Where are they? Only said to my one remaining trusted and loyal TA this morning that we hadn't had a blog from Richard and Di for a while and, quick as a flash, here it is. Looks like Andy's worst fear is materialising Di, your hair has grown and you're going to have to cut short your adventures so you can get back to Keith Hall's Ladies Hairdresser, pretty sharpish. Keep going. Love to you both. Dave
I spy pack animals Guess you will both have grown additional lungs by the end of the SA leg. The Llamas look intimidating, any sign of vicunas? Apparently they are smaller and prettier with long eyelashes, if you see any say, 'Hi from AM'. The blog is once again outstanding. Stay safe.
Still reading from Raynesway... Hi both from work (new job now), just catching up with your latest travels, awesome rock formations, bet photos don't even do justice despite the superb job of trying to. April now and can't believe you've been doing this since Sept, it goes so fast. Surprised Di has not pushed you off your bike yet reading some of the blogs...
Keep on trucking you crazy legs, it's very entertaining. Luv Sal.
Out of breath just reading!! I have not had time to catch up with you since your arrival in South America, but I'm on holiday this week so have the time to share all your latest adventures-I can't believe you stole those pears from under the police's nose! Glad you did it in Argentina and not China-we'd have been setting up a campaign to free the Ockbrook Two!
Lots of love Claire, Shaun, Ross and Cait
Ee aint harf proud o u tu Each blog entry heightens the anticipation for the next one. Our admiration grows with each entry, and in a strange way, we wish we could be with you and share your adventure. Needless to say our old carcasses wouln`t have been able to stand it. We all love you both, and think about you often, and long to share things with you. Take care lots of love Nora and Dad.
mucho impressive tales.. i've just been reading your blog...great reading and very inspirational...we fly out to Buenos Aries on 28th \april and plan to cycle accross to mendoza and up north into bolivia and peru, following a pretty similar route to yours so its great to get a bit of heads up. heard lots of tales from other cyclist going north to south and its great to piece it all together..cant wait...!! happy cycling you two..Ian
Roads Ripio it just looks like david's road, or is it slightly worse. Got here ok T5 looks good it just ain't working. Weather wet and cool. take care going down. love DAD
Wow! This is what armchair travelling is all about! Just wish I was in an armchair instead of a desk chair. Great stories Di and Richard it's not the external strength that is important . . . hahaha! Keep safe.
Love,
The Madpeas
Hi Loved your last installment.The countryside and architecture are amazing. Is Richard's hub the only bike problems you had? How are your tyres holding up?
Cheers, Tania, Pat, Eamonn and Ben
Salta Dear Di and Richard,
I think Di you are destined to be a travel writer - every entry is captivating and well supported by excellent photos. You have us scrambling to try to locate your travels on a map. The barbecue certainly looked interesting and would have recharged your batteries!! We hope you are both not wearing out your bodies like the bikes as they seem to be needing some fine tuning! love Ros and Peter
pictures these are great, so the original must be fantastic.
Did you hit lucky or was it planned to stay with a cycle engineer.
glad the weather improved. continue the good work. DAD
Food,Food and more food! The photos are fantastic and the whole journey has been illustrated well by the changes in food as you travel further! Not sure what Rosemary Conley would say about your diet in an effort to lose 15kg between you, but if it meant I could eat an ice cream that size, bring it on!
Anyway, a belated happy birthday, Shaun is delighted that he has been joined by someone in the 50+ club-just wait till you get home to all the junk mail offering you life insurance and funeral plans just for you! Not sure if Saga could match your holiday expectations though. Just to make you feel really old,Ross takes his driving test on Thursday-remember that visit you made to me in Taylor St Wilmorton just as I was going into labour Richard?
Keep up the good work and love from us all
Claire,Shaun,Ross and Cait.
Adieu mes amis! "Grand Designs"!! more like Time Team if you ask me...
Glad you survived staying in the construction site. I guess it's good not to get used to luxuries like floors and walls.
Have fun in the Americas!
Dave
Wow! I don't know how you two keep going what with the steak and icecream. Mind you, Diane, you look like you could do with about 5 more of those icecreams...you're fading away!
Good luck with the rest of those mountains and be safe.
The Madpeas
Never mind jet lag, What about the muscles? Your recent exploits make our eyes water. The last time dad rode a bike, 200 yards required 2 hours recovery time.With 4000 miles behind you and a 39 hour 18th February, plus jet lag, we thought that Chile to Argentina would probably be a mountain too far. But we forgot, being Pearts and with ice cream and steak inside you, whats a mountain or two. Massive achievment, congrats, and good cycling.Lol. Nora and Dad
Happy birthday hi there, Hope you had a great birthday Diane and that you had an enjoyable stay in Sydney. It was a pleasure having you both. You were an inspiration to all of us! And you've fired Pat and I up for our trip. I look forward to reading about South America and beyond.
Cheers,
Tania and boys
The end of the Australian chapter As the sun sets slowly in the West, we bid a fond farewell to 'our intrepid travellers'.
Like the characters..... of Patrick Leigh Fermor, Jack Kerouac and Wilfred Thesiger...... they just keep going and going. They of course need energy to sustain them on their journeys
Perhaps they could be remembered by some as an every day item.
A Hoover - vacuum cleaner;
A Singer - sewing machine;
A Peart - FOOD PROCESSOR!!!
So glad that you have enjoyed your travels here and been able to see so many diverse areas of Australia.
Now we await the next exciting chapter of your travels.
Love Peter, Roslyn, Hayden and Scott. xxxx
Great Adventure Hi, both - we haven't posted many comments, but rest assured we are both reading the blogs regularly. Fantastic descriptive prose which really gives everyone back home a sense of the marvellous adventure you both seem to be having. Great Pictures too (we'll book a week with you at the year end to review them all!). Well done on achieving the far East and Australia legs of the journey. Good luck in South America. Love Kev and Jaq xx
Half Century You both look great. Glad things going well and I supposed entitled to a little rest before yous et off again. You shouldn't have said anything about your birthday, I have it in my diary that you are 49 this year. How did I loose a year? Obviously you don't look your age or I wouldn't have need to question it with dad. Have a good time. We are thinking of you both.
Love all 4 of us.xx
NEARLY THERE, OUT OF OZ & INTO 50`S Read your latest, enthralled by it and excited for your upcoming adventure in South America. And of course that birthday, how old will you be this time? Makes your "old dad" a bit long in the tooth eh? Would have loved to have been with you to celebrate, but we will be there in thought. Have a great day and keep on cycling! Love Nora and Dad
Are you sure you're in Oz not Hollywood? I can't get over the names of the places you're visiting-they sound like places from a dodgy spaghetti western starring Clint Eastwood!
Keep up the blogging it gives us fantastic entertainment during the dark winter nights.
Love to you both
Claire, Shaun, Ross and Cait xx
from up 'ere to down under Lovely to read your latest blog and that you are still enjoying yourselves despite the thunderstorms etc. You will be seeing parts of Australia that probably most of Australians haven't seen. Best of luck for your continuing journey. lol Mildred and Tony
We've booked a year off work, had the jabs, bought the RTW tickets and arranged the leaving do. So it looks like we'll really have to do it now; China, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Mexico and USA by bike and plane.... full info
Dave
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Where are they?
Only said to my one remaining trusted and loyal TA this morning that we hadn't had a blog from Richard and Di for a while and, quick as a flash, here it is. Looks like Andy's worst fear is materialising Di, your hair has grown and you're going to have to cut short your adventures so you can get back to Keith Hall's Ladies Hairdresser, pretty sharpish. Keep going. Love to you both. Dave