tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50989507908987911622024-03-12T21:26:09.073-07:00Intrepid for 10 MinutesMickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-75294618682937438612024-01-09T09:46:00.000-08:002024-01-31T10:36:35.863-08:002021 - Starting Again From Scratch - 7 Weeks in Scotland August 2021, Covid is hopefully over, we have had our inoculations, Ruby has been with us for over a year, we have had a few days here or there in the Motorhome, so its off for our next adventure. It is a long while since we have been to Scotland so off we toddle.Ruby settled into to life on the road immediately, lying on her mat between the seats (secured by a lead which has a handle Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-12670138994973881702024-01-04T10:16:00.000-08:002024-01-09T11:03:02.176-08:00And then there were 3 Meet Ruby, our newest team member, in charge of Security, Fitness and EntertainmentOur first sight of Ruby (then called Alexis) taken in a rescue centre in Cypress, just before coming to the UK. Jenna (daughter) knew who was receiving her and sent us this photo). We met her the day after she arrived with a view of fostering her in order to find her a new home, but we felt that she was so Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-1518981076188902712024-01-03T14:28:00.000-08:002024-01-08T04:18:46.205-08:00To the Land of Monasteries in the sky - September October 2019 We set off for Greece on the 28th August, a quick dash through Luxembourg, Germany and Austria to Budapest and then a bit more slowly through Romania and Bulgaria arriving in Greece on the 10th of September.LeonbergQuick Dip in Kavala BeachAnd sit on the beach while I go for a scout round on my bikeJust in front of our camping spotUntil the Sun went downThen on to Meteora, where the camp site hadMickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-66707669280112481692023-12-31T10:25:00.000-08:002024-01-02T08:58:43.099-08:00A New BeginingHaving just published the post I started in July 21, We are now starting over with a new vehicle and more importantly a new crew member. I did say that I thought it would be more appropriate to switch to a new web site, but thinking again, there is so much history tied up in the blog it is a shame to break the thread. Although I have continued to take photos (mainly of our trips) it makes a lot Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-56375877762171098622023-12-29T09:40:00.000-08:002023-12-29T09:40:26.806-08:00The End of an EraIt's amazing how time flies quicker as you get older and this is my first (and in fact last) blog since April 2019.At that stage we were almost at then end of our last session in South America and as all we did was drive to Colonia, store the vehicle and spend a couple of nights in our regular apartment in Buenos Aires with beers and a steak in our regular haunts. The only thing we hadn't done Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-55188449524080417422019-04-05T13:12:00.001-07:002019-04-05T13:12:54.850-07:00Niagra to Iguazu via Gokta Falls in PeruAlmost 5 years ago we visited Niagara Falls not long after setting off from New York and a few days ago we visited Iguazu a couple of weeks before completing this incredible journey. And in the middle we visited Gocta Falls, 3rd highest, probably the remotest and least visited waterfall in the world, and by far our favourite. Iguazu is pretty amazing, but very touristy.
We saw a vast array of Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-71428678733497501782019-03-18T15:36:00.000-07:002019-03-18T19:07:00.607-07:00North to CachiWe have gone as far south as we are going this trip (Rio Tranquilo) and north as far as we are going (Cachi on the Route 40) and now we are heading east. Currently at Thermas Rio Hondo, just west of Santiago del Estero, we will now head east for around 650 miles and then north-ish up to Iguazu. Once I have sorted a dental issue for which I am currently in communication with my dentist at home forMickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-47565400899831046472019-02-28T15:12:00.003-08:002019-02-28T15:55:29.252-08:00The Night is Dark and Full of TerrorsJust over half way through and we are back in Maipu at the Posada de Cavieres just in time for harvest there are a few pictures below of our journey back up Argentina, much of it we did last year (with a few variations, including a side track to visit some dinosaurs) but this time in fabulous weather.
