A long tale then from our arrival at the Columbian border . Ecuador , with its mountains and live volcanoes was never a disappointment but the weather closed in so we missed seeing some of the stunning scenery .Quito , a magical city where we just managed to miss friends meant a stay in a rather run down backpackers who charged us for parking and even threatened to charge for using the kitchen ! But still , the city made up for it .with time pressures for shipping we headed on. We met Grahame , who put up ( or should I say , put up with ) two itinerant travellers whom he had never seen before who arrived , via E mail on his doorstep in Ecuador for a couple of days .He likes the interaction with Over Landers , so if you are heading North you could do far worse than give him a mail on gkersy @ hotmail.com and pop in .Border crossing into Columbia , given a hearty welcome from immigration and customs 90 days granted , the last country ( sorry Venezuela , next time for sure ) .Warned that we will need Insurance and don’t drive at night welcome to the nightmare that should be Columbia .Thoughts of drug cartels , ATM kidnappings , corrupt police , drugs , poverty etc .Comments that even the GREAT Adventure Charlie Boorman wouldn’t risk this part of the world ( or any part of South America ) it was with trepidation we carried on to our first Copec Campsite .

So Columbia , sum her up .Friendliest people in South America , no hint of any problems , no problems with the Police ( except negotiated the fine down from 200,000 to 20,000 for crossing a yellow line and having shook on the price , got change from a 50000 note ).Convoluted route over the mountains to Bogota and a route North that can only be described as sublime , despite the fact that every man and his lorry use it.

So there you have it .Cartagena , possibly one of the most beautiful cities in South America awaiting the go ahead to ship to Panama and again an aching feeling that we are leaving a wonderful part of the world that we hopefully we can return to and explore even more .This wont be our last post as we ship on the 12^th ( Inshala)

From Hondo we catch up with our old favourite road , the Routa 40 . Awesome ,winding road into the mountains , ruins at Quilmes , small Andean Villages .Stocking up in Salta its time to play in the Altiplano .Unfortunately the Altiplano wants to play hard , at an altitude of over 3700m it gets mighty cold .At -15 , on waking Lizzybus has a hard fight to overcome the waxing of her fuel .

Having spent all our last Arg Pesos in town on beer , fags , red wine , red meat and fuel time to cross into Chile .Paso Sico ( dirt road ) we are reliably informed that it has frozen over , no options to take the easier , but still stunning Paso Jama to San Pedro .

4800 m and climbing , my heart goes out to the abuse we are putting the Lizzybus through , again the good old girl makes it. This has been our 3^rd crossing of the Andes and no doubts wont be our last .

Bush camp by Valley de Luna we meet up with old friends .We will travel up the coast of Chile , paying homage to the desert hand and the magnificent coastal highway 1

Short trip admitted back into Argentina and a 19 day visa ( think they have been counting how many days we have been staying to date )

We are to head over to the West Coast , Bolivia , Chile and then into Peru. On the toss of a coin we stay at Chaco National Park on the basis its not a petrol station , free to get in and free camping with hot showers .Strangely the book was correct .The only trouble were the voracious mosquitoes .This was supposed to be the best time to visit!

Heading east , more petrol stations and Jaynes birthday spent at Termas rio Hondo with a bottle of Tia Maria !

Great roads as we visit the historic city of Oura Preto and Congouhas .

The one thing we DON’T like about Brazil is the large number of pay stations on the road .We are averaging about £8 day in Road tolls , saving money by camping with the truckers in petrol stations .Most stations have a free shower and a hard standing you can camp on .Only problem is the noise of their engines when they either pull up or leave ( usually about 06.00 hrs)

So their you have it , four great weeks in Brazil and we are holed up at Foz De Iguaçu , in a great campsite ( hot showers , power , cooking facilities , pool and free breakfast ) at r40 day (£12.50).

The cunning plan had been to visit the falls , camp for two days , do all those little jobs like washing and drying before shipping on to Paraguay (5 k away) .The falls , visited in sunshine , are spectacular and well worth the visit .The camp site , Paudimar Hostel superb ..

I blame Jayne for what’s happened .We have been stuck here for 4 days .Jayne casually mentioned “its not raining!” (INR) and lo and behold , it came to pass that the heavens did open and dump upon the Earth vast quantities of water .Bit Noahish at the moment except the good Ark Lizzybus leaks like a sieve .Its wet inside .Forecast says Thurs for the dry to kick in .so Thursday we wash , clean and dry everything then depart .

In UK we picked up a fly sheet , made by Compton 2000 ,( in Birmingham )so at least the tent is dry .cheers guys , its working a treat

All good things come to an end as we depart Florianapolis and head along the coast up to Rio .Its about 1400km , so , like Australia , its local.

