Camper Travel 1974-1975

On a 13-month journey from North America through Central & South America, back to our starting point in NYC. Our means of transportation was a model 1972 VW Westfalia camper with a 1700cc engine and pop-up top. Total miles 37,492. Read more

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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 362 - San Matias Valdivia
April 27, 1975 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 75 °F
April 27th
(Ursula) The early morning was refreshing. Shortly after 6 AM, the first sun rays appeared, and a horse was grazing near our campers. We planned to be on the road early today, but the men still had their heads stuck under the engine hood, working on our carburetor. We finally left after lunch.

We had no desire to stay in Medellin, although it was probably a lovely city. We only saw a mix of new and older buildings and many slums on the outskirts. But the location in this high valley was picturesque, with the mountains in the background.

We didn't expect the road to again lead us over so many mountains today. Ellen was getting impatient to find a place to camp for the night, and we found a friendly Hacienda after San Matias Valdivia.

Stats: Miles 128, Expenses $2.25Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 363 - Cartagena
April 28, 1975 in Colombia
(Ursula) We have arrived in the coastal town of Cartagena, our final destination in Colombia. Here is where we plan to find a vessel for the US, preferably Miami.

We were warned about Cartagena. It was considered a dangerous port city, and we were extremely cautious and couldn't find a school or any place to stay we deemed safe.

After driving around and exploring the area, we found a spot on Bocagrande Beach where other campers were already stationed. Heinz got stuck in the sand. A bunch of bystanders helped to push and shove us to solid ground.

Ellen hasn't spoken to us all day. I have no idea what's going on with her.

Stats: Miles 312, Expenses $2.00Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 265 - Cartagena
April 30, 1975 in Colombia
(Ursula) Today marks the 1-Year anniversary of our journey!

Heinz and Gregor spend the entire day looking for a ship destined for Miami. They found one, but it only accommodated one camper and two passengers. It might be an option if nothing else is available.

Ellen still wasn't speaking to me. She behaved so oddly and stupidly that I just had to laugh. I couldn't even be angry about it. What was going on with this woman?

In the afternoon, I met Doris, a young Swiss woman, while walking on the beach. I went with her to the hotel she was staying at, and we chatted all afternoon. She arrived yesterday and plans to vacation here for a few weeks.

In the evening, I invited Doris for dinner at our camper and served a fresh fruit salad for dessert. Doris couldn't believe how delicious ripe tropical fruits tasted!

Stats: Miles 4, Expenses $7.85Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 366 - Cartagena
May 2, 1975 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F
May 1
(Ursula) Yesterday, Heinz and Gregor kept searching for a boat. Meanwhile, I went sightseeing with Doris.

I loved Cartagena's fortified city walls and the Colonial-style buildings of the old town. Unfortunately, most of the shops were closed, and we couldn't do any shopping.

At noon, we went to her hotel for lunch. Then we strolled along Bocagrande Beach and had an excellent ice cream. In the evening, Doris and Jean-Marie invited me to dinner for my 26th birthday. We had such a lovely time and chatted for a long time.

May 2
(Ursula) Today was an exciting day! By pure luck, Heinz & Gregor met the captain of the vessel "Caribe Freeze" while drinking beer at a bar, who agreed to take the 4 of us and the campers to Miami. The trip would be free of charge under the stipulation that Gregor works as an assistant to the ship Engineer and Heinz as the assistant to the onboard Electrician.

They agreed to this fantastic deal!!! However, the vessel was set to leave the next day at 1:00 PM.

This didn't leave us much time to prepare, but we made it happen.

Heinz managed to do the necessary paperwork at the port authority without hiring an agent.

There was one last hurdle when he went to the accounting office with all the papers, stamps, and signatures for final approval. The clerk insisted that the (officially displayed) fee of $350 would be $450 because it was a Saturday.

Heinz took a chance and slipped him a $10 bill under the table. Case closed!

