Time to do a little team introduction.  Joe and Will were kind enough to send me great photos of themselves for me to post.  Then I got copies of their passports.  Passport photos seemed much more fun.  At least to me.  On to the introductions:

The Kernow Krew

Joseph William Taylor

Team Physician and Window Washer

Joseph Taylor is the godfather and mastermind behind the Kernow Krew.  Hailing from Truro, UK, deep in the heart of Cornwall, Joe created the Krew with the idea of forming the team by bringing together strangers to add intrigue to adventure.  Joe brings experience doing body work and restoring classic cars.  Sadly this experience does not include mechanical skills under the hood.  So though we might be stranded on the side of the road in the middle of Kazakhstan, the car will always look great.  Joe intends on starting EMT training with the Cornwall Search & Rescue, again just in time to NOT use it on the rally.  If that career path does not work out he is considering becoming either a supervillain or Ethan Hawke look-alike.  Come to think of it, is there really any difference?

William Louis Lowry

Team Cook & Flat Tire Changer

William Lowry came upon the Kernow Krew from a posting Joe had made on a gap-year website.  Seeing the opportunity for extreme adventure, Will hopped on board what will be a trip that will drive him into manhood.  No, really, he turns 18 just as our tour ends.  So as we drive to the end of our tour Will also drives out of his youth.  How poetic.  A student at Truro College and chef at a Cornish restaurant, Will is going to have his culinary skills put to the challenge on the rally.  The big question is how many dishes can he make with Ramen Noodles?

Murray Alden Johnson, III

Team Navigator & Hostage Negotiator

It is only fair for me to show my passport photo too.  Fortunately for me, unlike other countries, the US Government allows you to smile in the photos.  Unfortunately, if/when we get into trouble I am going to have to generate a smile for the authorities so I match up with my pic.  I will serve as village elder and senior statesman on the trip.  I also bring down the cost of auto insurance considerably due to the fact that I could have legally driven Mrs. Lowry to the hospital to give birth to young Will.  Sad, but true.  Sure, we are only as old as we feel, but the past few weeks would have me aging considerably.  As Will becomes a man I hope to move backwards and regain some of that lost youth.  One can only hope.

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Members lost

The Kernow Krew has had nearly as many team member changes as it has route changes.  Here are our comrades sadly lost to circumstance:

Timothy Lord

Timothy Lord of Newquay, UK, read Joe’s posting on the Rally website and heeded its calling.  Ready for a break from the trials of law school (excuse the bad pun), Tim was eager to join up to further establish the Cornish influence in the Krew.  In a move in line with the shekel-snatching industry to which he is training to join, Tim chose to take a lucrative job opportunity that would not allow for such a dramatic time off.  We are sad to see him make a foolish decision to further his career and future over risking his life while getting sores on his bum from sitting 6 weeks in a car.  Tim, you will be missed.  Though we never met, I was looking forward to having you to at least help bridge the age gap between me and the rest of the team.

Antough Kuzin

Antough “Tony” Kuzin is the creative Ukrainian genius behind the design of the blog you see here.  While putting in extreme effort and considerable talent, Tony and I had the opportunity to chat online.  The chats often strayed away from web design talk, entering into polite conversation and movie quotes.  I noted how good his English was, to which he explained he had worked as a translator in summer camps.  I suggested he apply that talent and become a translator for the Krew.  Tony jumped at the opportunity and started the process to get his passport.  The Ukrainian government had a different idea.  Timing would not allow us to benefit from Tony’s multilingual skills and musical talents (yes, he was going to play guitar for us along the way).

Vitaliy Kurat

Vitaliy “Tough” Kurat edged into the running for Krew member by request of Tony.  The team was not sure about breaking the tradition of no one knowing another team member prior to the Krew, but decided to allow him to join after his showing of dedication to the cause by volunteering to lay in the middle of the road naked if necessary.  Nudity not being a prerequisite to joining, a fully-clothed Tough was going to be welcomed onto the Krew with the hopes that two Russian/English/Ukrainian speakers are better than one–plus a two-man Ukrazian (a term coined by Joe) comedy act could be great fun.  Yet Tough met the same fate as Tony with the passport difficulties preventing him from joining us on the great adventure.  The Krew has enjoyed the planning and idea of the Ukrazians so much that we are committing to route our journey through their home town and spending time hanging out; clothing mandatory.