Dude ! WoW Im so excited for you. Be sure to keep me updated on your travels.
I have a wonderful feeling about this trip of yours. I know you will find what it is your looking for, and you will be safe while doing so. I kinda wish I could go with 
Sending prayers your way man.
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Make sure you set your valves. That could be one reason for the backfire. As far as your cylinder goes check and see if you can tighten it yourself. After something like that has a new gasket put in, it needs to seat. After everything get’s hot the gaskets will seat, and usually requires more tightening
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It’s not the world my friend. Just this country. There’s still magic to be found and you’re going where you can find it.
Very excited for you that the car is coming together for you. And that registration! You’re right, that is the biggest hurdle. California is much harder than New York, and it’s difficult here to get a vehicle registered if it’s older.
How many more days until take off? Are you starting to “X” the days off of a calendar yet?
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I’m very excited about your upcoming journey. I wish I could be your co-pilot (sounds like such an awesome adventure), but I have way too much baggage. There’s the dogs, and the husband, and I have plants to tend to. 
Even if I can’t go, I (and many others) will be with you in spirit. I agree with @Upstate, the world is still solid, and so are most of the people you will encounter. Stay well and enjoy the journey! 
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This country… it will be very good to get out of here. Regardless of where anyone lies on the political spectrum, it’s impossible to deny that the social fabric of this country is in tatters. There’s just no joy to be had anymore, regardless of political orientation.
It actually still feels really abstract and far away, oddly. I think it’s because of how much left there is to do combined with that whole “this pandemic is never going end,” feeling. I just made two purchases that really made it hit home and feel inevitable, though: the GoPro/action camera and a gimbal for stability during vlogging and Instagram live. For some reason, that made it hit home. I’m not a vlogger and the idea horrifies me, so to buy that stuff really is a statement for me. I think once I buy the Mexico Grand Prix tickets, I’ll probably start to count the individual days down.
Also the weirdest stuff has been happening while I’ve been shopping for gear. For example, I needed to replace my entire ignition system in my Suzuki. It looked like I was going to have to do an expensive digital conversion or pay out the nose for old, used OEM parts. I somehow came across an entire brand new (old, old stock) , OEM ignition system for 60 bucks. It was listed on eBay incorrectly, so I saved hundreds. Things like that keep happening, lots of money savings or help from others, so the lack of universal impedance is really helping it feel like a real inevitability, too. It feels like the universe wants me to do this.
I’m ordering the winch and bumper tomorrow. Those are two things I’m excited the most about, along with the lift kit and roof rack. That’s my core work. As long as those things are done, I can leave.
Thank you for the words of encouragement! I know what you mean about baggage; the biggest reason I wasn’t able to do this sooner was because of my dog. Even though I miss him more than anything, the freedom of being solo is very liberating.
I’ll make sure to try and bring everyone with me vicariously.
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That’s karma baby! Coming 'round back at you
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And some fine steel wool!
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You are meant to do this. I can’t wait to see who the universe has in store waiting to meet you. You are going to meet some incredible people along the way! That will be the best part of the trip. Making lifelong connections, diving in to different cultures. I’m working with some guys from Chiapas and Michoacan. Really great people. They enjoy life. Always happy. It sounds like the old genetics are still around, too. At least in Michoacan. The one guy’s family more than likely still grows it. He himself grew pot for a cartel years ago. I think it would be worth looking around Southwest Mexico, even if its on your return trip. The cannabis from there is special from what I have seen, though admittedly that is not much.
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Your words are inspiring and make me look forward this adventure even more. I’m excited about the human and personal connection more than anything else, I think, especially after this year. I’m glad it’s Latin America; those types of connections would be tougher in Asia with the language barriers.
I agree about Mexico, especially Chiapas. What a magical place! I’ve had dreams my entire life of visiting coastal Central America. It’s one of the few places that’s escaped me. I’m going to make a plan to cover as much of Mexico as possible. It’s definitely not one I’m going to skip. I’m staying in Mexico City for a bit. I have a feeling I’ll have a rough plan and some solid contacts by that point.
I got the ‘video/vlogging’ gear. This part leaves my stomach in knots. I bought into the DJI ecosystem and really like it. The Osmo Action is perfect for this.
The winch—one of the larger pieces of the puzzle—is arriving this Thursday! So many moving pieces. Every day is like Christmas with all the packages.
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@Eudaemon any plans of making a youtube channel or anything like that to help document your travels better?
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I do! In preparation for this, I made a YouTube channel:
https://youtube.com/channel/UC__z8LQm8QF6AEDIxWM9mHQ
I’ll upload very regular videos to the channel. I’m also going to be doing Instagram Live/TV or whatever it is.