Ultimately, we had spent several days in this supposedly dangerous port city and never felt unsafe or in danger at any moment.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 367 - Leaving Cartagena
May 3, 1975, Caribbean Sea
(Ursula) Everything went like clockwork. The two campers were hoisted and secured on the deck with safety chains at both axles.

Then we moved into our assigned cabins. Since this was a cargo ship, I didn't have high expectations. But I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort. Our room was on the main deck with two porthole windows. It even had a small table with two chairs and an en-suite bathroom with a shower.

Captain Victor Rodriguez introduced us to the entire crew. Then lunch was served in the canteen.

Carib Freeze set sail just after 3:00 PM.

As we were leaving the port of Cartagena, I became a little saddened that we were leaving South America. The visit to this continent, including a few challenging moments, was an extremely positive and enriching experience. The route through the Amazon was risky, but what we saw and experienced during this segment of the journey was terrific.

The only parts of South America we couldn't visit were Uruguay and Patagonia. Perhaps we can visit those at a future time in our lives.

⚓️Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 368 - Sailing to Honduras
May 5, 1975, Caribbean Sea
(Ursula) Despite taking Dramamine tablets, Heinz was quickly overcome by seasickness. He stayed in bed all day yesterday. Today, the waves weren’t as bad. He felt a little better and was able to swallow a meal and keep it down.

We were well catered for on board. Meals were served in two shifts. The first was for the captain, the officers, and the four of us. The second shift was for the rest of the crew. The leftovers were for the cook. Judging from his big round belly, there must have been plenty!

I took a tour of the main deck and got to chat with the captain in the wheelhouse. He pointed to the small upper deck and suggested it was great for sunbathing. So, Ellen and I spent most of the day up there in our Bikinis and had a beautiful sea view. The captain came to visit from time to time to make sure we were doing OK!

We spotted a few dolphins and schools of flying fish this afternoon.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 370 - Puerto Cortez
May 6, 1975 in Honduras
Our ship was headed for Honduras. We docked in Puerto Cortez to take on additional cargo. Harbor officials came on board to check the papers and instruments.

Our vessel mainly transported frozen goods (orange juice, fish, and shrimp). The officials checked all temperature gauges of the hull's cooling chambers. It didn't take long before we saw them leave with a bottle of Rum and a carton of cigarettes under their arms. The captain's generosity was, of course, calculated. A thorough check may have taken longer, and docking fees were not cheap!

The ceramic toilets we were supposed to pick up arrived only after dinner, and the crew was busy loading them on deck all night. We hit the sack early, but sleep was impossible with the constant noise in the harbor.

Besides that, it was hot and humid without the slightest breeze. I had the feeling of claustrophobia and suffocation.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 371 - At High Seas
May 8, 1975, Caribbean Sea
(Ursula) Around 5:00 AM, a little wind blew fresh air into our cabin, and we were grateful to get two hours of sleep. The crew appeared late for breakfast with tired faces as they had worked hard all night.

Soon after, we had to undock and make room for another vessel. The captain dropped anchor in the harbor and waited for high tide. We finally left Puerto Cortez shortly before dinner.

As soon as we were at sea, strong wind gusts made our ship dance on the water like an empty nutshell.

The wind strength increased to storm force during the night. Everything that wasn’t nailed down flew around in our cabin. We even had to brace ourselves in bed. Seawater spewed through the open porthole.

We only slept a little towards daybreak after the storm calmed down a little.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 372 - Rough Sea Continues
May 8, 1975, Caribbean Sea
(Ursula) The sea continued to be rough all day.

We were afraid to move around and stayed in bed most of the day, trying to rest.

By evening, the conditions had somewhat improved, and the cook sounded the bell to announce that dinner was being served.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 373 - In Cuban Waters
May 9, 1975, Gulf of Mexico
(Ursula) Last night was a little more pleasant, and the sea was calmer this morning.

