a self-supported bicycle tour through South America

I can’t believe I just found your site. I am planning a trip from Toronto, Canada across to Seattle and then down to Argentina, following a similar route through South America. I now have a lot of reading to do. Thank you for taking the time to create this site. I’ll be going back to your first entry and reading every entry.

Great meeting you guys in Rio Grande. Had a quick look at your website and it looks great. Will surely be visiting it again for more leasurely perusing.
And here is our travel blog: http://travelingloveaffair.blogspot.com/
See you in Ushuaaia hopefully… lots of stories to swap…

Hey guys

sounds excellent as ever especially your stay in your friends cabin, home made bread and muffins divine !!!
well we have settled down in tarifa now, although for the next 18 days we are house sitting 2 houses, 3 dogs and 1 cat (chris doesnt do cats !!!!) ! we have got our own animal christmas party going on !!! well at least we arent lonely and the wind is mental 40/50 knots the last few days. So what are you guys doing for Christmas do you have any idea where you are going to be or any plan ??? We will be thinking about you guys, its amazing what you are doing. HAPPY CHRISTMAS, its going to be one lasting memory that is forever special and tangible.

love and big hugs
karen and chris xxxxx
ps chris is just currently threatening to cut the cats tail off if she isnt nice …. i have my work cut out !!!!

Hi to the ‘only gay in the vilage’, have just been reading all the comments and making up for the last 4 months as have been rarely on-line. Hilarious running commentary….I’m so not technical Simon - (did we come from the same parents?) but hope fully I can make up time.

Photos amazing, weather looks great, Melbourne is hot and sticky,our apartment and office block got hit by lightening today, we have flooding in Victoria and we are still on Level 3a water restrictions..never falls in the right place.

Funny to hear Bournemouth hasn’t changed..keep doing what you want for as long as you can..you come back to earth with a big bump when you have to go back to work..believe me!

Take it easy guys - cold beers in the fridge waiting for you…Wend x

I just stumbled across your site and will be voraciously reading your adventures in the next week or so. At first glance, it sounds like you’ve had a lot of wonderful experiences - and we are looking forward to our own.

In six months my husband and I, along with our 10-year-old twin boys and our family dog, will pedal away from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. About 30 months later we plan to arrive at the southern tip of South America. We are soooo excited about getting back on the road!! You can read more at www.familyonbikes.org

Take care!
Nancy

Dude and Doris

Just thought Id let you know that whilst I was purusing your site I clicked it over 12,000 page uploads! That is really quite cool when you think 12,000 pairs of eyes have seen what you two are creating.

12,000! Wow, thats almost as many pages as you have viewed on that ‘German Lady Website’ you suggested I look at when Karen isnt around.

We are so glad that you guys are still pedeling away over there.

Our van is now fixed and all is good.

Hugs to you both

Skono and Blondie…..can you fly down here when you finish for a break?

Hey guys

So we are now back in Tarifa.

The van got all the way home and back to Tarifa and then blew up 20 minutes after we got here. The cam belt let go in a very uneventful way that is going to cost $500.

Glad to see that you are both enjoying yourselves.

We drove 950 miles in 1 day on the way back - thought of you peddling.

The snotting thing is gross but essential I guess. Nice to see Jen out grossing Simon for a change.

Looking forward to having our good old chats when you come down to Tarifa……dont go home, EVER, it sucks. I felt like an ethnic minority in my own country! Go find the sun and sell a kidney to do so if you need to.

Keep peddling and freewheeling as much as you can

Karen and Chris

Hi there Jen and Simon,
Sounds like you guys are having the time of your life!
Hope it that continues that way.
Could you send me your email address please? I just want to ask you a few things .
Cómo es el espanol? Hablas bien ahora?
Hasta pronto

Fran

Hi guys

Right, here’s some advice from Skono. We are back in the UK for 10 days before moving to Tarifa. I drove 950 miles in 1 day and a total of 1400 miles in 2 days.

Here’s the advice - I have been back in Bournemouth for 1 day and, it sucks. Its cold, its dull, the same people are doing the same things, everyone is stressed, went to the post office in southbourne and the same tramp is still begging, the wind is cold, the guy in the bank has lost a bit more hair, the beach is still like a river bed of stones, fish and chips are such a good idea until you eat them and then think your heart is going to explode.

