Today the plan is to get up early, buy lots of tools and spares for the mototaxi, and then head back to San Jeronimo (where the lockup is), where we are going to do the following.
1. Adorn mototaxi with our sponsor logos
2. Fit some bits that are missing
3. Have a go at replacing the chain and tyres (better to do this for the first time now, in parc ferme, rather than on the side of a mountain)
4. Get better at driving it
After that, there is the small matter of New Years Eve to deal with where I think we have a meal and party booked.
Feliz Ano Nuevo to all our followers, we really appreciate the support.
One day until launch.....
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Pictures at last
Finally, now that we have all bags and gadgets, I am able to share some photos with you all. It tells the story so far.
Coco Leaf tea upon arrival to clear our altitude and travel riddled heads.
Coco Leaf tea upon arrival to clear our altitude and travel riddled heads.
Machu Picchu on PreDay 2
And the ones you have all been waiting for.....the mototaxi!
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| v0.1 not very good at all |
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| v1.0 new improved with canopy and generally working |
Picked up Mototaxis
Today we picked up our Mototaxi for the first time- it is equally as bad as all our expectations. This is a good thing!
After re-constructing the frame/chasis/brakes/battery/canope/sidepanels we only have a short list of fixes remaining to do tomorrow before the thing will be roadworthy, these are minor things such as: new tyres, wheels and brakelights.
There is no question that this thing will break down, the question is how often and how terminal!
After re-constructing the frame/chasis/brakes/battery/canope/sidepanels we only have a short list of fixes remaining to do tomorrow before the thing will be roadworthy, these are minor things such as: new tyres, wheels and brakelights.
There is no question that this thing will break down, the question is how often and how terminal!
Friday, 30 December 2011
Preparation days
Right, we've finally got ourselves some proper web access and can do a quick round up of what has been going on with the trip so far.
27th - an aeroplane-themed day, long flights from UK to New York and then New York to Lima. The flight over Peru was particularly exciting with the mountains jutting through the line of clouds and a vast wilderness of mountainous terrain stretching as far as the eye could see. I couldn't help thinking "we've got to drive over that lot" as we flew past.
28th - arrived in Lima first thing after having flown over the staggeringly impressive (but somewhat daunting) Andes. Discovered on arrival, after about 25 laps of the baggage belt that our bags would not be joining us. We convinced each other that it would be fine, and that we could get by without the stuff we've spent the last couple of months accumulating specifically for the trip. We carried on. Further complication was created when none of my cash cards were being accepted - thus scuppering the 'plan b' of buying all new gear. These things are sent to challenge us.
In the afternoon Chris and I wandered up into the centre of Cuzco from our hostel, which was nicely situated in the "strangle-rape" quarter of the town (nice). We were advised to take taxi's everywhere.
We did some excellent shopping, procuring emergency pants (yellow and tight), various anti-dying pills (altitude effects were very prominent; breathless and pounding headaches), toothbrush, socks etc.
In the evening we sampled Pisco Sour (local cocktail) to regrettable excess with fellow competitors, many of whom were very likeable and would prove good buddies to convoy with.
29th - up at 6 am, took a 3hr train to the Machu Picchu area and then cleared our heads with a simply stunning 2.5 hour walk through the jungle, in the rain, to the ruins at the summit. It was an unforgettable experience. We got back pretty late, but still left time for another unforgettable experience - our dinner. After selecting a small, basic eatery, we were served up some really gorgeous meat, served on a kebab skewer, with potatoes. We had no idea what the meat was, but it was probably guinea pig or alpaca - very tasty and we decided to order more. This is where things took a turn for the worse. They´d clearly run out, but we couldnt understand the alternative we were being offered. It turned out to be the digestive system of an unspecified animal, utterly disgusting in texture and not too hot on taste either. Chris and I acted out our own slightly embarrassed version if the bushtucker challenge, heaving and wretching over our food until we could try no more. Sheepishly we retired to bed, but not before discovering that our bags had made it to us!
30th - today. We are off now to collect and work out how to drive and mend our mototaxi. More soon, hopefully with some pictures too.
27th - an aeroplane-themed day, long flights from UK to New York and then New York to Lima. The flight over Peru was particularly exciting with the mountains jutting through the line of clouds and a vast wilderness of mountainous terrain stretching as far as the eye could see. I couldn't help thinking "we've got to drive over that lot" as we flew past.
