Dodging Police
During a visit to
the town of Puno on Lake Titicaca, through which runs the border of
Bolivia and Peru, there was a build-up of military activity. They were
advised to leave immediately. To get out they had to hire a small red
bus, place red cross stickers on the windows, and pose as a medical
team. They just managed to escape Puno, but closer to the Chilean
border they were pulled up by plain-clothes police whereupon Alby's
visa was found to have expired. They ordered him back to Lima to have
it renewed. However, Alby knew that if he could just get across the
border into Chile all would be OK because no visa was required there.
So Alby, Michelle and
Geoff the cameraman negotiated to buy two motorbikes at a market place,
stocked up on water, fuel and other supplies, and headed across the
Atacama desert, a series of salt basins and one of the driest places in
the world. In some parts, apparently, no rain had ever been recorded.
So, with map and compass and his sea-faring knowledge, Alby got them to
the safety of Chile.
Then it was time for
an emotional farewell to Michelle, who's time had come to head home,
back to South Africa. There endeth World Safari II.
Au reviour!