So essentially, enjoy every moment of your trip and dont come back until the very last moment. Your Rim may be broken (is it just me that finds talking about your Rim a bit awkward???) Simons rim has a split in it (sorry mums - boys humour)

So what I am trying to say is that you may be annoyed at your rim (te he he) but its better than sitting at work staring out of the window dreaming about a holiday is 97.5 days time for all of a week to some horrid little rain soaked town in Prestattin or somewhere.

You guys are on the trip of a lifetime and are living most peoples dreams who cannot go for whatever reason. I love your reports, kinda like Uncle Travelling Mack (Bonus point for which TV show that comes from)

I do miss you mate and I miss our little chats, although SKYPing you is really funny in your little Irosh bar when we are in our chillout lounge in Spain.

Hugs to you both and can we have some more random bizarre naked pictures please!!!!

Love Skono and Blondie

wow, what a fanstastic trip and great website Simon. You’re possibly too talented to function. It’s all very well though but will you be back soon to do my VMware 3.5 upgrade ? Take care.

Richard

Hello Jenn y Simon!!espero que elviaje siga sobre rieles !! Fue un gran placer suvisitaa buta ranquil
Un abrazo enorme y sincero! mucha suerte!!!

ooooh your still both alive, thats good…i have been out of reach of a computer and internet for a while and have just read all your entries with part envy and part relief that i am not as stupid as to try and cycle for more than 10 km on fine sunny days on the level…still heh ho, it looks like your are having a proper time of it and even with the real hell of getting out of a tent in freezing conditions to get on that saddle again, you dont have the stress of a real job to worry about…best not get one, i know it never worked for me!

any way i nearly have a house built in monte now which is nice and may even have a job next year..what ever next.
keep well and keep posting..its great to read

snogs

roebine

G’day Jen,

A long time since we caught up, but I am really enjoying reading and seeing photos of your adventures. Not good for someone who wishes they could trade places for a while - sounds magical! Jono and Marish are staying with me in Sydney this weekend for the big famiy 90th birthday. Lovely to meet little Madeline, and Thomas is a real cutie. Gavin is away until Feb 08 on his own adventure - big job for him in the land of the poppy seeds. When I heard what you were up to, it sounded amazing, and the proof is in this diary you keep for us all to share in. Whilst arduous at times, you are doing things many of wish we could get away to do, and I am sure you will only look back on the memories fondly. Enjoy every last moment, stay safe, cycle hard!
regards, Ana

Hello u 2. Really enjoying the journal. It’s not making being inside in an office all that easy though….

The salt lake looked brilliant, but I was very disturbed by some of the pictures. The ones with the tent in though looked awesome….proper outdoor adventure camping!

Keep up the good work and take care
Gossie

Hey you guys
It has been just amazing reading how you have been doing and looking at the pics ! Chris saves your front page for me so i get the chance to read the blog at my leisure. I am just in awe at how much you have achieved in such a short space of time is just fab and i am so jealous that you have been to my all time most wanted travel destinatiom Machu Picchu it is on the TOP of my to do list, thats a lie getting married is top but that is second ! Keep going its wonderful ! love me and chris x

Yoh Hombres! Lama’s eh, funny looking spitting creature that stink…quite a lot in common with the Welsh then, lol. Progress just make us go woah, everytime that we check in.

It never ceases to amaze me that you are doing all of this on a pedal bike! We drove for 7 hours through the Sierra Navada last week above the clouds and we are at a maximum of 1500m, and I can tell you that I was knackered……driving!

Saw a dude on a bike similar to yours at the top and I started yelling at him that you were doing the same thing but I think he thought I was trying to knock him off, which I very nearly did! Seriously, I get fed up with driving up a hill for 2 hours and yet you do it all day…….depth, strength and inner belief the goes beyond anyones comprehension. You two are stars.

Next time you are drinking under the moon toast us, cos we toast you under that very same moon. (being nice to you does not make me gay!!)

Hugs and more later xx

Hey Jeni Wren,

Belated Happy Birthday - Hope you had a lovely day! Loving the updates and the pictures :0)

Sara & Lara xx

Hi Jen

Isn’t it great! Little Madeliene Grace has arrived ( I hope I got the spelling right.) We have a niece to share and spoil…won’t it be fun, just think of all the gilrie things we can buy for her… Zoe is really excited and I can’t wait to see the photos…
We are happily looking forward to our holiday in the sun, although it will be the monsoon season, hopefully we will get a bit of sunshine. But I am sure no matter what the weather will have a ball.
Thinking of you sis and wishing you all the best for Thurs 13th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Indulge yourself and have a great day. All these family birthdays in September. Hey I am going to Perth on Tues to see Mum and Dad. Am really looking forward to seeing them.
Take care and keep having fun
Love
Sarah

Hi folks

Skono and Blondie here in Tarifa. We saw a punk on a racing bike in the middle of Portugal at the top of a hill that took us 20 minutes to drive down…he was grinning like a monkey and get this, he was videoing himself off the handle bars with a really old camcorder. Do you suffer from bizarre incidents like this?

