.
Thursday, March 11th, 2004
Took the train to Melbourne.
Friday, March 12th, 2004
Arrived at Melbourne around 10:30pm to find no Pete to pick me up. Took the metro to Box Hill and walked to Kip & Pete´s house.
Saturday, March 13th, 2004
Melbourne.
Sunday, March 14th, 2004
Melbourne.
Monday, March 15th, 2004
Melbourne.
Tuesday, March 16th, 2004
Melbourne.
Wednesday, March 17th, 2004
Melbourne.
Thursday, March 18th, 2004
Melbourne. Bought my ticket to Santiago, Chile.
Friday, March 19th, 2004
Melbourne.
Saturday, March 20th, 2004
Pete and I left Melbourne for our road trip north. Made it to Canberra late at night and camped for free at a campground.
Sunday, March 21st, 2004
Checked out the art gallery and war museum and drove to Newcastle. Stayed at the Newcastle Backpackers.
Monday, March 22nd, 2004
Drove to Byron Bay. Stayed at the Art Factory. A very cool hostel.
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2004
Byron Bay.
Wednesday, March 24th, 2004
Byron Bay.
Thursday, March 25th, 2004
Byron Bay. Took Jim´s Alternative Tours to Nimbin for the day.
Friday, March 26th, 2004
Drove to Surfer´s Paradise. Stayed at a campground in the city.
Saturday, March 27th, 2004
Surfer´s Paradise.
Sunday, March 28th, 2004
Surfer´s Paradise.
Monday, March 29th, 2004
Drove south to Nimbin. Stayed at Grannies Farm Hostel. I camped and Pete got a dorm bed.
Tuesday, March 30th, 2004
Drove to Bundaberg and stayed at the City Center Backpackers.
Wednesday, March 31st, 2004
Pete got signed up for farm work in Bundaberg. I took a tour of the Bundaberg Rum factory and Pete drove me to Hervey Bay. Stayed at Koala´s Resort.
Thursday, April 1st, 2004
Hervey Bay.
Friday, April 2nd, 2004
Hervey Bay. Got signed up for a three day trip to Fraser Island.
Saturday, April 3rd, 2004
Fraser Island. Camping.
Sunday, April 4th, 2004
Fraser Island. Camping.
Monday, April 5th, 2004
Got back from Fraser Island and back to Koala´s.
Tuesday, April 6th, 2004
Pete picked me up and we drove to Brisbane. Stayed at City Center Backpackers.
Wednesday, April 7th, 2004
Brisbane.
Thursday, April 8th, 2004
Picked up Drew and Leisal at the airport. Drove to Byron Bay. Camped at Biolongi Fields. I went to the first day of the East Coast Blues and Roots Music Festival.
Friday, April 9th, 2004
Byron Bay. Day two of Bluesfest.
Saturday, April 10th, 2004
Byron Bay. Day three of Bluesfest.
Sunday, April 11th, 2004
Byron Bay. Day four of Bluesfest.
Monday, April 12th, 2004
Byron Bay. Final day of Bluesfest. Pete, Drew and Leisal attended this day with me.
Tuesday, April 13th, 2004
Pete´s Birthday. Drove to Sydney getting in around 10pm or so. Stayed at the Pink House in King´s Cross. Pete and I hit up a pub in King´s Cross and had lot´s of fun.
Wednesday, April 14th, 2004
Pete and crew left at 6am to drive back to Melbourne. I left a bit later that morning for the airport and to begin my journey to South America. Got warped back in time and arrived at the LA airport to spent the whole day waiting for my flight that night only to find out it was canceled.
Thursday, April 15th, 2004
Spent the day hanging out at the Embassy Suites and got on my flight that night.
Friday, April 16th, 2004
Spent all day on planes and in the Panama City airport.
Saturday, April 17th, 2004
Made it to Santiago at 3am. Took a taxi to the Hotel Paris and met up with Thomas.
Sunday, April 18th, 2004
Took the bus to Valpariso and stayed at the Hotel Puerto Valpariso.
Monday, April 19th, 2004
Valpariso.
Tuesday, April 20th, 2004
Bus to Chillan. Stayed at Hostel Canada. Ate Chinese food.
Wednesday, April 21st, 2004
Took the bus to Pucon. Stayed at Hostel Lalo.
Thursday, April 22nd, 2004
Pucon. Lars´ birthday today.
Friday, April 23rd, 2004
Pucon. Went on Volcano climb. Thomas made it all the way up, myself only half way.
Saturday, April 24th, 2004
Bus to Puerto Montt. Residencia El Turista.
Sunday, April 25th, 2004
Puerto Montt.
Monday, April 26th, 2004
Boarded The Magallines for our journey to Puerto Natalles.
Tuesday, April 27th, 2004
On board The Magallines.
Wednesday, April 28th, 2004
On board The Magallines.
Thursday, April 29th, 2004
Arrived in Puerto Natalles. Stayed at Patagonia Adventure Hostel.
Friday, April 30th, 2004
Puerto Natalles. Day tour to Torres del Paine National Park.
Saturday, May 1st, 2004
Puerto Natalles. Had to switch to Casa Cecila because the hostel closed for the winter. Took a day trip on a boat to The O´Higgins Park.
Sunday, May 2nd, 2004
Bus to Punta Arenas. Stayed at Hostel Fin de el Mundo.
