Next couple of weeks

---

Hello all, you got me this time.

Right, where to start? After we left you last time we decided it would be a good idea to go mountain biking, but not your conventional up hill mountain biking, just good ol fashioned downhill mountain biking. This involves getting someone in a car to take you and bikes to the top of a mountain, dropping you off and free wheeling down. Well, that was first run and we ate some incredible chicken after - succulent. Next run was off road and through clouds, more bumpy but got to see Banana, Pineapple, Coffee and Sugar plantations, as well as Mango, Citrus and Mist covered trees (apparently pineapples grow in bushes and not on trees, and coffe beans grow in little green pods). Did another down hill and ended up cycling down the Venezuelan equivelant of the M23 which had been largely blocked by a landslide (happens quite a lot apparently) - dont think the road was designed for cyclists. Last run and we both decided it would be a good idea to launch ourselves off our bikes in order to injure ourselves, which we did as stylishly as possible. Sunset was incredible, behind mountains.

Next up we decided it would be fun to sit on a bus for 36 hours. Busses are bloody freezing so we took sleeping bags and made a bed. Films were shocking, including an Argentinian twist on an 80´s US cop drama, (dont ask, its not worth it). On the bus we met a Spanish guy, David, and his travelling partner, 60 year old American George. Turns out George gave up on America and decided to travel South America, his time limit being úntil I die´(what a hero). Talking to George more, turns out he really likes his drugs, particularly Hallucanagenics, to the point where he got the name Hallucanagenic Geroge. Turns out he grows 16 differnt strains at his home in America, along with Yopo, Mushrooms etc. He once lived in Afghanistan and smuggled Hash Resin into Germany, altho at a transit airport one of the bags he´d swallowed (he was carrying 650g) burst and so he spent the leg to Germany off his nut. He has taken LSD over 300 times, but his favourite was given to him in Vietnam when he was serving in the army, called STP, what ever that is. Classic quote from him was mid conversation about US politics ýeah thats great n all, but i´d rather talk about hallucanageics´...!

With those two and a load of Ozzies n Irish, plus some Argentinians, we decided to climb Mt Roraima (inspiration for The Lost World book). It was a 6 day trek including on 1 day a 5 hour slog uphill climbing more than walking. Bloody knackering, especially with loaded bags and 6 days food. View from top was amazing, Roriama is not classic gentle slope up mountain, it rises vertically stright up out of the ground, so if you lie on the top and stick your head over the edge you can look 800m down the shear face of the mountain to the floor. Cool to do when mountain is covered in cloud too.

Left Venezuela after having spent 3 n half weeks there, and headed to Brazil. Original plan of Venezuela into Guyana got scrapped (along with the previous 100 plans), and so now Country No 2 is Brazil which should be cool now a Spanish guy gave us Our Life Mark II: The Brazillian Extravaganza c.1700. Currently planning 5 day boat trip down Amazon. Spent time last night at Church Mass.

Love to All xx

ps. Mortality rate has been high, current casualties include 1 Camera, Platypus sack, Taits left Knee and his Aviators. Both walking like old women due to stiff legs. Walking down the step of a curb should never take a long as it has been, let alone a flight of stairs.

xxx

---

Photos

Crabbing Around
A camera friendly sand crab on the beach in Chichirivichi

Play Time
Some children playing in the waters near Chichirivichi

Anaconda Hunting
Our guide Nicjandro prodding the waters in hope of finding an Anaconda

Sun Down
An amazing sunset seen as we hitched a ride on the back of a 4x4 in Los Llanos

Say Cheese
A Piranah caugh whilst fishing in Los Llanos - later became dinner

Casa de Caymana
The nest of a Cayman found whilst horseback riding through the plains of Los Llanos. There were eggs inside, and the mother was sat below our horses!

Prehistoric encounter
Whilst on the rivers of Los Llanos, we encountered a turtle like no other before. Large, brown, most definately from an age before. Had a smiling face though!

Mountain Biker Extrordinaire
Mr Tait enjoying the evening sun after a long days mountain biking in Merida

Banana Tree
The fruit and flower of a banana tree, seen mountain biking in Meridia

Spider
A spider lays it eggs
Puerto Colombia

Deserted Beach
Deserted because its closed for tutrtles so i hope we didnt tread on any nests
Chichivirchi

Los llanos
lotsa grass and water

Giant bird
got attacked by a giant black that nests on the ground and makes a really odd noise, and is normally totally trenquillo

iguana chillaxing
An iguana chills on a fence post in the sun

Caimen and sog
Our guides dog nonchalantly saunters passed a caimen

black vulture
chills in the fog

Capybara
Legging it. For you mike

Comments

[Katherine]

Me again!
Hey guys, Nice little update there Ali, sounds like you've met some incredible people. What happened to Guyana? I bet Brazil is mind-blowing. What's the outlook on Peru? If you find Bob, don't eat him, bring him home to meet my goldfish! Love love xxxx

[Rob Whelan]

Jealously
You bastard. You bloody fucking bastard. I am sat in Oxford freezing my nuts off writing about why old people cannot take gas metre readings (don't ask) whilst you are climbing mountains and catching a tan. Your life is just simply better than mine, end of subject. In other news I have applied to be an ISV leader, I will keep you posted on how it goes. I miss you. Rob Pleb

[The Worlds Capy-est Bara]

Excellent capybara there. Fantastic. much love x