Name: Michael Maheux
Hometown: Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada

Road trip destination: Thetford Mines, Quebec to Bahias de Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico, and back home again.

But in 2006-2007, I roadtripped in Mexico to Sonora to Chiapas to Quintana Roo to the Yucatan...

Date left home: December 11, 2007
Date returned home: June 8, 2008

Vehicle: 1976 VW Bus

Custom work done on the van:
Adding a solar panel, bigger fridge, bigger sound system with a 900w subwoofer

Total distance driven: 15,489 kilometers

Top 3 campsites:

The free beach parking in Ixtapa and that's it...

I was sleeping in gas station for most of the times or next to the beach in small places.

Top 2 travel gadgets/devices:

1) My camera - Nikon D300 = the most important!

2) My two 6 volt batteries and power inverter to have 110v in the van all the time with the solar panel

Preferred guidebook: Mexico Eyewitness Travel Guide. It a lot of destinations with good details.. a lot of maps love with attractions of every city.. clear and easy to read.. very complete! nice photos also that give you a good idea of the place you're going to visit.

Most challenging part of living in a van: The thing I the most is to drive without knowing where I'm going to sleep! And the bad side, though, is no toilets, no showers...

Highlight of trip: The day I drove across huge Mexico City by myself in my 76' bus.I felt a lot more confident and everything seemed to be easier after that.

My favourite city is certainly Guanajuato and the craziest place is probably the ruins of a church near Volcano Paricutin in Michoacan...in the middle of nowhere!!

Best piece(s) of practical advice for someone following in your footsteps: Don't ask yourself to many questions. Just go, drive, and have fun! If you are asking yourself, "Should I do this or not? Do it!"

Michael's website: www.roadtrip-online.com