Camping and Offroading in Colombias Flooded Desert
Once again Colombia has pulled out its surprise wild card. This desert reminds us of parts of Southern California, maybe Arizona or even Baja. Yet it has differences. Namely the fact we had to drive 30,000 kms to South America to get here!
We’ve just avoided a huge rainstorm from yesterday. It washed away any signs of vehicle presence, and the sand has a hard but damp surface. It’s crucial that we stay on top of that compact layer, a recovery out here would not be easy. These Cacti may be able to withstand the harsh desert climate, but they won’t stand up to the Chinook on the end of a winch line.
This may be one of the most known and visited places on our Colombian tour, but that’s for good reason! We’ll try and take an off-road route to reach the Tatacoa, and from there drive the constellation loop. There’s an observatory out here, and apparently the star gazing is astronomical.. Get it.
We weave through the desert with eyes wide open. This is radically different than any terrain we’ve encountered in Colombia. It’s beautiful.
The looming cloud cover reminds us that flash floods can occur in an instant, and raise water levels by up to [2 meters in less than 20 minutes]. That amount of water can easily wash our truck away to become another desert artifact.
There’s nothing inherently challenging about this terrain. The risk is the alone factor, nothing to winch from, and a part from motorcycles we’ve seen no other vehicles. Burying our tire in the sand to use as an anchor is a last resort option, but certainly not ideal, nor guaranteed.
We’ve calculated all the risks, thought thoroughly about any consequences, and decided we’re here to have fun, test the limits of ourselves and our truck and write a memorable story.
Thankfully this one won’t be one of a vehicle recovery.
Wide open spaces like this come with a parallel sense of freedom. Trails like this are a joy to drive, and a well earned break from the insane elevation gain and loss on the mountain routes we’ve come accustomed to navigating.
A view like this, to us, is a perfect depiction of the microcosm vs macrocosm of the natural world and the universe. How a galaxy can look like a human iris, how this erosion can look like the capillaries in our fingers, and this riverbed like a blooming tree. If you’re awake and paying attention, things like this make you feel like you are a part of the world around you. That you’re IN there world, not ON it.
And just as our philosophical thoughts come full circle, we’re greeted with the surprise encounter from other travellers we’ve been following online.
After spending months wearing a layer of sweat on our skin as we tango’d with humidity, in a strange way it felt good to re-unite, and dance with the desert.
Toyota World Runners vs. The Pan American Highway.
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World First Land Cruiser Chinook
1996 FZJ80 Chassis: frame, suspension & axles, factory E-lockers
1976 Toyota Chinook pop-top fiberglass camper
2000 4runner 5zv-fe 3.4 V6 Engine
1993 R150F Manual Transmission
35x12.5R17 Falken Wildpeak RT/01
KMC Lobo 17x8.5 Wheels
#overland #toyota #offroad #4x4 #Chinook #landcruiser
Пікірлер: 92
Your journey just keeps getting better and better this is stuff for the history books and where you guys were reminded me of the badlands in South Dakota where I'm from, very sacred places make sure you pay respect to them! Be safe and God bless
Another wonderful glimpse into the journey. Thank you for bringing us along and fostering in your viewers the spirit of adventure... in whatever size & capacity.
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
We love this. Thank you for being here!
You all need a TV show. It's always epic. Smiles per miles🤠😇
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Fingers crossed!!
I cannot begin to explain how much I love these videos! The obvious reasons, but also because you are so so missed.❤❤❤ I loved the goats🐐 and I loved the music 🎶
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
We miss you!! The goats were a highlight!
You guys make epic videos and tell great stories. I've watched every one since the camper build started.
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Thank you for being here from the start!!
When you first showed the highly eroded and figured hillsides in your intro, I wondered "how did they override the height restriction settings on their drone?" Then later you showed that they were, um, sort of miniature in scale. I am flat-out mesmerized by them. How beautiful. Nature's storytelling, if you have the eyes to see. Thanks for sharing it.❤
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Natures story telling is right! Sometimes it’s hard to find the words. We could watch the layers for hours🙏🏼
Ah what a great vid guys :') Brings a dang tear to my eye. Long live Mr. Beef and chocolate pot cakes
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
🥩🤍🥩🤍
Your philosophical meanderings were spot on. I've often wordered if nature raises our awareness or just blocks out the everyday bullshit and allows us to finally think clearly? Some of both, I suppose. I've always thought being a goat would be a great life. Bounding around the side of mountains and endless head butting, just for the fun of it. They just look so damn happy.
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
We think a bit of both as well. And yep! We ponder the fearless life of a goat often. Being born without any fear sounds a lot easier 😆
I really enjoy the trip to the desert. I’m Colombian and I never have been there. Thanks for your video, the music and the the way you describe everything. I love it. God bless you, and be safe.
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for watching 🙏🏼
Desert terrain is a ever changing world of wonder. Living in Southern Utah we see changes often. “Long since, the desert wind wiped away our footprints in the sand. But at every second of my existence, I remember what happened, and you still walk in my dreams and in my reality. Thank you for having crossed my path.” - Paulo Coelho
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
🙏🏼🙏🏼 The desert always leaves us with new perspectives.
Dang it! That is a natural desert- dessert.
