Santiago, Chile

It´s our last night in Santiago.

There really isn´t much to report from here. It´s quite a large city with great unrealised potential.

Sadly we didn´t get out of the city to see some of the amazing countryside - perhaps next time when I come back to head south to Antartica in 2010.

Having difficulty downloading pics - so for those visually biased you´ll have to wait.

We depart in the morning for Quito, our gateway to the Galapagos Islands - there will be plenty to report from there and plenty of pics.

We did manage to make our pilgrimage to Cerro San Christbal to meet the Our Lady of the Imaculate Conception. If she can see through the smog she keeps an eye on the city from her perch atop the hill.

Given the atmospheric conditions in Santiago, everyone could get away with murder right under her nose!

Stand by.
Adios!
Manana!

Come Away! Come Away!

"Second to the right, and straight on till morning."
That, Peter had told Wendy, was the way to the Neverland; buteven birds, carrying maps and consulting them at windy corners,could not have sighted it with these instructions. Peter, yousee, just said anything that came into his head. (Peter Pan, J.J. Barrie)

Tomorrow we catch our flight to Santiago, Chile!

Finally packed.

Here's the outline of the trip.

New video camera in hand, so there should be some interesting posts to watch out for!

As for tonight, my shadow and I are exhausted!

Time to find some sleep befoe the Flight!

No Pain No Gain

This morning was our last Bootcamp session before departure.

One of the things I intend to do for the upcoming trip is detail the effort involved by recording my energy expenditure using my AXN700 Polar heart rate monitor.

This morning's stair session at Gordon's Bay was serious work - 904 kcal recorded.

Good training for the Inca Trail.

It'll be interesting to see how it compares to Day 2 of the trail - reportedly the toughest section of the hike. Watch this space.

Brendan Breaks Through

All children, except one, grow up.

(Peter Pan, J Barrie)

When you're in your forties such a claim seems both more certain, and unlikely.

At what seems like a very late stage in life, I am about to embark on an adventure, a long time in my dreams. It seems late for me, because I'm impatient by nature.

By this time next week I shall be well on my way across the Pacific, bound for South America.

Both John and I are finally putting the doing into all the talking.

And I have Cousin Sarah to thank.

Sarah was the catalyst. Upon announcing that she was getting married, she also announced that I had a year to prepare, save and get moving.

Without that challenge, as simple and gentle as it seems, was all was needed.