The night before we arrived we camped at a wild camp by a dry river bed, that the first Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-35402398219563894622019-02-19T18:29:00.001-08:002019-02-20T04:45:54.402-08:00Raindrops Keep Falling On My HeadNo, its not raining. In fact the weather has been amazing since the last blog and if I plan the route right we should not get any rain for a while. The title relates to the cabin that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid lived in for 2 years, after they fled from the US and took refuge with the Sundance Kids Girl Friend Etta Place in an attempt to settle down . Of Course, nothing escapes the Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-42884272645413839792019-02-10T15:04:00.001-08:002019-02-10T15:04:43.926-08:00Life after The Carratera Austral
A third of the way through and only our second blog! Lots of
excuses, too hot too cold, daylight until 10pm no internet, etc, etc. After
spending 2 weeks on the Carrtera Austral we have now crossed into Argentina.
We drove fairly quickly down through Chile (as planned)
picking some nice spots to stay in on the way. Crossed the sandel line (the
line after which you can no longer where Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-34059874070432621272019-01-17T14:03:00.000-08:002019-01-26T07:39:32.939-08:00Its Raining Again!We are back on the road again, currently at Posada Caveries on a very wet day in Maipu (Mendoza) so time to do a quick blog update.
We landed in Buenos Aires on the 8th crossed to Colonia to pick up the truck on the 9th and after resolving a major issue on the truck drove straight across to Maipu, where we have been for the last few days (in mostly gorgeous weather).
We flew Norwegian this timeMickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-67617860984635719992018-04-28T08:45:00.000-07:002018-04-28T12:11:24.538-07:00Raining in Buenos Aires
The end of another phase and it is raining in Buenos Aires,
with black skies and thunder rolling around, but at least it held off for most
of the drive over from Mendoza.
After cleaning the cruiser and getting mostly packed on
Friday we finally left at Saturday lunch time.
we only planned a short drive that day as the forecast was good in San
Luis, but awful for the rest of Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-26485002853692046172018-04-22T18:40:00.004-07:002018-04-22T19:20:55.000-07:00A New Lease of Life
My apologies if the last blog was not up to its normal
standards, but I was somewhat concerned about events occurring with the
cruiser. As well as the steering problem we had re-broken a bracket on the rear
suspension (one that had already been welded in Peru) and also needed fuel
filters and front brake pads changing, so Hans took me to the garage that was
currently repairing the radiator on Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-35136950568556617672018-04-10T20:53:00.001-07:002018-04-18T15:29:08.470-07:00The weather turns so we escape north to warmer climes.The last blog was published on 13th March, but only actually went up to the 3rd, it took 10 days to get sufficient Internet to post it, so has been a month since the last blog and to be honest we have done very little in that month.
Fortunately the deflating tyre was nothing more than a very large nail, so once removed and repaired we were back on the road (I was concerned we had another crackedMickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-43912492849473641662018-03-13T15:39:00.000-07:002018-03-13T16:19:53.141-07:00Running back to back Marathons down the length of The AmericasWe thought we were pretty intrepid, driving from one end of the Americas to the other, but these guys really take the biscuit!
Two couples in 2 vehicles from Belgium drove to the top of the Dalton Highway (as far north as you can go in Alaska) from where the two guys have taken it in turns to run a Marathon a day down to Ushuaia, with one day off a week! 3 Marathons a week each for 2 Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-85591297750469709412018-02-18T17:26:00.000-08:002018-02-18T18:18:27.894-08:00Camping at the End of the World
After days of cold, high wind and some rain we finally get a
break some blue skies and sunshine in El Calafate so decide it’s time to take a
break and get some mounting issues resolved at the same time.
Ushuaia would have been a disappointment if not for the fact
that the Air B&B we stopped at was above car body shop, the wife ran the Air B & B
and husband the body shop. As soon as we Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-50083520333511896742018-02-03T06:59:00.000-08:002018-02-03T07:31:37.154-08:00Disaster for 10 Minutes, then We Acheive Our Objective
So, here we are, Ushuaia, the other end of the earth! But
only after one of those moments where everything almost stopped. You try and
prepare anything and have spares for all occasions, but occasionally something
happens that you never thought of.