Camping is cost prohibitive ( min r40 a night ) for what can only be described as poor quality .As the coast road is quieter than the main roads opportunities to Copec camp are few and far between and we find ourselves having to camp on sites .We console ourselves that after Rio we can again go back to free camping .The journey is spectacular , winding roads following the coast , pristine beaches with Rain forest clinging to the hills .A chance to visit Parity , Old colonial town as we approach Rio.

Having checked on Google a camp site is available in Rio , Sat Nav gets us there but as we head towards it , their is an uncomfortable feeling that we have been sold a pup , no way could a camp site be in this area of town .Half an hour of fruitless searching and its out with the Backpackers Guide and tracking down of a hostel .Strangely an affiliated camp site outside of town works out more expensive than a dorm room , breakfast and free parking in the centre !

Rio is everything and more .Copacabana and Ipanema are non descript beeches , Christ the Redeemer , a scary drive up a 1in 1 mountain and everywhere alive and kicking . For the first time we arrived at a location at night , a different take and a fulfilling experience .Rio rocks and we love it .

It sort of went “Bang” when the rear tyre exploded .Side of road again changing the tyres .Cards recovered & found to be working we locate a tyre centre who announce that the only spare tyre we have ( punctured in Oz) cannot be fixed and two of our tyres have bulges .Ok , only £1600 to replace all 6 , B*****cks .Back to BF Goodrich and a skinnier tyre (if they can get them)

So camped up at an out of season campsite ( but not out of season prices ) we await with baited breath for the results of the Great Tyre Hunt.

It’s a nice part of the world here , if a little expensive .Camped by the coast only a 100 miles from the border with Brazil .We await to see what will happen . Could be worse .

Walking across the grass from our pitch to the thermal showers .It’s a hot , clear blue skied day . Music , typically South American plays in the background .Families have pitched tent , Parillias on the go .The smell of cooking hangs heavy in the air. My walkman playing Pink Floyd . . How can this be so good , yet be so far away ? Just spent the day cleaning the truck out and tinkering with the old girl .Sleeping bags airing on the line , washing drying next to them .Despite everything I wouldn’t swap this for anything .We are just so bloody lucky , life doesn’t get any better . I have fully fallen for South America , sorry Australia you have been usurped . Still cant believe we have made it this far !

We will , according to our German friend Klaus enjoy the pass at Aqua Negra . Copec Camping at most opportunities we head inland and onto the dirt road of the pass .Customs and Immigration dealt with we are informed that the Argentinean formalities are done 90 km away .Welcome to a stunning drive to 4770 m . At the pass obligatory pictures are taken , we get more invites around South America and the starter decides not to work .Tie this up with the vast amount of Black Smoke out of the exhaust (effect of altitude and fixed rate diesel injection) and a worrying first , blue smoke .Blue means that oil is getting in somewhere .No sign of head gasket blowing ( oil in the water and vice a versa) and due to the effects of high altitude we quickly wend our way down from the pass . Argentinean formalities completed ( confiscated our chicken! )we are free to continue our route East to Uruguay .

Taking roads less travelled again we are rewarded by some stunning scenery and visits to Ischigualasto NP and “Valley of the Moon” .It is here that we realise that , being Easter with a few extra days added for the “Malvinas Day Celebrations ” every man and his dog is out visiting .This is , as back home , a Bank Holiday and typical Bank Holiday weather …….its raining . Nothing can dampen the spirits , the Cordoba region and its capital are simply stunning .

We have formulated a plan of action .As the Lizzybus is struggling ( always a feeling that something is about to let go , big time) we will try and make the States by Dec 2014 and have Christmas /New Year with my parents in Phoenix .A quick drive across to Florida and catch two weeks with family in February .This now gives us goals to work to rather than just meandering .

There you have it , eight and a half months to finish South and Central America .Surprisingly , not a long length of time .

And Anna ?

Jayne had a bad reaction to an insect bite . Swelling , massive, painful rash all over her body , throat closing off .She’s had it once before ( anaphylactic ) and recognises the symptoms .Believe it or not but it is a very serious condition that nearly killed her last time .So , down to the local clinic for a few injections .Next day , right as rain .Welcome to Uruguay !

We move on and again cross into Chile .This part of the world was devastated by a volcano two years ago , everywhere is still covered by a layer of pumice .As usual we are searched for contraband .In a new twist we actually declare some cheese and eventually loose onions , garlic and honey .That night we are forcibly told to come out for a meal with a Chilean / Canadian family .We think that hospitality is as good as Argentina.

Slow progress North , trying to avoid the road tolls of the Routa 5 we make it to Pucon and the magnificent Villarica volcano .All thoughts to climb it are put on hold as we had done it before 10 years ago .It still looks bloody huge .

Chile is a lot more expensive than Argentina but we looking to make Valparaiso and then Santiago for a bit of welding and a few oil filters.

Camping , hard site , security immaculate toilets and hot showers courtesy of Copec petrol stations , chance to save some money