Monday, May 3rd, 2004
Took bus to Rio Gallegas, Argentina. Ate dinner and took another bus to Caleta Olivia.
Tuesday, May 4th, 2004
Arrived at Caleta Olivia and stayed at Posada Don David.
Wednesday, May 5th, 2004
Took the bus to Trelew. Stayed at Hotel Touring Club. Dad´s birthday.
Thursday, May 6th, 2004
Trelew.
Friday, May 7th, 2004
Took the bus to Viedma. Stayed at Hotel Peumayen.
Saturday, May 8th, 2004
Viedma. Tried to leave but no buses.
Sunday, May 9th, 2004
Took overnight bus to Buenos Aires.
Monday, May 10th, 2004
Arrived in Buenos Aires in the morning. Stayed at Hotel Marbella.
Tuesday, May 11th, 2004
Buenos Aires. Took a city tour.
Wednesday, May 12th, 2004
Buenos Aires.
Thursday, May 13th, 2004
Buenos Aires.
Friday, May 14th, 2004
Took the bus to Rosario. Stayed at Hotel Savoy.
Saturday, May 15th, 2004
Took the night bus to Posoda.
Sunday, May 16th, 2004
Arrived in Posoda and took the local bus to Puerto Iquazu. Stayed at Hotel Lilian.
Monday, May 17th, 2004
Puerto Iquazu. Went to the Iquazu Falls.
Tuesday, May 18th, 2004
Took a day trip to Paraguay and got on the night bus to Salta.
Wednesday, May 19th, 2004
On the bus all day. Arrived late at night and went to the Hostel Salta.
Thursday, May 20th, 2004
Salta.
Friday, May 21st, 2004
Salta.
Saturday, May 22nd, 2004
Salta.
Sunday, May 23rd, 2004
Took the bus to San Pedro de Atacama. Bus ride sucked. Went over a mountain pass of 5,200 Meters. Got to San Pedro around 6ish and went to the Hostel International.
Monday, May 24th, 2004
San Pedro.
Tuesday, May 25th, 2004
San Pedro.
Wednesday, May 26th, 2004
Took bus to Calama and then got another bus to Arica.
Thursday, May 27th, 2004
Arrived to Arica at 6 am and went to Residencia Stagnaro.
Friday, May 28th, 2004
Arica.
Saturday, May 29th, 2004
Took a colectivo across the border to Tacna, Peru and then the bus to Arequipa. Stayed at Hostel Regis.
Sunday, May 30th, 2004
Arequipa.
Monday, May 31st, 2004
Arequipa.
Tuesday, June 1st , 2004
Arequipa.
Wednesday, June 2nd , 2004
Took tour to the Colca Canyon. Stayed the night in Chivay at the Hostal Ricarditos.
Thursday, June 3rd , 2004
Finished the tour and went back to Arequipa and the Hostel Regis.
Friday, June 4th , 2004
Thomas left. The solo travels begin. Took the bus to Puno and stayed at Hostel Los Uros.
Saturday, June 5th, 2004
Puno.
Sunday, June 6th, 2004
Took the bus to La Paz. Stayed at Hostel Happy Days.
Monday, June 7th, 2004
La Paz.
Tuesday, June 8th, 2004
La Paz.
Wednesday, June 9th, 2004
Took the bus to Cochabamba. Stayed at Hostel Elisa.
Thursday, June 10th, 2004
Cochabamba.
Friday, June 11th, 2004
Cochabamba.
Saturday, June 12th, 2004
Took the bus to Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Got in late and stayed at Hotel Bibosi.
Sunday, June 13th, 2004
Santa Cruz.
Monday, June 14th, 2004
Santa Cruz.
Tuesday, June 15th, 2004
Took and evening bus to Vallegrande.
Wednesday, June 16th, 2004
Took a taxi from Vallegrande to La Higuera.
Thursday, June 17th, 2004
La Higuera. Hiked down to the El Churo Ravine.
Friday, June 18th, 2004
Found a ride from La Higuera back to Vallegrande.
Saturday, June 19th, 2004
Took the bus to Mataral, waiting from 2pm till 10pm for my bus to Sucre.
Sunday, June 20th, 2004
Arrived in the morning to Sucre.
Monday, June 21st, 2004
Sucre.
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2004
Sucre.
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2004
Arrived in Potosi.
Thursday, June 24th, 2004
Took a tour of the Potosi Mines.
Friday, June 25th, 2004
Took the bus to Uyuni, was held up in a roadblock.
Saturday, June 26th, 2004
Day 1 of the Salar de Uyuni tour.
Sunday, June 27th, 2004
Day 2 of the Salar de Uyuni tour.
Monday, June 28th, 2004
Day 3 of the Salar de Uyuni tour. Six months on the road!
Tuesday, June 29th, 2004
Got back to Uyuni from the tour. Took the night train to Oruro.
Wednesday, June 30th, 2004
Arrived in Oruro in the morning.
Thursday, July 1st, 2004
Took the bus to La Paz. Staying at the Happy Days Hostel.
Friday, July 2nd, 2004
La Paz.
Saturday, July 3rd, 2004
La Paz.
Sunday, July 4th, 2004
La Paz.
Monday, July 5th, 2004
I went home. Took a full 24 hours from my hotel room in La Paz to arriving at my parents house in Troutdale.