We Just Got Warned

John and Joyce Gardner are volleyball-playing friends of mine. Their son Scott is a very experienced, improvisational traveler. Here's what he wrote to his father after learning what Marty and I are about to do. "Wait, have I met this person? Either way, I hope he realizes what he is in for. I haven't been to Sumatra but when I was in Yogyakarta last year I met a couple guys who had each done Sumatra overland and I got to hear their stories of 42-hour bus rides. Jakarta to Bangkok overland in two weeks is pretty crazy. Like something I would do. And that's not even considering the fact that the rainy season in Sumatra should be starting any day now."