Man nearlly 1000 miles. Stunning. Just beggars belief that you have both achieved this on a bloomin pushbike!!!!

Hope the bikes havent snapped in half yet. Those brackets seem to be a real concern.

Love reading the blogs…..keep it up old boy. Have you used the poo pump yet?

Hugs

Us…..oh saw Kirsty Jones at Guincho and had a chat, she sends her regards, also saw Jaime Herraiz (Jaime Pro) check out the website for the photos I shot of him)

Us xxx

The wedding is November 2008!
Andy

I say have fun helping out at the Chilean kite school Simon! Just make sure you wear a nice pair of leg warmers and a colourful skirt-should be enough to keep those mosquitos at bay or maybe join Jen for a leg wax?
The boys say hi and enjoyed looking at the pictures of the Lamma and the sheep!
Who on earth would vote for you to take an early bath with Bubba?

Hey Jen

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I hope you had a wonderful day! Just don’t think that you are another year older!!!
I hope you found some bubbly to have or the local equivalent!

Take care

lots of love

Katherine

Hi Jen & Simon,
It’s been way too long Jen! Apologies for being so slack over the years - but have always loved getting updates from Marish on how you’re doing!
So wonderful to read about your adventures guys, and to sense your happiness in life! Very inspiring!
I had a fun time catching up with Jono, Marish & Thomas in Canberra a week or so ago. We’re being posted there at the end of the year, after 2 fantastic years in Wellington, NZ. Very sad to be leaving - am perhaps more Kiwi than Aussie now!
Look forward to keeping up with your travels.
Take care and stay safe.
With much love,
Margot (and the boys).

Hi Guys,

Thought it was about time we made the effort to get in touch. Wanted to let you know that we’ve been thinking of you and following your progress ever since you left. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed logging on and catching up on your latest adventures, sounds amazing. Very impressed with your efforts, especially Jen as a novice! You guys must be feeling incredibly fit and must have butt cheeks to be proud of!

We’re just back from a camping trip in The Gower, was ace. The boys are off on the annual kiting safari to Rhosi this weekend.
Take care and keep up the good work.

Love from Amanda and Cam

P.S. Oh yeah Simon, love the website-very professional.

hi guys

like you we have struggled to get internet. We are going to try and upload some of our shots onto lazyblue gallery today. We’ve kited in a competition in Nova Vega that our beach would have won all top 10 slots. We’ve done 1240 miles in 2 days to get here so not quite as much as yours but we did ours with a 2.5 turbo diesel engine and NO PEDALS. Every mile that we travel makes me think of a mile that you have to pedal. Some of the hills that we’ve driven up make me shudder at the thought of even riding down them let alone up.

Spirits seem good so long may it continue.

Be strong and be true….how much you missing kiting?

Hi Jen

I just wanted to let you know I have sent you some photoes of the SwimTrek w/end to your email address so you can have a look!

The 2 Vic’s, Zoe and I said you were the missing link!! - but don’t worry I think you would rather be where you are on your bike than bobbing up and down in the middle of a FREEZING lake in the rain!!! - I have NEVER been so cold!!! - and Vicki did it ALL without a wetsuit- practicing for her Channel Swim - we all said she is hardcore!

I am enjoying reading all about your progress on the site and I can just see you throwing your toys out of the pram!!!! I am glad the beanie is coming in handy - I will be able to knit socks soon!

Anyway take care and enjoy yourself!

Lots of love
Katherine

Team

Good effort is all I can say. You are eating up those miles now. Feel like I am with you after reading all your blogs. Don’t know how you have the energy to type after biking all day. Wish I could be cranking at those pedals with you guys.

Told you to do some more hill training Si. Jen is sick of waiting for you at the top of the hills!!!!! Hope you got my SMS the other week. Missing you at work Jen.

Thinking of you guys. May your tires stay hard, your wheels turning and winds be all tail ones.

Take care you crazy muppets.

Lol

Baldie

Glad you are both safe, but it was a worrying few days till we heard from you.

Carol Meredith (friend of Simon’s parents)
Denton, Maryland (currently visiting England)

Hi guys
keep up the good work & excellent writing, when’s the
book signing ?
Recite this verse 3 times every morning and it will be a breeze….

