Oh My Darling Charlie

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Oh My Darling Charlie Jeff and Jahliele left their home in Yellowknife, NT, Canada to embark on an adventure to Central/South America in their 1982 VW Westfalia named Charlie.

Follow the blog at ohmydarlingcharlie.com

Happy Canada Day. Charlie is back in Canada and were heading back to Yellowknife with our new antlers.
03/07/2017

Happy Canada Day. Charlie is back in Canada and were heading back to Yellowknife with our new antlers.

The empanada...the most classic of Chilean snacks. Some will leave you filled, otherwise will leave you disappointed, yo...
09/05/2017

The empanada...the most classic of Chilean snacks. Some will leave you filled, otherwise will leave you disappointed, your first 'pino' empanada will leave you confused (half a boiled egg, meat, and an olive ?), and others will be your favourite meal of Chile.

Another one from the Carretera Austral: Cerro Castillo in all her jagged glory. We did the eight hour day hike to the mi...
23/04/2017

Another one from the Carretera Austral: Cerro Castillo in all her jagged glory. We did the eight hour day hike to the mirador and couldn't believe how much we loved it! Definitely deserves more credit than the one-line-mention in our guide book. Isn't amazing how it's the places that you stumble upon, that you happen to check out, that you think "might as well," that end up taking your breath away?

Throw back to our time on the Carretera Austral. Out of all the amazing hikes we did in Chile and Argentina this one sti...
22/04/2017

Throw back to our time on the Carretera Austral. Out of all the amazing hikes we did in Chile and Argentina this one still remains one of our favs: Cochamo.

2 years, 48 000 km, countless breakdowns, a few meltdowns, unbelievable scenery, life changing people, incredible food.....
27/03/2017

2 years, 48 000 km, countless breakdowns, a few meltdowns, unbelievable scenery, life changing people, incredible food...is this journey really over? We may have made it to the end of the world but Charlie still has some adventure in her! Now it's time to make our way back to Santiago and get this ol gal home!

After having travelled Latin America for almost two years it was about time we learned how to turn fish into one of our ...
23/03/2017

After having travelled Latin America for almost two years it was about time we learned how to turn fish into one of our favourite treats: CEVICHE. Thank you to our friend Pablo for showing Charlie & Co how to make this delicious dish.

As a Canadian who learned how to surf in tropical destinations on this trip, I was not ready for how heavy and how cold ...
19/03/2017

As a Canadian who learned how to surf in tropical destinations on this trip, I was not ready for how heavy and how cold the waves in Chile were going to be. Yet you quickly forget the cold when you get to Puertecillo and the waves are just so beautifully shaped and the endless summer days on the beach are just so quiet.

We drove through Chile's north in record Charlie time. An endless desert for days on end.
19/03/2017

We drove through Chile's north in record Charlie time. An endless desert for days on end.

Where the sky meets the earth.
25/02/2017

Where the sky meets the earth.

An excerpt from Jahliele's journal the morning this photo was taken: 'Today we woke up to the most beautiful scenery. I ...
20/02/2017

An excerpt from Jahliele's journal the morning this photo was taken:
'Today we woke up to the most beautiful scenery. I can see SIX snow capped mountains. We are completely surrounded. Incredible. Today we head to Chile and to the coast...we are ready for the ocean. But I am so happy that this is what I've woken up to on our last day in the mountains. This incredible beauty. This reminder of our smallness, of our insignificance. This feeling of being humbled. Wow. How lucky we are. We had an intense day yesterday and we failed at the route we wanted to take. But we woke up to THIS. So lucky. Remember my girl. Remember how lucky you are to have lived this life. To have the opportunity to wake up in places like THIS. Remember this Remember this Remember this'

From the very moment we set foot in Bolivia it was a real adventure: small rafts to get the car across lake Titicaca, hu...
20/02/2017

From the very moment we set foot in Bolivia it was a real adventure: small rafts to get the car across lake Titicaca, huge potholes, a burnt clutch, an impounded van, big expanses with negotiated gas prices, too hot hot springs...and never ending beauty.

O Machu Picchu, you are spectacular.
10/01/2017

O Machu Picchu, you are spectacular.