Night 21 (of this phase) we arrive at the municipal camp
site at Santa Cruz (approx. 550 miles to Ushuaia), greeted by Marco the very
friendly Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-6837381022892000842018-01-23T10:05:00.001-08:002018-01-23T10:05:44.321-08:00Boring Roads, Amazing Wild Life
7 days on and we have finally found a camp site that feels
like a camp site rather than a refugee camp. The weather has continued to be
hot, but now we have done 1800 miles the temperature has dropped a little and
is cooler at night, when the wind blows it can be quite cool and in the last
hour it has clouded over and is getting quite cold, I might have to put
trousers on!
As we entered Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-6334250889116431162018-01-16T18:41:00.000-08:002018-01-16T18:52:55.291-08:00Back on Track in South America
We are now 30 miles from Patagonia and less than 200 from
Penguins and Elephant Seals.
Just before we set off a number of people asked if we were
excited, at that time the honest answer was no! But now we are!
There is always apprehension about something going wrong on
such a long journey but this time ours almost stopped at check-in at Heathrow
when they asked if we had a visa for Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-59130798697927567972017-11-22T09:00:00.000-08:002017-11-22T09:20:21.786-08:00Intrepid For 10 Minutes rides again (this time in comfort)With the Land cruiser still in South America and us spending more time in Europe we bought a hi roof, long wheelbase Renault Traffic and have had it converted to a camper and after 2 short trips in the UK we crossed from Dover to Calais on 6th September and headed south.
Our first target was to catch up with Paul who was cycling the length of France (from St Malo to Sete), had circumstances beenMickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-51378802291149814802017-09-02T01:43:00.000-07:002017-09-02T02:03:01.334-07:00Home AgainWe flew back to the UK on 1st June and since then we have been flat out with moving back into the house and sorting all of the issues associated with letting a house for 3 years (especially the garden), but given the income it has provided it has been worthwhile.
So apologies for the lateness of the final blog for this phase, especially as there is not an awful lot to report. The final week was Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-26260302042537974832017-05-23T19:12:00.004-07:002017-09-02T01:48:31.666-07:00A Cultural Diversion
Having had to make a dash for the pass to avoid getting snow
bound in Chile and then moving straight on to the Hostel in Mendoza to avoid
getting wet, we found ourselves ahead of schedule, with seemingly not an awful
lot of interest on the way. But having already done over 5,000 miles we did not
want to deviate too far off route, so we decided to follow the weather and headed
north to San Juan, Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-36471680517512267632017-05-14T16:51:00.000-07:002017-05-14T17:39:27.906-07:00And all we did today was have lunch - again - and what a lunch!!Having watched the forecast for a few days we timed our crossing to perfection. Had we delayed another day we would have probably had to stay in Chile for another week. We crossed into Argentina at 3 pm and they told us that at 6 pm the border would be closed until further notice due to snow!
The next night was cold and wet, so we decided that a few nights out of the roof tent were in order and Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-18488979315766109602017-05-09T15:40:00.000-07:002017-05-09T15:40:13.651-07:00Chinchillas in the MistSo, we are still in Chile! As planned, the day after the last post we drove up to Pisco Elqui and booked into a tour with an English speaking guide at 3pm, and then erected the roof tent in a camp site a 500 meteres away, ready for a few Piscos.
The tour was excellent and included 3 glasses of different Piscos, plus a Pisco Sour at the end (which was so good we had another), in the company of a Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098950790898791162.post-84073677280325966202017-05-04T16:42:00.002-07:002017-05-04T18:44:46.358-07:00All we did today was have lunchThe problem with northern Chile at this time of year is that although it is dessert (hence no rain) and the temperatures are perfect (22 to 25) the combination of cold sea and warm air causes clouds to build up along the coast that often spread up to 15 miles inland and it is also quite windy. The result is that the beach can be quite dull and cool until mid afternoon and then the clouds roll in Mickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01138701208603024888noreply@blogger.com0