Susie and Paul

Names and ages
Paul Todd (26) and Susie Miller (25)

Hometowns
Paul is from Sidney, BC and Susie is from Ottawa, ON but has lived on Vancouver Island for the past 7 years. We both seasonally reside in Pemberton, BC in the sea-to-sky corridor.

When did you start your travels?
We will drive north to the Arctic Circle from Vancouver Island departing late October.

Reason for taking this trip
Paul is into driving. He likes to surf, and wants to explore warmer climates. Susie is interested in practicing her Spanish, and on completing a personal project after having been in school on and off for her whole life.

Why did you decide to drive?
Driving seemed like the best independent way to travel the pan-American. Paul does not like being confined to bus routes, and though Susie is a supporter of public transit, she is interested in having the freedom to explore. Both of us are interested in being able to change our direction, our plan, and our trip at any given moment. Paul has been working on vehicles since he was young- and is quite skilled with mechanics. Since deciding to travel the length of the Americas together, driving seemed like the best and most adventurous option.
 
What type of car are you driving?
We are driving a 1989 Isuzu Trooper. 4x4, 4 cylinder, 5-speed transmission.

Did you make any modifications to your car?
Yes. We did a pretty major tune up pretty much everything that a 23 year old vehicle would need (timing belt, filters, fluids, plugs etc.) Also put in an inverter for charging lap tops and cameras. We made a sleeping platform with storage underneath, a custom roof rack for surfboards and jerry cans, added a lock box for security and driving lights for the dark north. We also are bringing a whole lot of tools and spare parts.

How did you save up or finance your trip?

We are both seasonal workers who spend six months in Pemberton working for the Ministry of Forests and travel as much as we can in the off-season. This summer to save up for our trip, we moved into a 10 x 12 wall tent to avoid rent. We cook on a Coleman stove and heat our house (tent) with a wood stove. Seasonal work affords us the freedom to be able to travel between October and April, provided we do it cheaply. In order to be able to afford our Pan-American trip, we are completing it in two sections, from Canada to Panama in one off-season, and from Panama down the next.

How long do you plan on travelling?
We plan on travelling for one year total (two six month sections).

Where do you plan on driving?
We are departing from Vancouver Island heading north to the Arctic Circle. Our trip will take us from the Yukon, down through the Kootenays, and into the United States where we will cut west and follow the coast down Mexico’s Baja peninsula. We will take the ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan, and keep heading south in some form or fashion.

What were your family’s and friends’ reactions when you told them about your trip before you left?
We had nothing but supportive reactions. Most of them wished they were coming along, and told us to take lots of pictures and document the trip.


Did you speak Spanish before you left your home country?
We took a few years of Spanish classes in high school. Susie continued taking classes through university and would consider herself at a conversational level. We plan on bringing dictionaries and verb books to brush up on our mediocre skills.

Do you have a blog or a website describing your trip?  If so, what is its address?
www.headsouth.travellerspoint.com