‘tengo que ciclo muchas millas hoy’

& always remember…. ‘lets be careful out there’

hasta pronto
nigey

Hi Jen
Glad to heae you are still going and still having fun….no more pearls till the end of your journey…we are all doing well..looking forward to our holiday..at this stage we are going to Bintan island adn Singapore….should be fun. The kids are looking forward to it. Josh will be doing his Outdoor Ed trek the week of his birthday and will be trekking the Fitzgerald River National park…then when he gets back we will be heading off. Zoe is in Perth at the moment on “Band Camp”. Hope to drive up to Perth to see Mum and Dad for her birthday. Will try and send comment for your big day.
take care
lots of love
Sarah Nigel Josh and Zoe

where’s my postcard?

you must have had plenty of free time to look for postcards and stamps…what have you been doing?

Story so far is excellent reading, i never knew you could write! are you using thjis bloggy thing as a journal or are you writing your collective memoirs down on something..

ps its raining again here..just to cheer you up.

snogs

roebine

Hi guys - I had no idea you had taken on such a venture - good on you.. Top tip - the coca leaves really do work for altitude sickness (if you haven’t figured that one out already :o) Happy travelling xx

Hi Guys

We’ve sent a couple of sat phone messages hope you’ve received them. Enjoy reading your updates-a few more photos would be good! Enjoy the sun its more than we’re having here!

Hey Dudes

Love your work. Hope you got my text message. Nice to see that you have started somewhere nice and flat. Ha ha!! Would so love to be with you biking my arse off. Hope that you haven’t been taking any performance enhancing drugs, although some days I bet you wish you had some. If you do let me know and I will post them to your next stop. Love all the gear! Simon please tell me Jen packed that!!!

Well guys I voted for you to finish of course. Can’t believe some people gave you 1 week. Whatever!! Remember as long as you have all the gear and no idea!

Love and pedal power to you both.

Baldie

I was looking around the site the other day and came across the technical bit.

http://www.bigskylife.com/onelife/wp/technical/

Looking at the picture of Plums next to his bike, I can’t help thinking that he is the ‘only gay in the village’.

Msg No 2. Just a brief note to endorse what Trish had to say on the other means.I too had reservations re the period you set aside for acclimatization. I believe you need about 6 weeks starting at the basic level and working yourself up for as u are aware altitude sickness can have serious side effects in the long term. I can imagine the mental torment you suffered coming to the decision to drop down to the coast and you have jumped one of many hurdles to come. Keep smiling, don’t lose your sense of humour and enjoy for after all you are on holidays. I have the feeling that the natives are friendly and I hope that this remains so. Have you contracted someone to write your book or will that be a task after Arg?

Enjoyed your update. All the best and take care. Lots of love Dad and Trish******

Hi Si & Jen

What a cool site this is - was totally unaware of the amount of stuff you are carrying with you in order for folks to see your progress! A marine in the SAS will be able to learn a thing or two from your packing skills by the end of your trip!!!! Ha Ha.
Take care of each other!
Erland

Hi ya!

Just realized, do you have to stop and get off of your bike to answer the sat phone? Do you prefer sat phone messages or guestbook messages? I guess it does depend on where you are. Can you receive the sat messages from anywhere?

I’ve been riding my bicycle everyday - thinking of you!
Love from Ruth

Thought I would touch base using this means and give it Msg No 01 note my 1st msg on Satphone free text is Msg1. I shall get J and M to subscribe and to make contact. I agree it is a good way to help to keep up the morale as long as you dont get tied down. your update system is certainly a good means to keep people up todate as well as saving time. your last locstat had you under cloud. Does this mean you are travelling thru snow covered country?

I have just discovered the meaning of “sticky keys”. I seem to learn something new every day. The problem is remembering it all!

I hope enerything is going well and continues to do so.Luv Dad

Hi Jen,

Glad to hear the luggage had arrived; Jono wants to know how the sore bot bot is going and the sunburn!!!!!

All going well, only 4 weeks left until your niece arrives - can’t quite believe it but am looking forward to seeing the little miss. Thomas is forever blowing raspberries on my belly and saying hello sister (prompted by Jono) He has great conversations with Reggie and Nan - very funny to see. You will laugh when witnessing one of his moments - so like Jono.

Well take care and will keep you posted on events. Sending our love and lots of hugs

Jono, Marish, Thomas and Beesette oh and Zuk Zuk.