The captain announced that we were about to pass Cuba on our left, and commercial ships were required to keep a 25-mile distance from shore.

Heinz asked the captain what his assignment was as the onboard assistant electrician. The captain grinned and replied he shouldn't be concerned; it was only a formality for the ship papers to be officially correct.

Ellen and I were sunbathing on the upper deck when the ship's engine abruptly stopped, and the electricity went out. The sudden absolute calm in the middle of the sea was nice, but I was curious to find out what was happening. A lot of scenarios swirled through my head.

Gregor came up from the engine room and announced they discovered a leak in the hull. They had to turn all power off as a precaution. That wasn't exactly encouraging news!

The crew worked feverishly to stop the leak and get the engine going again. As I peeked down the staircase into the engine room, a wave of hot air and the smell of oil and diesel hit my face. I estimated the crew was losing much sweat down there doing what they were doing.

After a few hours, the engine started up again. We were saved - the adventure continued!

Captain Rodriguez was born in Cuba and lives in Miami. He said the Caribe Freeze was an older vessel, purchased initially from the Israelis in 1960 and converted for transporting frozen goods.

None of the ship's navigational devices worked during the power outage, and the captain needed to determine how much we had drifted off course. I spotted him outside the wheelhouse, aiming a Sextant at the sky to determine our position.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 375 - Approaching Tampa
May 10, 1975, Gulf of Mexico
(Ursula) We should have been near Tampa, but the captain wasn't sure of our exact position.

He carefully navigates through the thick fog at a snail's pace.

Later, he was in communication by radio with a pilot who guided the vessel closer. It took a long time until we finally entered the port and docked.

US immigration officials came on board. They looked at our passports and the Green Cards but weren't convinced we were legitimate. They want to pick us up on Monday morning to take us to the downtown immigration office for verification.

What a lovely welcome home to the US! We weren't thrilled about this but understood the caution.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 376 - Tampa
May 11, 1975 in the United States
(Ursula) Today is Sunday and Mother's Day. It is dull and hot here on board the Carib Freeze.

We all went ashore after lunch and walked to a McDonald's, where we enjoyed an excellent ice-cold milkshake.

Then we took a stroll on the grounds of the University of Tampa before returning to the ship.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 377 - Tampa
May 12, 1975 in the United States
(Ursula) US officials drove us to the Immigration Office, where our documents were scrutinized, and everything was fine. The “Welcome Back” was music to our ears!

We found a phone booth on the way back and called our friends Beni & Elisabeth in Queens, NY. They were very excited to hear from us and looking forward to having us back soon.

Beni wants to talk to our Landlady, Ms. Semko, and hopefully have an apartment ready for us to move into when we arrive. What an excellent service! He confirmed that the Swiss Watch Industry was having a very rough time.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 377 - Key West
May 14, 1975, North Atlantic Ocean
Our ship left Tampa quietly during the night. We were sailing on the high sea again when we woke up.

Around noon we cruised past Key West. We could even see the lighthouse in the far distance.

We were headed for Miami now and could observe other big vessels sailing the same course. The sea was calm and flat as a mirror. Otherwise, there isn’t much to write about.

Dinner was the usual soup, followed by fish, rice, and refried beans. The waiter seemed a little grumpy to me. Maybe he wasn’t too happy to return home.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 378 - Miami
May 14, 1975 in the United States
It is now 6:00 in the morning. Our ship has been waiting for high tide outside the port of Miami for a while already. The crew emptied the ballast tanks to lift the body out of the water. The captain told me this would shorten our wait time by 2 hours.

Around noon we were authorized to proceed. The ship followed a long water channel through the downtown area, passing under several draw bridges until we reached the docking site of the Trans Caribbean Line. The other two ships, the Mar Freeze and Ultra Freeze, were already docked there.

Our campers were unloaded and smiled with solid ground under the wheels again! The engine started beautifully, but the wheels were stuck and wouldn’t move. It turns out that the rear brake drums were rusted entirely and stuck to the brake pads from the salt water. I had to remove the wheels and gently hit the drums with a hammer to loosen the pads.