Good food and great adventures Safe travels Matt and Stacy 👍
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Thank you!!
What a beautiful place when you came out of the tunnel into the bridge and that river, its awsome.
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Felt like an adventure park!
The rains during the Younger dryas were relentless below the great ice sheets. Your (our) ancestors witnessed and survived that.
Those silly goats lol love how they are all different colors lol 😆
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
We watched them for hours!
That's an amazing ride specially your vehicle is very good 😊.
Love the epic “badlands” desert beauty….you either get it or you don’t. Great music choices for the video. Just great!
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Absolutely. We learned quickly how easy it is to fall in love with the desert.
Amazing place and awesome video
Wow!
Great video's, loving the desert scenery. Thankyou
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
We love it too! Thank you for watching!
Another awesome piece of art. 👏👏👏
That desert is so fractal, mother nature is such a wonder. Again the drone shots are epic, great video!
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Couldn't agree more! 🙏🏼
Showing me yet another part of Colombia I did nopt know existed. Thank you!
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Thank you for watching!
OMG thank you! I have always known you are desert people, but don't let that discourage you. When you come home, I'm in Moab. I got beers, food and access. See you soon?
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
We are absolutely desert people! and we can promise to be in MOAB soon. 🍻
Safe travels and understanding on your days to come. Peace ✌️
i need to start from beginning of the whole adventure
Busiest thing at a Colombian hot spot? A pair of jumper cables…..😂
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
😂😂
Wow amazing, that Columbia desert is absolutely amazing
@ToyotaWorldRunners
7 ай бұрын
We absolutely loved it!
Watching your KZreads is like watching a production movie but better been watching you since just before you left the Island. Can’t wait to get an autograph when you get back here.
@ToyotaWorldRunners
3 ай бұрын
We will have to practice writing them 😅
Quería conocerlos 😢 pero bueno, que les vaya muy bien ❤
Y'all are too cute. Love the videos.
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Thank you!
Okay - you know I want an aerial shot of the red desert for the first TWR Puzzle - would be the best! So happy to see the desert, it just feels peaceful, thanks for sharing it and as always - much love 🤎
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
TWR puzzles sounds like an excellent idea!!!
You need that body bag recovery kit that you fill with dirt and bury to hook the winch too
Great post! 👏👏👏
After spending a night in the Kamloops desert. I definitely love desert terrain and landscapes now.
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Bring the desert to van isle we need it
@DirtTheory
8 ай бұрын
@ToyotaWorldRunners haha give it 10 years with how the weather has been and the amount of trees mosiac is cutting down.
Great place for an adventure. Like coming out of the tunnel then on a bridge cool video work. Can't wait to see the next episode. Roll on Landcuriser chinook. Stay safe
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
It’s true! Travelling is just one big adventure park for the chinook. Thank you for watching Ray!
i randomly found your channel and it was top level
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Welcome!!
That was awesome you two. Thanks for taking the time and energy to create another amazing and inspiring video of your epic adventure. I really appreciate it. And as always, safe travels. ❤
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
We appreciate you watching! Thank you so much 🙏🏼
@onefromnone1634
8 ай бұрын
@@ToyotaWorldRunners You are more than welcome. Safe travels you guys ❤️
❤❤ another cool adventure, they just keep getting more interesting, greetings from maple ridge ❤
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Thank you!!
Hey, we keep bouncing around....watching your incredible journey. And wow, your subscriber count is growing fast. Good job. My prediction is you hit 100K by the end of June at the absolute latest.
@ToyotaWorldRunners
3 ай бұрын
We love that!
Great videos and a very nice journey, glad you’re enjoying our country. If you happen to Cali let us know!
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Thank you so much!
Great soundtrack!
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Thank you!
Yotas are to 🔥
Your videos, with such dynamic drone footage, are nothing short of amazing. I’ve been following since the Chinook build and I’m so happy how the trip has gone for you two. I even got my friend at work, Jorge who is from Columbia and his wife, to watch your videos. I was wondering if once reaching the south tip of Brazil, are you turning around and driving all the way back or put Sunday in a container and have her shipped home while you two fly home for much needed R&R? Also any idea how long to get to the south end of Brazil? Thanks
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Thank you so much Bryan, these compliments keep us going!! We will be shipping Sunday home from Southern Argentina, as much as the way back up sounds fun. We’re not quite sure when that will be though… everyday is a new answer 😂
I made some screw in anchors to pull me out. Think I'll make more out of some pipe with large diameter augers. I use an impact to drive them down in the ground. Two should be able to pull me out with ease even in sand
Love your stuff - videography is out of this world! One question - how in the hell do you know you'll have enough fuel to get thru these remote locations?
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Thank you so much 🙏🏼 our answer: 160L/42Gallon fuel tank 💪🏼
Great videos. What kind of maintenance does a vehicle like that require? How do you perform it? Gosh I love your rig.
If you were gonna be there for a while it would almost be worth the trek for one of those sandwiches…:)
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Hahaha we can have one ready for you 🥪
We need a new chinook
14:31 local monster
How much would you pay for a new chinook?
Is Brazil included in your trip? Here you'll think twice of the statement "Colombia is the France of South America".
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
Quite possibly!
First
@ToyotaWorldRunners
8 ай бұрын
🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
Another great upload!