Incy-wincy ... Not sure how you could relax, hammocks or no, with spiders seen and (worse) unseen all around you! If wellies have to be stored upside down off the ground, what stops the tarantulas etc climbing up the support ropes of the hammocks?! The baby caiman looks very sweet, but also big enough to snatch a finger or two: glad it didn't feel peckish. Also glad Pepe didn't behave like the monkey in Rhodes market all those years ago! Look forward to hearing more, and seeing more photos: the Amazon is a focus for a lot of basic adventure-book mysteries and fears.
?? Roof Tiles.........????? Exciting. I've never seen roof tiles before.
No razors in the jungle then!?
MAMMALS - so what are they called? Don't you know? Pathetic.
Juan Carlos looking for wildlife - not logs or bandits? Just girls on the pull!
Brendan - the fact that you threw up in a leaf is nothing to brag about - stop pretending it was your lunch before you ate it! Were you afraid that the the pirhannas might jump up and eat you as you were leaning over the side?
Send the snail picture to someone in France - it would be better than sex to them.
The sun is a tadette too high for that to be a sunset picture. I give good course!
So ye stayed in the lodge? Very masonic!!!
Welcome home. Now get a job and don't sponge on the rest of us taxpayers.
Amazing ! Wow ! I really feel I was travelling with you your writing and the photos are so incredibly vivid Who would have thought in those days of endless spider avoiding hunts in French campsites that you would end up calmly eating in a dining room inhabited by a tarantula ..........!! or being close to piranhas and caimans come to that ! what an amazing experience ! Thank you ! Zoe
From Headingley. The shots which are reminiscent of island villages in Greece emphasise the ones that are like nothing we've ever seen before (and I don't mean you two in your family hats, or dancing togs - you thought the road of death was scary?) Since the sheep are on an island, why is it so important to stop them roaming? Those reed boats and floating islands! The host family look lovely. Are you looking forward to (say) pasta when you get back to the UK...? Time up here. Love and go safely, A
Wow ! I was really hoping we WOULD see photos of you in your outfits ! You look great ! It's so exciting reading the text and soaking it all up and then getting the brilliant photos ! What a lovely family you stayed with and reed islands .....???! Do they move about when you walk ...? Zoe
I'm VERY relieved you couldn't do the wall of death..........It's been hard enough seeing where you were in the mine !! I was holding my breath until I came to the photos of the market ! The salt flats are amazing love the photo of you spreadeagled! Hard to imagine how cold and uncomfortable you have been as England just now is frizzling in a heat wave ! Fantastic blog ! Thank you ! See you soon ! Zoe
Now this is getting ridiculous! I'm in Leeds central library, finally getting Leodis prints of cottage ordered, and only put 1 hr's money in parking meter - so no time to read text xxx!!xx- but what pictures!! Will look again from Headingley - but just had to give instant gob-smacked feedback. Go safely, see you soon, A
I didn't think it could get better! You must only just have completed this journal: I switched from one computer to another in a different room - and this wasn't on in the first room: that feels like being with you while you upload it!
Obviously I've done no more than just skim this, but it's a stark contrast between what the text and the photos offer - misery of extreme cold on the one hand, grandeur of scenery and extraordinary mining shots on the other. Tremendous. Oh, and the Road of Death - I think I'm relieved you didn't have time for that!
I remembered hack-sacky but ... Continuing with my re-reading - and again can't believe how much I've missed! Had a longer look at the photographs -superb, again - and took in more of the "factoids" as Steve Wright in the afternoon would call them. Extraordinary about the mismatch in the rail track systems, and the solution of changing wheels and bogies - but I guess changing a whole nation's railtrack would be just a tad too much to expect! The Great Wall is every bit as spectacular as I'd have hoped, but much, much hairier to walk on. The photo you called "steep drop" (just the photo!) gives me vertigo, but I could almost fancy the flying fox. Look forward to hearing more about the organisation for people with learning difficulties when you get back. But we won't mention coming back, will we .... Love, go safely always, Alec
Do we envy you two Only just managed to see all your photos - loved the beard. Can't wait to hear all about it, from what I see don't ever think you will want to return but please do.
Take care
Connections Class at Huddersfield Technical College here (with Georgina!) We have been reading and looking at your wonderful pictures this afternoon in our class. We think they are great, sadly most of us will never be able to do many of the exciting escapades you are having, unless they make them wheelchair accessable! But by sharing your blog with you we can all experience the true spirit of the adventure. Love Georgina, Joan, Charlie, Peter, Chloe, Asif and Beccy.
We will return!!