We spent one more night in our ship cabins. There was no breeze, and it was relentlessly hot and humid.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 379 - Miami
May 15, 1975 in the United States
Today we said goodbye to the crew and gifted the captain a nice bottle of rum.

Then we completed the necessary documents at customs and were free to roam about the country, and we obtained liability insurance before starting to drive.

The Dutch ship’s engineer, Mr. Nelleke, kindly invited us to his home. We could camp in the front yard under a huge mango tree.

Mr. and Mrs. Nelleke also spoke German. In the evening, we had dinner with them and talked for hours and hours about our travel adventure.Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 280 - Key Biscayne
May 16, 1975 in the United States
Gregor and Ellen are still at the port dealing with immigration. It could take a while.

Meanwhile, we visit the Sea Aquarium on Key Biscayne. We arrived at the perfect time for the dolphin show. They seem pretty intelligent creatures and are great acrobats, jumping out of the water and doing double flips. Of course, they love to be rewarded with fish afterward.

After the show, we drove to the very end of Key Biscayne and enjoyed a lunch sandwich in the State Park by the sea. It looked so beautiful there with the turquoise-blue, transparent water. We briefly met a German family living in Massachusetts. They gave us their address and said we should come to visit sometime.

In the evening, we went to Miami Beach. The strip along the beach is extensive and straight. Hotel after hotel as far as the eye could see. We had never seen so many in one place before. We had a little “SwissTreat” ice cream at Howard Johnson, but it wasn’t as good as it looked on the menu, and the whipped cream wasn’t the real thing, either.

We spend another night by the mango tree in Nelleke’s yard.

Miles 22, Expenses $15.50Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 381 - Fort Pierce
May 17, 1975 in the United States
In the morning, Arthur invited me to play a game of chess. He was even better than Gregor. It lasted less than 5 minutes!

Before leaving, the Nelleke’s gave us a large cardboard box full of delicious mangoes from their tree. What a delicious gift!

Then we said our goodbyes and drove back to the port to check on Gregor & Ellen.

They had obtained US visitor visas and were ready to leave. They planned to continue their journey up the West Coast to Alaska and promised to visit us in New York afterward on their way back through Canada.

We said our goodbyes to them with a heavy heart. We traveled together since Ecuador for the last 68 days.

Around noon, we left Miami and drove on Highway #1 North along the coast. The whole stretch was like one very long town with shops, gas stations, and hotels—one red light after the other.

We camped under a bridge in Fort Pierce in the evening and prayed the police would leave us alone. Annoying mosquitoes swarmed us as soon as it was getting dark.

Miles 179, Expenses $9.75Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 382 - Kissimmee
May 18, 1975 in the United States
We slept well and woke to a bright day with a blue sky. No more mosquitoes this morning!

A vendor on the beach sold fresh oysters. This sounds wild, but we bought a dozen and had them for breakfast!

Our destination for today is Disney World. We continued on Highway #1 up the coast until Melbourne, then turned left onto #192.

I stopped at the Hale Groves citrus fruit market and bought a large bag of oranges, grapefruits, and a jar of orange blossom honey. The visit included freshly squeezed orange juice for 10 cents - all you can drink. It was so sweet and tasty. Florida is indeed the Sunshine State!

Before we continued, I had to deal with yet another flat tire. Later, we found a Holiday Inn with an adjacent Motorhome-Park near Disney for $4.50 daily. What a deal! It had a pool, showers, and toilets.

Ursula made Spaghetti with tomato sauce for dinner. A group of ducks approached our camper and ate bread from our hands. We enjoyed a refreshing dip in the pool before going to sleep. Dreaming about Disney tomorrow...

