Farewell South America, Thanks for the Memories
I felt the sadness whelm up inside as I watched our Nissan and camper loaded into the shipping container. It is hard to believe after 17 months on the road driving over 63,000km and millions of memories our Alaska to Argentina journey has come to an end. There always has to be an endpoint of any journey it is never possible to see everything, do everything and meet everyone on a journey. The time comes when we have to say, “That’s it. It is time to go home.”
No matter where one goes, the final destination is always, home. Therefore, we are flying back to Canada where this incredible journey began and will be meeting our Nissan in Vancouver and our final miles of this journey will be crossing the Rockies back to Calgary.
We arrived in Santiago to meet with our shipping agent Maria. After our last shipping escapade in Panama, we were apprehensive about shipping back to Canada. Maria was wonderful and after organizing for loading, we headed to the Pacific coast for some relaxation and preparing the truck for shipping.
Getting Nissan Ready For Shipping
Tom Sorting Stuff
Houses That Need A Haircut
We walked along the beach reflecting on the highs and lows of this journey. The best and the worst. The funniest and the saddest. What we would do again and what we would do differently. We thought about all the wonderful people we met along the way, both locals and fellow travelers. We thought about the people who supported and encouraged us along the way; special thanks go to our children, Larry and other fellow overlanders.
Time for Reflecting
We talked about past overland journeys and thought of possible futures ones. We wondered whether our restless souls, sense of curiosity and urge to explore the world would ever be still.
Mercado Pescado Santiago
Enjoying the Heat of Santiago
Enjoying Sunday Afternoon in Santiago
We returned to Santiago to load our truck into a container. It seemed a hairy way but the Chilean loading team did a stupendous job and within an hour all the paper work was completed, the truck loaded successfully and we were on our way back to the hotel.
Driving Up onto Tow Truck
Going Up
Nissan on Tow Truck Ready to be reversed into Container
Lining Up Tow Truck and Container Truck
Wood Planks Makes a Bridge
Reversing into Container on Truck
Carefully Reversing into Container
Success The Nissan Is In
Strapping Nissan
Best Chilean Shipping Team
A suitcase was purchased which Tom refused to carry saying it would spoil his image!! However, I love it, finally something pretty. We leave Santiago in a few hours and now the excitement of hugging our grandchildren and children is all we want to do.
My Pretty Suitcase
Thank you America, thank you USA, Mexico, Central America and South America. We love you all.
Hasta Luego
Hasta luego
Olá entrei no site devido a viagem que fiz pelo chile – Nov de 2011, quando vi seu jeep em frente ao NH Ciudad – Santiago. Gostei muito do jeep e tirei duas fotos e hoje entrei no blog. Fico feliz em saber que o Sr. está realizando um sonho e vivendo a vida com aventuras.
Parabéns e que Deus esteja sempre com vocês em suas viagens.
Fábio Santos – Jaffa
Arraial do Cabo – RJ – Brasil
WOW, what an amazing trip….but how can you do this to us. It’s like a good book, I hate for it to end. Love the suitcase, surely Tom can come up with a quip….
Anyway, stay in touch, you have my email. Maybe, now Tom can devote more time to my quest, he hasn’t sent me even one prospec, hot or not!
Also, I’m thinking of South Africa next summer, any suggestions?
Thanks for all the fantastic photos, stories, and laughs. Welcome back.
Last two weeks in Santiago, Cuba and we thought of you wrapping it all up in Santiago, Chile. Will miss the free suspense but glad that you retained the humour…We love your “Polka Dots”… It ain’t finished yet Tom!!
It’s been amazing following your journey, thank you for bringing us all along with you! Safe travels home and enjoy.
We fully understand the mixed feelings of the end of the trip. But hey, you look much fresher than at the end of the Africa trip
Bram would like to know whether his licence plate didn’t get scratched while loading the Nissan into the container?
We made it to Ushuaia today, after 20 months of travelling! Time for some reflection aswell!
Thank you for sharing your trip with us.
Hope to read about new adventours soon.
Congratulations Janet and Tom on an amazing trip! Go Team Nissan! I can only barely empathize with the emotions you’re going through now. How is it that the flexibility and unpredictability of the road can actually become such a comforting routine?! I tend to think that half (well, maybe a quarter) of why we travel is the way we feel when we return, full of perspective on our home life.
Can’t wait for your next adventure.
Dave and Ann
Can we look forward to a travel show presentation of your adventures upon your return to Cowtown? Welcome back, and enjoy the frigid temperatures!
awww. an end of a nice journey can be very sad. i feel with you.
to bad i discovered you that late. i will read trough your adventures.
stay strong
andreas
Congratulations !!!
You are few in the world that have the blessing to meet the world face to face.
xoxox
R.
Oh you must have such mixed feelings!!!!! We haven’t left yet and I already don’t want to come home!!! So glad you bought that suitcase. Fun, happy and pretty!!!
What a wonderful adventure. Thanks for sharing. I’ll be watching for the Nissan’s reappearance.
Thanks for taking me with you on your trip.The daily updates are going to be missed. Travel safely on your last leg and Welcome Home!