Cool or what? I've resumed my re-reading of the blog, and again I'm astonished: I just don't remember horror stuff like the walk through the live train tunnel! The info (2km deep, 20% of world's fresh water!) and pictures of the frozen lake are fascinating: you'll love comparing notes with Zoe, given her Finland experiences. I was thinking 2 ft thick ice doesn't sound enough to support 4x4's and all the other activities, but breaking the ice on the bird-bowls in our garden defeats me so .....(Silly question: how does a wave freeze?) The snow-mobile and husky sled rides sound exhilarating - must have been especially good after being couped up in the train for two days. A
Putting you on the map I like the picture of the full moon. I would not like to sandboard in the desert in the dark. (Sarah) I wonder what your pisco sour drink tasted like. I liked the picture of Brendan on his board going down the dune. I thought your story about the shooting star and the "witches" was good - it was funny. (Julie) I liked all the pictures but especially the one of the full moon. I liked the crawling through the salt cave tunnel. (Simon). ((Today we have been trying to plot your trip on our plastic world map - somewhere between hopeless and hilarious! But yesterday the group did a shared reading aloud of the hair-raising account of your sandboarding, and today we went through all the pictures, and they had plenty of questions and comments, apart from those above. Thanks for the lesson material! (Alec))
Completly absorbed by the blog much better than big brother type thoing i would have put together - we are all very gratful for you taking time out to post new stuff and in such fantastic detail too, -ps paul and i have sold all your furniture to make room for the skate ramp and half pipe.
Catching up at last Done it! Blogged on on my own PC (well works after hours). Didn't seem to want to before. Well you've made me cry - but with pride as ever - you just don't alter or give up wherever you go. well done re dog - they are obviously an amazing nation - and quirky too by the sounds of your Spanish teacher. All those amazing coloured houses, and street cafe. I don't know how you have the energy - but am glad you do as they are a real treat to read - v vivid. Will try and look at Oz one now (Am reading all the right blogs - but not necessarily in the right order!) Enjoy! Luv Sian
Really this should have been a tape of my exclamations as I read your latest blog.....Wow!.... stunning!....Oh NO.....! etc !
What an absolutely amazing time you are having ! The sand boarding exciting (it took me a time to realise that yours can't have ACTUALLY been fatal....!) The hostel courtyard looks idyllic...... I'm very impressed with your riding prowess Brendan and am (almost !) sure that the fact that your horse looks only a fraction of the size of Nicola's is merely a matter of perspective .....! Also I am sure that you would say that your over candle waxing of Nicola's board was an act of solicitous care rather than sabotage ......? Zoe xxx
Hi there Just catching up on the blogs.What wonderful times you are having. Pictures not bad either. I really feel I am travellling with you when I read your adventures. Keep it up
Love C
You cannot be serious!!!! This has to be the most spectacular yet, both in adventures and in sights! The salt mine alone would be fun to do a risk assessment on let alone sandboarding in the dark! (we have to do one to take students into the town centre or the local park) The shots of the sunset and the mountainous terrain were breathtaking. "The full moon and setting sun over the Atacama Desert" is especially beautiful, and very unusual. In haste now, will re-visit later. Meanwhile, thanks for all the effort this blog must take - and go safely. Love, A
Hi from Huddersfield Hi there! I was directed to your journal by Alec, i work at the hospital where he comes in to provide tutoring for our clients, and i was interested enough to have a look. Now i have had a brief look, i am REALLY interested, and shall be visiting again when i have more time, as i am with Alec in a session as we speak! I hope this finds you well, and that you are enjoying the trip as much as the pictures i have already seen seem to suggest!
Regards, Dan Bullock
Re-reading, fresh discoveries While waiting for the next instalment I decided to start at the beginning again - and found I had missed all sorts of details. To be honest, I don't remember reading about the horse ride in the snow at all, which must have been a bit of a strange initiation for Brendan to the equine delights. And to think that the ger experience is still ahead.... The memorial is moving - missed the detail in that too
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Hi
Jessica, Katie and I are here looking at your logg, Jessica with foils in her hair! We all agree that it looks brilliant and envy you both. Hope you had a great bithday to remember.
Girls think Bredan looks good with a beard!
wow Hi, I work with your Dad (Alec that is!) We have all been asking him about your wonderful journey-he told us about your blog and now I'm hooked. I am sitting at my computer trying to finish an assignment and I keep having a sneaky peak. Your photos are superb. It is amazing how much vicarious pleasure one can get from a blog
Georgina
Yes ! I agree with all that and it would have been terrible to leave the dog suffering like that how lovely and important that everyone was so kind around it .
I absolutely love the brightly covered houses and in fact all the colour everywhere and Spanish too ! Wow ! Zoe
Nicola and I are undertaking a round the world trip in 4 months as an extended honeymoon, travelling through Russia, Mongolia and China on the Trans-Mongolian Express, then Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Bolivia and Peru.... full info
Jamie S
non-member comment
Amazing!
What an awesome blog - amazing photo's, superb story telling and comedy anecdotes - well done Nicola!