Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
stage 5
south america
september 24 to December 28
Distance to cover:
approximately 10,000 kilometres
Terrain:
Jungle, mountain ranges, volcanoes, cliffs, rainforests,
plains, rivers, valleys, barren deserts, towns, cities and fishing
villages, vineyards and coffee plantations
Typical weather conditions:
hot days (growing cooler as we move
south), cold nights
Hazards:
Flooded rivers, Farc, giant mosquitoes, snakes and
spiders, our higgledly-piggledy planning, my battered body
(especially my ruined feet), bad drivers, debris on the road,
rats and biting dogs, thieves
Key equipment:
cap with protective legionnaire-style flap at back,
t-shirt, shorts, running shoes, warm jacket for nights, extra
supplies of water and food for desert runs, sunscreen, zinc cream,
needle for puncturing blisters, camera gear, nurofen, vitamins
Personnel:
me, logistics man and chief back-up driver Bernie
Farmer, assistant and running mate katie Walsh, cameramen,
technicians and interpreters Gustavo Garza, Juan Femet and ming
d'arcy, police and army escorts and a 17-man armed army guard
to protect me in the Darién, my children Brooke and Dillon