28th - arrived in Lima first thing after having flown over the staggeringly impressive (but somewhat daunting) Andes. Discovered on arrival, after about 25 laps of the baggage belt that our bags would not be joining us. We convinced each other that it would be fine, and that we could get by without the stuff we've spent the last couple of months accumulating specifically for the trip. We carried on. Further complication was created when none of my cash cards were being accepted - thus scuppering the 'plan b' of buying all new gear. These things are sent to challenge us.
In the afternoon Chris and I wandered up into the centre of Cuzco from our hostel, which was nicely situated in the "strangle-rape" quarter of the town (nice). We were advised to take taxi's everywhere.
We did some excellent shopping, procuring emergency pants (yellow and tight), various anti-dying pills (altitude effects were very prominent; breathless and pounding headaches), toothbrush, socks etc.
In the evening we sampled Pisco Sour (local cocktail) to regrettable excess with fellow competitors, many of whom were very likeable and would prove good buddies to convoy with.
29th - up at 6 am, took a 3hr train to the Machu Picchu area and then cleared our heads with a simply stunning 2.5 hour walk through the jungle, in the rain, to the ruins at the summit. It was an unforgettable experience. We got back pretty late, but still left time for another unforgettable experience - our dinner. After selecting a small, basic eatery, we were served up some really gorgeous meat, served on a kebab skewer, with potatoes. We had no idea what the meat was, but it was probably guinea pig or alpaca - very tasty and we decided to order more. This is where things took a turn for the worse. They´d clearly run out, but we couldnt understand the alternative we were being offered. It turned out to be the digestive system of an unspecified animal, utterly disgusting in texture and not too hot on taste either. Chris and I acted out our own slightly embarrassed version if the bushtucker challenge, heaving and wretching over our food until we could try no more. Sheepishly we retired to bed, but not before discovering that our bags had made it to us!
30th - today. We are off now to collect and work out how to drive and mend our mototaxi. More soon, hopefully with some pictures too.
Monday, 26 December 2011
Following progress
Right - so we are basically off now. If you want to follow what's going on then do keep checking this page. If time/facilities allow, we will try to post updates to this page - but that is likely to be patchy on the trip itself.
However, you should be able to see SMS type updates both in the right margin (under the twitter feed) and via the Where are we? page; which unsurprisingly should also show you where we are, plotted on a map...
However, you should be able to see SMS type updates both in the right margin (under the twitter feed) and via the Where are we? page; which unsurprisingly should also show you where we are, plotted on a map...
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Postcards from Peru?
Just a quick note. Anyone wanting to be emailed with our updates, please let me know and I'll add you to the auto-update function which will ensure you receive a nice journal postcard each time we do an update.
I'd recommend this, as I can't think of a better antidote to the January Blues than getting messages telling you that your pals are stuck in the mud in a torrential rainstorm whilst lost in the middle of the jungle.
Otherwise, keep checking the site and the "Where are we?" page - updates should (fingers crossed) appear there.
I'd recommend this, as I can't think of a better antidote to the January Blues than getting messages telling you that your pals are stuck in the mud in a torrential rainstorm whilst lost in the middle of the jungle.
Otherwise, keep checking the site and the "Where are we?" page - updates should (fingers crossed) appear there.
Packing
Reverse-Houdini scenes this afternoon as I tried to cram all of this stuff into my rucksack.
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| Sleeping and anti mosquito gear |
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| Media and lights |
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| Shoes |
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| Map & Compass |
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| Sponsors stuff to adorn the mototaxi |
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| Tools |
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| Something to wear |
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| Socks, gloves, hi-vis top |
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| All unfeasibly wedged into here |
Somehow or other, it is all in. The problems will arise if I ever need to get anything out.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Newsflash: Our Shelterbox fundraising is going to be doubled
A quick call for any more sponsors to please direct their money towards our Shelterbox fundraising (see right margin for links). The boss at Chris's company has kindly offered to match whatever we raise (within reason)...and as things stand the Shelterbox pot is lagging a little behind. So, sponsors can make their money go further. A £25 donation will get the gift aid making it up to above £30...and will be matched too - so £25 becomes £55. Hmm, need to find a similar scheme for my wages!
Monday, 12 December 2011
Presents for the locals
Thanks to Aston Villa Football Club we'll be able to hand out pens, badges and signed team photos to people we meet on the journey. I received a sensible sized package at the weekend, which I should be able to squeeze into the rucksack. Many Peruvians will remember their hero Nolberto Solano playing for the club, so there should already be a bit of an affinity, which we look to build upon on the trip. Its nice to have something to give, however small, when being a guest in a country.
