We've been through the desert on a horse with no name, or more accurately in a Toyota landcruiser and seen some of the most incredible sights of our trip so far. The land surrounding San pedro de atacama is like another world and as far removed from the jungles of borneo as it is possible to get.

Seeing as it is the driest place on earth kirst was keen for some more mountain biking, this time in the desert. As such on our first day we sorted out some bikes obtained a "map" and set off north along the one river that runs through the area though god knows where it comes from. Our trip took us through some amazing country before taking us into a dry river canyon where you expected Indiana jones to come charging round the corner at any moment. In my best Spanish I checked that there was a pass that way from a cyclist coming the other way who replied, "yes clearly", however, an hour later we were carrying our bikes down a desert mountainside and had started to ration the water. Eventually as we were desperately trying to remember everything ray mears taught us about survival on tv and commenting that there is no way someone gets that size in survival mode without finding a cake tree, we found a road and hence the safety of a pub! 'Ice cold in alex', eat your heart out.

Following that we set off on a 4x4 tour through the atacama desert and the Bolivian salt flats to the tune of a horse with no name with some new friends. Having promptly named ourselves Equipo Europa, we had a great few days seeing flamingos, volcanoes, the salt flats and generally gasping for breath at over 4500m in height.

That has brought us via Potosi to Sucre where we have just finished a three day hike through an inca trail and a meteor crater. The journey there consisted of three hours in the back of a lorry so full of bolivianos that it resembled a Where's Wally picture (though in this case wally was a sheep and if you look carefully she was located over the back axle between the legs of traditionally dressed Bolivian lady no. 37). Though travelling like the locals has become somewhat a theme of our trip I believe that putting people into stress positions for extended periods of time is internationally frowned upon. My favourite point however was when one lady pushed passed my legs, sat on my feet, and then seemed to take umbridge that my knees were in her back. Despite the transport the trek was stunning and has been a highlight of our trip so far despite the vegetarian diet.

That's about all for now kids. Next stop lapaz.

Lots of love from

Ian