Date:         Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:25:52 -0400
Reply-To:     Karl Mullendore <tdiguru@WESTYVENTURES.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karl Mullendore <tdiguru@WESTYVENTURES.COM>
Subject:      Re: Kickstarter to drive a Westy across China

I had a problem with the order of things, since I've been reading their trip
from the beginning. The writing started out fairly basic, and yes, has
improved somewhat. The Americas part of the trip was discouraging to me with
some of the attitude towards laws and people of other countries came through
in their written word. In some countries, it seems the idea was to go
through as fast as possible because in their view there was 'nothing to see
here too exciting'. Ecuador, being one example, a country dear to my own
heart from experience traveling there.
As they neared the 'end' of the Americas the plan was to ship to Europe.
Then suddenly SE Asia. Then, oh, let's do China! The depth of their writing
is short paragraphs about their adventures, not much more to it imo. Maybe
it will improve. But I don't see a book needing 'crowd funding' - do the
trip, THEN write the book. It takes very little money to self-publish these
days. If you don't have the money at 30 years old, then go back to work for
a couple years and pay for the trip like almost every other world traveler
does. There is a 'donate' button on their website. Maybe I should put one on
my website - or start my own 'kickstarter' - I need a new, larger shop and a
home, who wants to help me move west by donating to my 'cause'? After all, I
am 'living in a van, down by the shop'...I 'promise' I will write a book or
tell you interesting Vanagon stories...
Karl