Blog - BRIDGET THE MIDGET

Something in the Air?

22nd May 200910th March 2020 By roychinnorNo Comments

It has been an interesting sort of day. First of all there was a guard changing ceremony at the memorial to the fallen during the 1982 dispute over the Falkland Islands. I then strolled back to the Paseo de los Granaderos memorial statue in Plaza San Martin. I was sitting on a bench minding my own business when a movement off to my right caught my attention. There was a young man that had dropped to one knee in-front of a young lady. He reached up and took her hand and it was immediately obvious that he was proposing and the response was equally obvious. I left them to it for a few minutes and then when they were calming down I walked over and asked if they spoke English. It transpired they are an American couple and my observations were correct. I congratulated them, wished them luck for their future and then asked them to do it all over again....

Argentina, DeJa Vu

18th May 200910th March 2020 By roychinnorNo Comments

Well we’re back. I arrived in Argentina early on the 16th May and was raring to go. However I had clearly forgotten the arrival in Australia and the problems of bureaucracy. I couldn’t contact the shipping agent as they don’t work on Saturdays, so I had to wait until Monday morning to find out if Bridget had arrived. The President of the MG Car Club of Argentina took me to lunch on Sunday along with two fellow members, Pablo Fernitz and John Ortiz. They were able to give me the low-down on driving conditions, traffic police behaviour and the best route, not only through Argentina but also Chile and Peru. Once again I received a warning about heavy goods vehicles, but as with Australia, the truck drivers are professional which is a major plus. First thing Monday morning I called the shipping agent again and they requested me to go to their offices with my passport and the cars papers. The car is...

Starters Orders, Again

9th May 200910th March 2020 By roychinnorNo Comments

Hello to you all. Countdown to the next leg of this journey is now underway. The plan, such as it is, is to follow the Pan American Highway from just outside of Buenos Aires across Argentina, over the Andes into Chile. Then turning north I will drive much of the length of Chile and entering Peru still travelling north. A short detour from the highway to take in Machu Picchu famed for the Inca settlement and then rejoining the highway to drive into Equador where we will hitch another sea trip around the Darien Gap to Panama. From there it’s just a matter of travelling north to Canada. Should be a piece of cake. The break whilst Bridget has been travelling from Freemantle to Buenos Aires has given me some time for reflection on the first two legs of the journey and I have concluded that those that accused me of being ‘crazy’ are probably right. I shall check into the...

Normal Service Will Be Resumed ASAP

26th April 200910th March 2020 By roychinnorNo Comments

Hi Folks, Sorry to have to tell you that the interuption to our journey, caused by the ocean between Perth and Buenos Aires, will be longer than anticipated. Or to put it another way, the ship carrying Bridget will be late. The latest estimated date of arrival in Buenos Aires is currently the 20th May although this is still to be confirmed. Originally it was expected on the 5th May. However I have been swatting-up on the route through South America and it is approximately 4,500 miles plus a further 1,000 miles detour to include the Inca ruins at Macchu Picchu in Peru. This leg will take me through Argentina, Chile, Peru and Ecuador. Thank you all for your patience and I hope to be chatting again soon....

Goodbye Australia

6th March 200910th March 2020 By roychinnorNo Comments

I arrived in Australia in October 2008 with little in the way of expectations but some media generated preconceptions e.g. all sun, sea and surf. Although I knew some of the distances involved in circumnavigating the continent it still came as a surprise to find my next destination would be three days driving away. What I was not in anyway prepared for are the extremes experienced in Australia such as weather, flood levels, bush fires and some of the wildlife. The country is vast and sparsely populated; the people warm, generous, and what I particularly liked, individualistic but with exceptional community spirit. I believe it may have many parallels with parts of the United States of America although I doubt that I will find the Americans quite so generous. It has been an immensely interesting visit during which I have travelled over 11,500 miles bringing the total for the first two legs to almost 22,500 miles. Names, previously unknown, but now indelibly...