Miles 132, Expenses $19.43Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 383 - Magic Kingdom
May 19, 1975 in the United States
(Ursula) On the way to Mickey Mouse and the Magic Kingdom, we could tune into a radio station that provided instructions on where to park. Genius!

From there, we were transported by a quiet electric train to the main entrance, where we purchased admission and eight tickets for pleasure rides. Then we were transported into the fairytale world by an elegant monorail.

We were suddenly in a completely different world—pretty streets with colonial-style buildings. In the many shops, the staff was dressed according to the theme. There are many small shows to see, like Peter Pan, Mickey Mouse, Tiki Birds, etc.

Everything was well done, and the performances were fully automatic.

In Future-Land, a thrilling ride blasted us in the dark on a journey through space. That was amazing - I only breathed once and prayed the rails were fastened properly!

I had imagined the Disney characters walking among the visitors, but that wasn’t the case. The souvenir shops and restaurants were thriving like wild.

After walking more than usual, our feet felt tired. But we thoroughly enjoyed the Disney experience and relaxed contentedly by the pool at the Holiday Inn.

Miles 25, Expenses $223.50Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 385 - Hard Labor Creek State Park
May 22, 1975 in the United States
(Ursula) We drove North on Highway #95 via Jacksonville to Brunswick. Then branched off to Jekyll Island and spent the night on the Ocean beach. The roads in the US are so smooth and easy - it’s an absolute pleasure! Miles 259, Expenses $14.70

May 21st
Before leaving Jekyll Island, our spare tire was fixed at Phillips66.

Then our journey continued north-west via McRae, Dublin, and Milledgeville to Madison, where we found a nice place to stay in Hard Labor Creek State Park. According to the park map, there should have been a small lake, but it had probably dried up.

The hamburgers on the charcoal grill tasted particularly good! And fortunately, there were no mosquitoes that bothered us.

Miles 265, Expenses $24.85Read more
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Day 386 - Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway
May 22, 1975 in the United States
The journey continued North in the direction of New York.

We wanted to visit the Great Smokey Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway.

Driving was enjoyable. Signs are posted for directions, rest areas, restaurants, gas stations, and hotels. The streets have name signs! There is no need to watch for cows, horses, or donkeys on the road. Highways are beautifully paved and smooth with a center or multiple lines. I could fully relax and drive without worrying about trenches or deep potholes.

In Central and South America, this was generally not the case.

Contrast much appreciated!

Miles 175, Expenses $3.95Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 390 - Charlottesville
May 26, 1975 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 97 °F
May 23rd - 26th
The Great Smokey Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway were as attractive and scenic as the Rand McNally Guide described. This is a beautiful part of our country that everyone should see.

After that, we stayed on highways #81 and #78 until we were in New Jersey and approached the state of New York.

Miles 569, Expenses $87.60Read more
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Camper Travel 1974-1975 Traveler
Day 396 - New York, NY
June 4, 1975 in the United States
May 27th - 31st
Today we saw the beautiful skyline of New York City again after two years. I will never forget this particular moment. The World Trade Center twin towers had been completed during our absence and looked stunning. A sign of strength! What a great feeling to be back in New York! Tears were in our eyes.

It was a fantastic journey, distance-wise, about 1.5 times around the world. Also excellent was that living in New York City for two years would have cost us more than the trip. We were proud to have completed this extraordinary journey and naturally disappointed that we didn't make it to New Zealand. Miles 560, Expenses $75.24

June 4th
It felt good to be back with all our friends at the old address in Queens.

The two crates with our personal belongings destined for New Zealand were still in the landlord's basement, who managed to have a 1-BR apartment ready for us. What a welcome! We were so thankful.

After settling in, it was time to look for new jobs. Ursula and I both made an appointment with our previous employers. We only intended it to be a short visit to say hello. However, both employers immediately wanted to hire us back and made us offers we couldn't refuse.

This was totally unexpected, and we accepted. We were very so lucky. Everything was still the same-it almost felt like we never left New York!Read more
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Trip end
May 31, 1975