An update from Eric & Margaret on 14 May 2009

As most of you will know, we returned to the UK at the end of January 2009 after nearly 30 months on the road. Essentially we needed to get back 'home' to recharge batteries, sort out personal affairs, and for Eric to get his much needed hip replacement operation. We're pleased to report that all three are being attended to and E had a very successful hip replacement operation 3 weeks ago is back on his feet. It has also been great catching up with family and friends.

This is not the end of our world travels and we'll keep this blog active for our return to the world stage. We'll post more news in due course.

We hope all our travelling friends are well.

E & M xxxx

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Ola from Eric & Margaret on 8 October 2008 Well, after a pretty slow start we're now making headway across South America and are now in Cuzco, Peru. Into our 26th month on the road we are still having a wonderful time and it is so exciting to be in this new (for us at least) continent among Spanish speaking peoples with so much history & culture on offer (thank goodness for M's Spanish lessons in Auckland). We were certainly sad to leave New Zealand behind but that seems to be the standard for us as the sadness doesn't have a chance to last long with all the new sights, sounds, experiences, etc on offer.

The time spent planning this major stage has been worthwhile and we are almost on track at this point. However, with the recent/current troubles in Bolivia we may make need to make some adjustments and if we do reach La Paz (which we certainly intend to) we're not sure where we'll go from there. But as far as the plan is concerned from today it is: Visit Machu Picchu and old Inca sites at the weekend then after a few more days in Cuzco we'll be off into the Amazon Jungle at Manu. From there it is on to Lake Titicaca for a few days on both the Peruvian and Bolivian sides of the Lake. After that and remaining at high altitude, it is on to La Paz, Bolivia (where we'll visit this wonderful city and hopefully meet up with Fiona, a former colleague of Margaret's) from where we'll fly to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). A few days in Rio will be followed by some time visiting old Portugese colonial towns. We then head south to the Panatal, a vast wetland area which is a mecca for wildlife. It's then off to the famous Iguacu/Iguazu Falls which stand on the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. We'll probably fly to Buenos Aires where we'll chill out and enjoy the tango, wonderful steaks, pop over the River Plate to Uruguay for a day or so. It is then south into Patagonia visiting the Lake District that straddles Argentina and Chile, Chiloe (a world heritage site island in Chile) then further south to the Torres del Paine Nacional Parque. We then need to find our way to Ushuaia in Argentina (probably a 12 hour journey by bus which we can only book when we're in the area) from where we sail to the Antarctic. We then fly north to Lima (Peru) for Christmas and still further north to Colan for a good Scottish Hogmanay. The family member who recommended this place knows who she is and woe betide her if it doesn't live up to expectations!!! Understandably our onward journey from January remains on the planning board but all going well we should be back in the UK by June/July 2009 - only 8/9 months to go!!

As family and friends move into the next season of birthdays and other events we send everyone all our love and best wishes over the coming months. We still miss you all and really look forward to your emails and messages.

Love Eric & Margaret xxxx