I first dreamed of Machu Picchu in grade 11 after doing my final high school project on Francisco Pizarro and his infamo...
09/01/2017

I first dreamed of Machu Picchu in grade 11 after doing my final high school project on Francisco Pizarro and his infamous conquest of the Incas. 12 years later I finally made it to this incredible sight. I must admit, I was a bit apprehensive at visiting probably the most visited ruins in the world. But the journey to get there, the natural setting and the ruins themselves were absolutely captivating. Our arrival to Machu Picchu was definitely a milestone in the Oh My Darling Charlie adventure.

Peru truly is the land of trekking. We completed the four day, 67 km, magnificent trek to the Inca site of Choquequirao ...
04/01/2017

Peru truly is the land of trekking. We completed the four day, 67 km, magnificent trek to the Inca site of Choquequirao (also known as Machu Picchu's little sister). The hike was a long haul from one mountain side to another. It was a difficult but truly rewarding hike. Condors and practically empty ruins were our prize.

New friends on the road! The Peruvian highlands have been a treat with their colourful people and funky animals. Herds o...
01/01/2017

New friends on the road! The Peruvian highlands have been a treat with their colourful people and funky animals. Herds of alpaca graze the 4000m highlands and we just keep stopping to take pictures.

When you own a 2WD westy there aren't many opportunities to drive offroad so when you arrive to Paracas National Park yo...
26/12/2016

When you own a 2WD westy there aren't many opportunities to drive offroad so when you arrive to Paracas National Park you get to have the time of your life. The hard packed desert of this Peruvian lunar-like landscape allowed for Charlie to drive wherever her heart desired. Coupled with time spent with , these were some truly magical days and nights.

Wow Laguna Paron, you are priceless.
30/11/2016

Wow Laguna Paron, you are priceless.

The more time we spend in nature the more our respect grows. This journey has deepen our appreciation of Mother Earth.Ou...
22/11/2016

The more time we spend in nature the more our respect grows. This journey has deepen our appreciation of Mother Earth.

Our time in the mountains of the province of Ancash, Peru was a whirlwind of beautiful scenery, new friends and glaciers.

We spent four days hiking the incredible Cordillera Huayhuash and marveling at its numerous glacial peaks with and Leonie.

Our camp by the shores of Laguna Jahuacocha.

On our way to the Cordillera Huayhuash we pushed our Charlie to new levels. Over a 14 000ft mountain pass she travelled ...
21/11/2016

On our way to the Cordillera Huayhuash we pushed our Charlie to new levels. Over a 14 000ft mountain pass she travelled to take us to some of the most beautiful natural settings of the trip.

We all struggled with the elevation (Charlie included) but it was easily dealt with as we looked out on the surrounding glacial peaks.

We already miss the tranquility of these mountains as we are now dealing with the chaos and disorder that is driving in Lima.

A proud owner caught taking a picture of his van.
Photocredit: Leonie and

"The ocean is a great equalizer. If you have high energy it will calm you down. If you have low energy it will lift you ...
25/10/2016

"The ocean is a great equalizer. If you have high energy it will calm you down. If you have low energy it will lift you up." This wisdom was passed to us at the beginning of our trip by our friend . After hectic days in the chaos and madness that is Northern Peru, it was euphoric and calming to ride these beautiful waves.

For two weeks we got lost in the surf vortex that is Lobitos. From living on the beach with to hanging out with surf bums at Los Muelles Surf Camp, we couldn't have felt more at home.

Photo credit: Omar

Sun, surf and beach. We never seen to get enough of this winning combination.
17/10/2016

Sun, surf and beach. We never seen to get enough of this winning combination.

Our little VW family in Santa Marianiata, Ecuador. Our journey took us to Santa Marianita for the kite surfing and someh...
08/10/2016

Our little VW family in Santa Marianiata, Ecuador.
Our journey took us to Santa Marianita for the kite surfing and somehow we ended up staying for over two weeks. Johnny welcomed us, along with several other overland travellers, into his beautiful space . We dined, we worked, we laughed, and we lived as a family with these different travellers all on their different journeys.