Here’s the IG, but I’m not quite sure how to use live Instagram. I’m going to need to get spun up.
https://www.instagram.com/free.the.seeds/
I’m a little confused on what my digital workflow is going to be… I’m going to have to get started figuring that one out.
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I haven’t bought anything during the pandemic. Nothing. Except for necessary prescription drugs.
I used to live in the states and there is joy to be found. It’s just away from other people. A hot Texas afternoon by yourself on a bicycle in a pine forest smells like a sauna.
I’m envious of your trip. Get a cooler and buy all your food from local markets. Get Chile con queso. I miss that stuff. Buy passion fruits. Crack them and eat them in the spot.
If you need to get away from the coast and into the mountains go to Xela in Guatemala. They have exploding volcanos.
If you need a day off at a hot springs go to Fuentes Georginas.
And if you need a day off to surf go to el Paredon near Sipacate.
What else…if you need to go to non touristy ruins go to Copan Ruinas in Honduras.
Don’t go to Pollo Campero. It made
Me really sick.
Eat lots of Pupusas at crossroad shacks and talk to lots of locals. They will get you what you need. Often for free.
And watch your ass in the Darièn gap.
Best of luck and all the best
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@Eudaemon this is amazing im gonna be glued to this best wishes my friend your a real life indiana jones but for seeds
lime
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Talking with those guys from southern Mexico, they all agreed that the most remote state is Tabasco. Trying to get more information about this region. I’ve never heard of genetics from Tabasco before but they must exist. Sounds like the final pieces of the puzzle are falling right into place. Meant to be
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to upload vids on youtube you just need to open a free Youtube accout, i think its unlimited upload, free.
To edit videos, just type into google :Video editing software.
you will find one. Some are free.
As soon as you have a file exported out the video editing Software, or just have a raw video, you can log into youtube, and click upload. Select your video. Done. Takes probably 10min for 10 min video to upload.
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I got tickets to the Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico City on October 31. Decent seats, too, grandstand 4! So I’ll definitely be in Mexico in October, come hell or high water. It’s been a dream of mine for a while to go a Grand Prix. It was supposed to be Singapore this year, but with covid… Mexico City is probably going to be even better though; Singapore has the glitz and shine, but Mexico has the soul, and with Checo in a Red Bull seat with the pace he has this year, Mexico will be going crazy! It’s going to be electric. It would be really nice to setup a Mexico City Overgrow meet or party.
I’m starting to get a familiar sick, clenched up feeling. That feeling I had as a kid when I went on the high dive for the first time and didn’t want to jump once I got to the top. The climb down would have been too soul crushing to bear; jumping was the only choice I had. I only later learned this feeling—this fear—is the feeling of opportunity presenting itself. My only one inviolable rule in life is to run as hard and as fast as I can toward that feeling, never away. I think it’s an ethos that leads to storybook lives. As long as I draw breath, no matter what happens, this is going forward!
That’s simpler than I’d have imagined. It’s crazy I’ve never uploaded a YouTube video in my entire life. I remember after my retirement, I didn’t even know what Instagram was. I had—literally—been living under a rock. From for the last decade and a half, I haven’t really been apart of society.
I’m probably going to use Adobe for video editing as much as I resent having to pay for another subscription. I’m used to their workflow from photoshop and feel like the learning curve will be less. Do you have any video editing software you’d recommend?
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forgot the name of software. but it was free and worked…adobe is perfect.
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you should try find out guidlines for uploading adult content. There is an option on youtube for over18 content. But then each who wann watch the vides has to hold a Passport into Cam (here in Europe).
But it seemed if a Video doesent look like a how-to video, or speaks about smoking it. If its only educational, then you might not having to label it 18plus… Just so you dont get banned, but normally you would first get notification before they bann you. Just my thoughts. So you probably get chance to react and change settings…
Probably dailymotion is easyer in this regard? dont know
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I’ve wondered a lot about this and how to broach/figure this one out. It’s a ridiculous problem and a ridiculous position that we’ve let the tech companies put us in. I’m not going to do 18+ On YouTube, full stop. I’m not going to let that happen. But you’re right, I want to be proactive instead of reactive in terms of a YouTube ban.
YouTube just did changed their ad and monetization standards last month, though:
From this month, Google is updating some of its YouTube ad guidelines about drug-related videos. In a support document spotted by Gizmodo, Google says it’s “expanding monetization on educational, documentary or news content that may include violent interactions with law enforcement, recreational drugs and drug-related content, or sensitive events.” The update means more drug-related videos should be eligible to have ads placed next to them.”
I wonder if that means it won’t have to be 18+ anymore? That would be absolutely ideal.
I’m going to look into all options, even paying for hosting myself and putting the videos on my website. Does anyone have any idea how much dedicated video hosting like that would cost per month?
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google for free website building programms. Theyre easy to use, i think you can load videos too.
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