From me...

One thing is for sure. You will not be staying in hotels. The villages you will be going to are VERY primative, some had no electricity, much less a hotel. You will be bunking in your truck or a tent.

Gas was several tanks down, plus a spare jerry can in case you run out in the mountains. Food wise, I survived on a few granola bars, a few small bags of chips, and gatorade for the entire weekend. Unless you want to use the 'outhouses' they have in the villages, I would suggest low-yield foods.

I would seriously suggest at least $200 in mixed US/pesos - the tollway fee was killer, plus the fee to get a 'visa' for your truck to Mehico, plus a good, WARM sleeping bag, and a good high altitude parka: wind proof and warm. Don't forget your passport, a cooler of food - there are no stores in them thar mountains -, WATER and anything you need to live with no resupply for 2-3 days.

Coordinate with whoever elese goes so you do not double up on things like stoves to cook on and what not. Most of all, after you remember to load all of your things, keep room for household goods (clothes, blankets, pots, pans, toys, but not D.O. or toothpaste - seriously) as that is your primary reason for going in the first place.

Oh, if you have room, and it is not expensive, a treasured item is aluminum siding, or whatever it is you build redneck sheds out of. The men will 'kill' (<-- use that term loosly) for it. It is far superior to anything they use to build house walls.

s

Responding to PMs...

On one hand, you don't HAVE to take anything. On the other hand, it is a donation trip, so what is the point if you do not? The guys in Mexico you go with will have, literally, their trunks/beds FULL plus racks on the top, front and back of their trucks full too. Roger had his trunk FULL, and put his personal stuff in the spaces between and on top of his rig.

But, no one will rag on you if you do not fill up, just make sure you have something ya know?

What do they want? Remember this is a poverty stricken, and remote area, you are going to, so board games are out. Stuffed animals, balls -soccer, bouncy -, blankets, coats and old clothes for men, women and down to babies are the main things. D.O. and toothpaste are not needed, seriously, because they do not use em. Old shoes are good too.

The trip was a moving experience for me. Take it all in, it can be deep reflecting on what you see.

s

First, the trip is worth it, definatley.

Second, trailer... Tough call. You would have no way to secure the stuff on it for when you are driving through the big towns like Monterey and what not; for gas and all. The main thing would be getting it across the border without incident, and then can it stand driving at 70 for 12 hours, then handle being on somewhat rough dirt roads for up to 8 hours at a stretch? Your call on that one.

Did you happen to talk to Abiel at Barnwell about this trip? He is the one who sponsors the trip, and put it all together...

s