Despite having a one week old nose fracture I couldn't say no to going surfing with these beautiful people on my 29th bi...
04/10/2016

Despite having a one week old nose fracture I couldn't say no to going surfing with these beautiful people on my 29th birthday, on September 29. Julie and Alex helped me celebrate on Monday as well as Thursday. What has made traveling with Julie and Alex, on and off for the last two months, so amazing is that they go at the same (slow pace) as us. And eventhough they were supposed to move ahead on Tuesday (hence the first birthday with Julie's signature fondant cake) they stayed until my actual birthday. Cheers guys.

Impressive Volcano Cotopaxi sitting at 5897m. We drove through the National Park after waking up to Cotopaxi's snowy pea...
18/09/2016

Impressive Volcano Cotopaxi sitting at 5897m. We drove through the National Park after waking up to Cotopaxi's snowy peak after a cold night at close to 4000m. Charlie did not like the elevation but she managed as she drove through the beautiful scenery of the Ecuadorian paramo.

Welcome to Ecuador Charlie. --------------------------------3 1/2 months after enjoying Colombia beyond our wildest exp...
01/09/2016

Welcome to Ecuador Charlie.
--------------------------------
3 1/2 months after enjoying Colombia beyond our wildest expectations it was time to say 'hasta pronto Colombia', until next time Colombia. A country rich in kindness, landscapes, adventure and fruit juices. You will always hold a place in our hearts.
--------------------------------
Charlie&Co entering country #11 of the trip!

As we travelled south we made our way to Colombia's corner of the Amazon, the Putumayo department. The humid rainforest ...
17/08/2016

As we travelled south we made our way to Colombia's corner of the Amazon, the Putumayo department. The humid rainforest surrounded us everywhere we turned. The vistas, the waterfalls, and the sounds of nature kept us wanting more.
The drive out of the jungle was a feat of it's own. The aptly named 'Trampolin de la Muerte' or Trampoline of Death had us navigating switchback upon switchback from elevations of 2000ft up to 10000ft up and down all day for the 80km that took 5 hours. For the majority of its length the road is only wide enough for one lane of traffic. As a result, we found ourselves backing up to let semis pass with 400ft cliffs on one side and a mountain face on the other.

Kevin...a beautiful soul brother with whom we immediately connected. Our time was a short one but we'll never forget you...
11/08/2016

Kevin...a beautiful soul brother with whom we immediately connected. Our time was a short one but we'll never forget your energy nor your smile.

He also was our first sale of the various knitted goods Jahliele has been working on since the start of the trip (what does your partner do during the driving days?)

Message us if you're interested in obtaining your very own Oh My Darling Charlie van-made hat/gloves/leg warmers/fingerless gloves etc. Can be shipped anywhere from wherever we are in South America.

Thank you for our first sale.

Bouldering away in a pineapple field. We often rely on locals to show us the beauty of a country and we are never let do...
23/07/2016

Bouldering away in a pineapple field.

We often rely on locals to show us the beauty of a country and we are never let down.

Our couchsurfing host in Baranquilla, , put us in contract with his climbing friend in Bucaramanga, Camilo. Camilo and his friends made sure we had an eventful day climbing in the Colombian countryside.

Crescent moon over the mighty Chicamocha Canyon. Everytime we think we have already encountered the most beautiful view...
21/07/2016

Crescent moon over the mighty Chicamocha Canyon.

Everytime we think we have already encountered the most beautiful views on our journey we are quickly humbled as we come accross an even more spectacular view.

El Refugio de La Roca was our home for a few days as Jahliele taught Yoga and we enjoyed some epic rock climbing. Here lives one of Colombia's premiere climbing spots.

It's always fun when we come across a spot our northern friends have visited . Refugio de La Roca is one spot with some ...
17/07/2016

It's always fun when we come across a spot our northern friends have visited .

Refugio de La Roca is one spot with some good vibes.

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Unbelizable! We made it to Belize and we were taken to this sweet swimming spot by our Couchsurfing host near San Ignacio. Finally found a rope swing; it's been a summer quest of ours and I'm so thrilled we finally found one.

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