Saturday, 10 December 2011
In 16 days we'll be airbourne...
So much going on now it is unbelievable, and time is closing in fast.
A quick round up:
*We've another sponsor on board, with a nice parcel arriving yesterday morning, containing things we can share with Peruvian folk we encounter on the journey - more on that in a separate blog post shortly.
*Our existing sponsor, ekit, has generously given us even more credit on our SIM card, which will mean we can get "cell-tower-triangulated" five times per day and provide regular updates of progress via SMS (subject to getting a signal)
*We finally booked up local flights (after a bit of a scare when the original airline we'd looked at had run out of seats. For a while we were staring down the barrel of flying with a company that translates as "small wardrobe".
*Chris has booked us up some accomodation in Cuzco, where we can settle in, acclimatise and use as a base whilst we sort out collecting the mototaxi and the various bits and bobs we'll need to maintain it.
*Chris has also sorted out his yellow fever jab - which is good, because without it he'd have been refused entry to the country.
*I have sorted my International Driving Permit, without which I'd be scuppered, and have to pay a fortune in bribes (might need to do that anyway, but there's one less reason to fine us now)
*And in In Peru news - it has just overtaken Columbia as the worlds biggest cocaine producer, so it adds that nice element of added peril to the trip as DEA and Mexican druglords all ramp up their respective efforts.
Still a fair bit to do, including booking up a quick trip to Machu Picchu the day after we arrive - it wou;d be rude not to.
More soon...
A quick round up:
*We've another sponsor on board, with a nice parcel arriving yesterday morning, containing things we can share with Peruvian folk we encounter on the journey - more on that in a separate blog post shortly.
*Our existing sponsor, ekit, has generously given us even more credit on our SIM card, which will mean we can get "cell-tower-triangulated" five times per day and provide regular updates of progress via SMS (subject to getting a signal)
*We finally booked up local flights (after a bit of a scare when the original airline we'd looked at had run out of seats. For a while we were staring down the barrel of flying with a company that translates as "small wardrobe".
*Chris has booked us up some accomodation in Cuzco, where we can settle in, acclimatise and use as a base whilst we sort out collecting the mototaxi and the various bits and bobs we'll need to maintain it.
*Chris has also sorted out his yellow fever jab - which is good, because without it he'd have been refused entry to the country.
*I have sorted my International Driving Permit, without which I'd be scuppered, and have to pay a fortune in bribes (might need to do that anyway, but there's one less reason to fine us now)
*And in In Peru news - it has just overtaken Columbia as the worlds biggest cocaine producer, so it adds that nice element of added peril to the trip as DEA and Mexican druglords all ramp up their respective efforts.
Still a fair bit to do, including booking up a quick trip to Machu Picchu the day after we arrive - it wou;d be rude not to.
More soon...
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Keeping in touch - with ekit
The past 7 days has been particularly exciting, as we have a new sponsor on board. I have been in discussion with Rowena at ekit about getting a mobile phone, SIM card, and most importantly some sort of tracking service. What we've ended up with, thanks to ekit, is all three!Yesterday I took delivery of this little number, which is now charged up and raring to go. On the face of it, it looks like a pretty basic mobile phone; but its what it can do that is the most exciting thing. This phone is cleverly linked up to a service called Travel Journal, which should be able to provide our followers the ability to follow our progress on the trip, pretty much in real-time
It is configured so that at various points during each day, the Travel Journal will try to 'locate' us. It does this using "cell tower triangulation". Anyone who's watched Jack Bauer in 24 will know the drill!
In doing this, it will plot us pretty accurately on a map; so even if we are totally lost and haven't a clue where we are - our followers at home will actually be able to tell!
The service will do this at least once per day, and we may configure it to do so more often. Likewise, we will be able to send SMS messages, and these too will appear on our Travel Journal, with a pinpoint to show where we were at the time we sent the message.There's lots more to it as well - and you'll see details of the functionality emerging on this site in the next couple of weeks, as we get our final preparations done. A big thank-you to ekit for making this possible (I recommend other travellers take a look at the ekit website, they do some good quality and value SIMS and phones), and to Rowena for being so helpful. I expect our mothers in particular will be especially pleased to be able to find out where we are!
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