Take care buttocks - have a good trip and look forward to catching up when you get back so you’d better learn to drink while your away !! Festy

What a wonderful adventure that you are setting out upon. You must be so fit and I envy you ( in a nice way) all those wonderful places and sights that most
people will never experience.
Look forward to following your travels.
Best wishes
Katie

Plums,

Glad to see you made it safely, will keep an eye on how you are going.

Mark

Hey Jen

glad to see you are finally on your way…hope the lost bag doesn’t throw you…..
I am really glad for you that you are doing the fabulous journey..what an adventure. I know this is something you have always had a yearning for and I know you will strive to give it your best…have fun and just enjoy the moment. Zoe and Josh send their love and we are all thinking of you and Simon of course. We hope he looks after you and can cope when you lose it and say “no more”….

take care love you heaps
your Big sis sarah

Hey,

Don’t forget to change gear when you need to - up, down, sideways, foul weather, good weather, whatever you need.

Love from Ruth and Steve

Well Big Brother…

Your day has finally come…tomorrow you will be on that plane and the magnitude of this trip will finally start to sink in… yes you are completely crazy but we are so proud of you for having the courage to attempt such a HUGE adventure.

Growing up you always had tremendous spirit and strength and always had a great idea for the next invention… wiring up a turbo booster on zimmer frame was taking it a little far though!

Even though we fought a lot your little twin sisters always looked up to you with love and respect. Now that we are all grown it is easier to tell you how proud we are to have such a kind hearted, generous and AWESOME brother! I have never known anyone to have as much drive for life and inner strength that you have. To not be afraid of yourself is truly amazing.

Jen, we only had a short time to meet you in England.. you are a very special person and have a great deal of inner strength. We are both looking forward to spending time with you when you return.

If there are times on your trip that you really think that you are not going to make it remember that there are plenty of people on the side lines, cheering you on. All you have to do is imagine their faces.

Mike and I hold a special place in our hearts for you both and we wish you all the best for your expedition across South America. Just make the most of the hot showers at the Marriott in Quito!!

Thinking of you always - you make us proud!

Mike and Tamsin.
Florida,USA

facial hair is never acceptable…especially on woman…but a ginger moustache is going too far…have a shave before you go other wise you will definatley be arrested…and why am i not on your links?

roebine

what time is the beer and dancing girls starting on saturday night?

My thoughts on Plummer:

I’ve known Simon for quite a long time now, through both thin and thick and there’s one thing that comes over really strong when you meet him, his inner strength and burn. Enough is never enough and it can always be improved on, if it cant, then he will make it work.

I met Simon just before the last trip and when he got back we hooked up again. I asked a million questions about the trip and the ‘mental side’ of where he went to in his mind and I discovered that the only way to get to know your, and see your inner self better is to stand naked over a mirror.

Simon has the amazing ability to look deep withinside himself and have the determination and depth to dig deep enough to pull it off, and that is a very rare quality in anybody. (2 days of doing nothing else apart from riding a pushbike up a hill???) MADNESS

I know, without doubt that Simon will pull this trip off and will learn even more about himself than he did last time.

Those that see Simon kite will know that he’s dedicated and a bloody good kiter but few people get to see the side of him that we see when he is on the water 2km out back, still doing his hair and singing songs about loving himself (Im too sexy for my kite!!)

Im going to miss my mate Simon and I know that where ever this trip takes him (Bolivian Jail for smuggling crack)seriously though, where ever this trip takes him both physically and mentally, I know he will take every day as though it is the most important day of his life.

This show of honesty and affection on my part does in no way make me gay, I’ll leave that for Si.

Good luck to you both and have an absolute ball.

We leave for our trip on 11th August and Im even going to enter the competition in Lisbon (Seniors) in your honour.

Guys, travel safe, be true to each other, remember that you are a very very long time dead, 10,000,000’s of people will never have an ounce of the balls that you two have do this trip.

Now as a finish, you have to do me something….print off 10 ‘row cards’. Have 5 each, each time you row, the row causer has a card taken off them. If at any point anyone has no cards left - they are to be put on a plane and one of the back up team will immediately be despatched to take their place. SO JUST DONT ****** ARGUE….there I said it.

Happy travels.

Skono & Blondie

Just had a look at your web site and signed up for email alerts when you add new entries. We all wish you a safe and fantastic trip and look forward to following your journey. Hope you don’t miss the kiting too much Simon…’Lock and Load Pilgrim!’

GOOD LUCK you guys!! Have a fantastic time, make sure you enjoy every minute. Looking forward to tracking your progress on the website. Em x