Driving Around the World!

 Whoa!  we stopped at a small shopping center to have lunch and look what parked by us!

 

  It wasn't crowded, they took up 5 parking spaces parking crosswise and the 2 flags in front were Swiss.  Terrorists? - they were going to remove our part of San Diego from all maps?

    Walking around the truck and trailer  - we saw this map on the back.  I insisted we wait to see who drove this from Switzerland.

 
  After a few minutes Monika and Rico walked from the McDonalds.  They were eager to talk and tell us their story.  They were from Switzerland and friends found and encouraged them to buy this 1962 military rig from Germany.  They test drove it down to Africa before putting it on a ship for Canada.  They then drove it across Canada, up into Alaska and down the coast to San Diego.

   I was correct when I asked, "Into Mexico next, right?"  They'll drive through Central America as far as the road goes and board a ship in Panama for Columbia.  After driving South America, they plan to travel by ship to Australia ($6,500 to ship it across the Pacific).

   They were eager to show us inside both the truck and trailer.  Rico hopped up and quickly started unlocking things.

   Rico first unlocked the trailer and told us they carry over 400 gallons of water (the large box on the left, rear) and actually can bathe/shower in the green trash can (left).

   Rico completely built and outfitted the truck cabin.  It reminded me of the sailboat we used to have - sleeping up front, table/seating on one side and food/stove/sink on the other.

   Monika and Rico told us, "We're normal people, with normal jobs, etc.".  When we asked, he added, "We put everything in storage when we run out of cash - head back to Switzerland to work and save more money".  He said his parents look after their home while they're on the road around the world and that they have been travelling this way since 2007.

       They just came from Las Vegas, a detour from the coastal route from Alaska.  Rico told us they get 7-8 MPG and just bought new tires in Las Vegas.

   They said they had checked at a nearby WalMart, but it was the first one they saw that had signs, "No Overnight Parking".  We suggested a small airport less than 2 miles away.  Maybe they could park there for the night.  We gave them directions.

   We drove out together, Monika driving.  We both stopped at the red light and she waved good-bye.

   Earlier Monika gave us a card with their email/website, but apologized it was in German:  http://www.tipitapa.ch/

   If you click on the counties on the left and then scroll down, you can see route maps where they've already traveled.   We drove out together, Monika driving.  We both stopped at the red light and she waved good-bye.