Adventure Routes
22 June 2001 - Punaauia
Crossing the dateline allowed us to celebrate today twice. Read More
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5 Jan 2002 - New York
We made it! This is day 1101 of our three-year journey and we have reached home. Read More
28 Dec 2001 - Atlanta
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page Read More
27 Dec 2001 - Tuscaloosa
Rogers Family Cemetery in Letahatchee Read More
27 Dec 2001 - Tuscaloosa
Mrs. Wood was right at home in our car! Read More
19 Dec 2001 - Norman
We enjoyed dinner with John Ernest Wagner, who turned 75 today. Read More
18 Nov 2001 - Salt Lake City
On our walk to dinner, we spotted a horse and carriage and asked the driver directions to our restaurant.
26 Nov 2001 - Whitehorse
Alaskan king crab Read More
22 Nov 2001 - Whitecourt
Miraculously, I found a turkey dinner in a small town in northern Alberta. Read More
21 Nov 2001 - Calgary
Public art in downtown Calgary Read More
28 June 2001 - Papeete
Traditional outriggers raced one another in the first of a two-day event, which began this morning at 8 a.m. in Papeete Harbor. Hundreds participated. Read More
22 July 2001 - Cerro Sombrero
Back into Chile – perhaps for our last night on this trip. Read More
12 July 2001 - Puyehue
Puyehue, Chile Read More
12 July 2001 - Puyehue
Puerto Montt is known as the end of civilization since only 80,000 Chileans live further south and few good roads proceed south from here. Read More
9 July 2001 - Santiago
The happiest street vendor I've encountered, Paulo, waits for his next customer. Read More
22 August 2001 - Salta
A boy in the Chaco Read More
9 August 2001 - Buenos Aires
Jim’s 81-year-old mother Ernestine visited us from 2 August through 9 August 2001. Read More
24 July 2001 - El Calafate
Driving into El Calafate, we saw hundreds of guanaco, llama-like animals. Read More
3 June 2001 - Sydney
Sharks are a big draw inside the aquarium. Read More
27 May 2001 - Yarralumla
Yarralumla, Australia Read More
26 May 2001 - Melbourne
Neil O’Keefe is a motorcycle and travel enthusiast as well as being an MP. Read More
22 May 2001 - Portland
This giant lobster is for sale in Kingston.Read More
4 May 2001 - Perth
Chili mussels from Fremantle and squid straight out of the Indian Ocean. Read More
5 June 2001 - Port Villa
Like in most of the world, buses are pretty tight at rush hour. Read More
21 June 2001 - Auckland
An exquisite presentation by Antoine’s Restaurant in Parnell of beef, egg and potatoes Read More
13 June 2001 - Blenheim
Picton is the first town one sees when crossing via ferry from the North Island.Read More
12 June 2001 - Wellington
Crab ravioli in a Thai sauce at the White House in Wellington’s Oriental Bay. Read More
10 June 2001 - Taupo
Huka Falls are New Zealand’s most popular tourist destination.Read More
24 Feb 1999 - Tbilisi
Bizarre architecture outside of Tbilisi Read More
23 Feb 1999 - Batumi
A view of Batumi, showing the potential for this run-down town Read More
10 Mar 1999 - Charjou
Inside Bibi-Khanym Mosque – local lure says any woman who climbs under this stone will have lots of children.Read More
7 Mar 1999 - Ashgabat
Imagine a market the size of three football fields packed with thousands of people buying and selling breads and sweets, Read More
17 May 1999 -Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea, China Read More
29 Apr 1999 -Shanghai
Shanghai is undergoing one of the fastest economic expansions that the world has ever seen. Read More
20 Apr 1999 -Luoyang
We dined in a restaurant that had 25 different kinds of mushrooms on display. We asked for one plate full of the best three mushrooms; instead we received three plates of mushrooms. Read More
18 Apr 1999 -Xian
Who needs traffic lights when a country has 1.3 billion people? Read More
15 Apr 1999 -Pingliang
Jim with a Taoist follower. Read More
21 February 2001 - Kolkata
Too many old structures are crumbling in Calcutta.Read More
8 November 2000 - Cairo
31 October 2000 - Hurghada
27 Mars 2000 -Kololi
Firewood for sale along the Senegambia highwayRead More
24 April 2000 - Lome
24 April 2000 - L'Auberge Provencale, run by 79 year old Frenchman Andre Potron, is a true jewel. Andre, a Lome resident for 40 years, left retirement and bought the restaurant in November 1999.Read More
27 June 2000 - Cape Town
Lately time is passing too quickly. Phones work well, electricity is constant, roads are fast, sights are everywhere - we get caught up doing so much that time to smell the roses becomes a rare luxury. Read More

Take a tour of my Adventure.

