TV

At some point this afternoon, quite suddenly, it sunk in that I am actually going to jump into a truck and drive to Central America to shoot a TV program for the next eight weeks. It was an exquisite feeling of exhilaration spiced with panic. Up to that moment it wasn’t real . But as I sat in the Mexican Consulate with the shows host Keith Neubert, trying to figure out if; A, We didn’t know what we were talking about, B, They didn’t know what they were talking about, C. They didn’t know what we were talking about, D. We did know what they were talking about or all of the above, it struck me, “I’m going on this trip.”.

The show, “American Xplorer” is Keith’s new show. I had done a paragliding episode with him a few years ago when it was “Colorado Explorer”. (See, http://www.youtube.com/flywaybill) Since then He has joined the HD Satellite Network and gone national. It’s an Adventure based show. The part I’m doing is “EarthRoamer Chronicles”.

The Earthroamer is... well here’s the link. They say it better than I can. (Oh, it’s the XV.JP by the way.)
http://www.earthroamer.com/tab_xpedition_vehicles/vehicles.html

Keith, camera Man, Don and myself are getting in this very cool vehicle and then traveling around Central America. We’ll shoot 13 episodes. The show works like this Keith gets various sponsors involved with the show and they become it’s subject matter. For instance, instead of an Earthroamer commercial, the show features us driving around in one. You get to see for yourself how cool it would be to have one. Besides Earthroamer there will be Resorts, attractions, even the Mexican Tourism board sponsoring us.

Here’s the schedule,


Leave CO: March14pm

Arrive: Brownsville TX March 15 pm. Hotel / sleep. Be first in line @ Mexican border (with letters from Mexico Tourism/Consulate Gen) March 16th am. Film our border crossing.

Travel through Mexico to Guatemalan Border (I-80 Toll road) 3 days drive

Arrive: Guatemalan Border March 19.
Cross Border into Guatemala

Arrive Hotel Lake Atitlan and prep Antigua (rest day): Lake Atitlan: March 19/20.

Shoot / Coverage Antigua’s Processions Ceremony. March 21-22

Lake Atitlan: March 23-25

Volcano Trek March 26

Drive to Tikal: Coffee Plantation – March 27/28
Stop in Guatemala City: Film Permit for Tikal / Review B-Roll Aerial

Tikal: March 29/30

Drive to Belize: March 30 pm. Arrive Hotel in (San.Ingnacio)
Medicinal Plants, Rafting, Show close x 7, Wildlife / B-roll of area: March 31
Dr. Awe archaeology research / caves: April 2,3,4

Belize Zoo (discuss Belize wildlife conservation programs) and B-Roll wildlife: April 5

Leave Vehicle someplace safe (Tamara’s contact) while we’re in AC.

Fly to Ambergris Cay pm on Tropic Air (need to book this DINO): April 5

Cover Ambergris Cay/ Aerial footage of Blue Hole and Coast/ Set up Dives/ meet with Marty (check his b-roll library): April 6-7

Blue Hole Dive: April 8
Ship Wreck Dive: April 9

Fly back to Belize early am, pick up ER and Drive to Honduras La Ceiba: April10
Ferry to Utila Island pm (Leave vehicle safe on Honduras): April 10 pm

Whale Shark Research Program (interviews and dives): April 11-13 (Marty continue to film whale shark b-roll through April 16)

Ferry back to Honduras and drive to Nicaragua’s Ometepe Island (get Marty back to Ambergris Cay): April 14

Ometepe Island and explore Lake / Granada or Leon Nicaragua: April15/16.

Drive to Costa Rica: April 16.

Costa Rica: April 17- 24 (8 days)

Hot Air Balloon in Costa Rica (early am) then Drive to Panama: April 24

Panama: April 25 – May 2 (8 days)

Drive back through CA to Mexico via TA Highway: May 3/4

Mexico: May 5-14. (10 days)

Home: May 16.

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