Farewell to Dotty

Today was a rather sad one.

Although we still have almost a week left before we return to normality, we spend that time bereft of our companion , our school, our transport and our home for the last two months; Dotty the van. Last night and this morning, Jo and I  cleaned and polished so that, like some found animal that we’d cared for, she could be released back to Pablo at Wicked South America. We drove carefully back to Santiago this morning (zigzagging to avoid any bugs that might splat on the shiny windshield) and Pablo & Chris came to pick her up this afternoon. I swear she wagged her rear at me as she drove up the road and I’ve been sitting at the window of the hostel hoping she’ll find her way back!

Anyhow, the time in Dotty has been every bit the road trip that we’d wanted. She has taken us over 11,000 km in 57 days. We have crossed the border between Chile and Argentina 4 times, been on a ferry, a runway, up a volcano and along several thousand kilometres of what in the UK would be considered ‘4×4 off-road adventure’ but in South America is major highway.

Some of my highlights:

Jo and I making an early start with the kids still asleep and the bed still made in the back. Two little faces poking through the curtain to join in with the Proclaimers ‘500 miles’.

Wild camping near Lago Grey in Torres De Paine and waking to a clear view and superb sunrise.

Seeing who could shout ‘Guaaaannnacco’ or ‘Rheheheaaah’ first and loudest each time we spotted either(and there were lots).

The exhilarating and breath-taking drive on the Ruta 265 from Chile Chico along Lago General Carrerra.

Finally climbing over a hill or reaching a bend in the Ruta 40 only to see the road stretching and shimmering to the horizon.

Waking to find wiggly Will is laying on top of everyone else.

Deciding to take a little side track near a mirador (view point) and having a beach side wild camp to ourselves.

Pushing Dotty down the main street in Mendoza whilst explaining to Jo how to jump-start her.

Ellie sat next to me in the passenger seat, choosing music for a playlist. Kate Bush, Queen, Dixie Chicks, Natalie Imbruglia, no boy bands, good girl!

The kids taking turns in ‘Mummy school’ at the back.

Giggling for a whole day with Jo every time we thought about the gormless workman who waved us through to a construction site.

The kids getting bored at looking out the window at volcanoes (Yeah Dad, we’ve seen lots and we’re playing Top Trumps)

Convoy with ‘Roo’ through the Lakes District, squeezing 6 in to play bananagrams at night.

Driving halfway up Volcan Osorno.

Sitting on the roofrack, group photo in front of the Fitzroy mountains

Freewheeling down hills, trying to remember if Pablo said we had 7 or 70 kms when the fuel light came on.

Heartbreak as Will thinks he’s lost his Bradley Wiggins top trump.

The look on the policeman’s face when he looked in the back to get a face full of wet knickers on a washing line.

Tickle fights and tea in bed.

Pulling Ellie’s tooth out with string.

Having to wear a large purple flowery hair band on my wrist to remind me to turn off the lights.

Looking in the side mirrors to see two head stuck out the rear windows like a couple of labradors.

Sitting at a petrol station, eating a steak dinner because we couldn’t take meat and veg across the border.

Waking up in a variety of truck stops surrounded by very large lorries.

Taking the Ruta 63 back from the ‘Siete Lagos’ drive and it being more stunning and we had it to ourselves.

The whole family singing (shouting, screaming) ‘you’ll never break the chain’. Four different tunes, none the same as the original.

Joy as Bradley Wiggins is found.

Three o’clock toilet trips with Will, thousands of stars in unpolluted skies, trying to avoid getting wet feet!

Snuggled in the back watching James Bond.