The “Millennium Mercedes”

A Car on a Mission

A unique off-roadster takes on the world’s potholes

The Millennium Mercedes is a one-of-a-kind vehicle developed and built for Jim Rogers and Paige Parker for a historic, three-year journey around the world, which began Jan. 1, 1999 and ended Jan. 5, 2002. This first true All Activity Vehicle combines the comfort and styling attributes of the Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 sports car with the sturdy durability of the legendary Mercedes-Benz G-Series wagon. It helped Paige and Jim set a Guinness World Record.

The couple’s dream of traveling in a luxurious, sporty convertible that also provided the ultimate in safety and ruggedness was realized by California-based Gerhard Steinle and his team at Prisma Design International. Steinle is the former President of Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America who founded his own design studio in 1997. Rogers developed the concept of merging a sports car body with the chassis and diesel engine of the G-series, four-wheel-drive, sport utility wagon, also known as Der Gelaendewagen.

The two cars needed for the operation, together with a second long-wheelbase G-wagon which joined the adventure as a support vehicle were donated by Mercedes-Benz of North America in a tribute to the unprecedented success of the Three-Pointed Star in the US market at the turn of the millennium.

It took three months to create an automobile worthy its “Millennium” nametag. The team not only had to link the mechanical components, but also deal with the much greater challenge of connecting the vastly different computer and electronic systems.

The “Millennium” is powered by the proven, reliable 177 hp 3-litre G-Series Turbodiesel six-cylinder engine and comes with a five-speed automatic transmission and a four-wheel-drive powertrain. For road clearance, the Sunburst Yellow body rides a full foot higher than the stock SLK. Specially designed full fender flaring and a step-up rocker system visually blend the hybrid’s two characters giving it a unique identity. Prisma designed a matching trailer since extra storage capacity is needed for a trip like this. Metalcrafters manufactured the trailer.

Bridgestone supplied 265/60R-18 Dueler tires that come on original Mercedes G500 18X7.5 alloy wheels.

The integration of a brand new Iridium satellite communications system with the car phones provided by Motorolahelped keep the couple in contact with the world. The Iridium system allows unlimited access to 66 satellites around the world at any time of day.

Alpine supplied a navigation system and its disks for nine countries in Europe.

Prisma designed a matching trailer for extra storage capacity. The special two-wheeled utility trailer echoes the lines of the original SLK and probably is probably the most charming accessory of this challenging undertaking.

Technical Specifications

Engine: Six-cylinder 3.0-liter turbodiesel, four valves per cylinder, 22:1 compression ratio

Power: 177 hp @ 4,400 rpm

Torque: 330 Newton/Meters or 244 lb.-ft. @ 3,600 rpm

Transmission: Mercedes-Benz five-speed automatic

Drive System: Full-time, four-wheel drive, three differential locks from Mercedes-Benz G-Series

Chassis: Mercedes-Benz G300 Short Wheelbase (160 inches) (4 meters)

Ride Height: Approx. one full foot taller (30 cm) than stock ride height of standard SLK

Fuel Capacity: 146 liters (38.5 gallons)

Fuel Range: 1,000 kilometers / 620 miles

Wheels: Mercedes-Benz aluminum alloy, G500 V8-7.5 inches wide/18 inches tall

Tires: Bridgestone Dueler HP0680 P265/60R-18

Body: Steel-framed body constructed of composite fiberglass.

SLK Sunburst Yellow paint scheme including fender flares enlarged around wheelwell openings.

Newly designed rocker panels with integrated step, front and rear bumper skirts.

Interior: Black leather

Communication: Short-wave radio and walkie-talkies

Trailer Facts: Custom made, two-wheel trailer sits on leaf springs and utilizes electric brakes and the same 18-inch tall wheels used on the lead vehicle. It houses a spare tire, drinking water, medical supplies and a spare fuel can. The rear compartment holds luggage.