Trip Statistics

During our trip we definitely had time for some whimsical hobbies – Dave took up decorative knotting and part of Megan's time was spent collecting a wide variety of statistics about our trip, a fun way for us to try and paint a picture of what went on for us this past year. Hopefully they will be somewhat entertaining for our readers, for us they will serve as a great reminder of our trip in years to come!

Total Length of Trip: 10 months, 2 weeks

Time Spent in South America: 3 months

Time Spent Traveling in Moby the Minivan: 7 months, 2 weeks

Moby’s Square Footage (approx): 35 square feet


Frosty windows in Arizona

Total Number of Destinations: 85 stops in 5 countries (Peru, Argentina, Chile, US and Canada - more if you count Texas as a separate country)

Total Miles/Km Driven: 15,941 miles or 25,654km
- This is 1.7 times the average for a vancouver-based car, but about average for a commuter in Langley

Total Miles/Km Hiked: 353.8 miles or 566 km

Number of Official Parks Visited: 30

Amount of Time Spent in Official Parks: 147 days Of the approx 224 days we spent traveling in North America, 142 days, or 64% were spent in some kind of a Park. We spent the longest time at Joshua Tree National Park in California, at 26 days total.

Number of Climbing Areas Visited: 12 (76 days climbing)

Kites made: 2

Kites that flew: 1


Jon & Jen kite-testing

Highest Speed Limit Seen: Texas, 85 miles/hour (137km/hour)

Most Expensive Campsite: Hornby Island, $32 a night

Cheapest Motel Room: Somewhere, New Mexico, $41 a night (we saw cheaper advertised, but they looked scary)

Total Nights Sleeping in Our Tent: 112

Total Nights Sleeping in Our Van: 59

Total Nights with a Peruvian Family Homestay: 17

Total Nights in US Motels: 9

Total Nights in South American Guesthouses: 36

Total Nights Couchsurfing with Family and Friends: 64

Total Nights Sleeping in Airports: 2

Highest Route Climbed: 2000 feet (609 metres), Solar Slab, Red Rocks

Longest Hiking Day: 19 miles (30.5 km), North Carolina

Highest Scrabble Score: 656 (combined)

Hours Spent Listening to Harry Potter Series on Ipod: 182 hours, 21 minutes (equivalent of 5 full days)

Types of Wildlife Viewed: (Since we are not able to identify most birds, this list does not include the many, many types of birds I’m sure we encountered!)

South America: Guanacos, Llamas, Alpaca, Andean Condors, Capuchin Monkeys, Coatis, Elephant Seals, Southern Right Whales, Dolphins, PENGUINS!, Caymans, Millions (it seemed) of Butterflies

USA: Coyotes, Alligators, Armadillos, Nutria, Deer, Raccoons, Turtles, Owls, many fat Squirrels and Chipmunks being fed by people in National Parks.., River Otters, Fresh water lobster, Frogs, Snakes (several very multi-coloured constrictors in Yosemite), Elk

Canada: Rattlesnake, Harbour Seals, Eagles, Harbour Porpoises, Mink, Black Bear and Cub, Sea Otters, Grey Whales, Pine Marten, Sea Lions