News from Jupiter
From My Notebooks In 1974: Fortaleza Part Two
June 21, 2026
This is Part Two of a dispatch I sent to the Sunday Times after my detention by the Federal Police. If you didn’t read last week’s episode, please do that first: >>> Fortaleza Part One At two the team drifted back. There was nowhere to sit. I tried walking about. There was an older sergeant figure with a hard-boiled face. He pointed to the […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: Fortaleza
June 14, 2026
When I booked my passage on the Zoe.G I knew only that it sailed to Rio de Janeiro. Later, once on board, I discovered that it would first call in at Fortaleza, a city in the far north of Brazil. Though it had a population of a million I had never heard of it – an indication of my ignorance. I also did not know […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: On the Zoe.G to Brasil
June 7, 2026
Along the way through Africa I occasionally wrote small essays or mini-reports. A major issue of the day was Southern Rhodesia’s refusal to accept that an all-white government was not sustainable. Britain having divested itself of empire could not afford to be sheltering a white colony, and Ian Smith’s efforts to go it alone led to heavy sanctions. In theory British firms were forbidden to […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: On the Zoe.G
May 31, 2026
From Lourenço Marques my ship had to sail south and round the horn of Africa. Thursday, May 9th, 10th, 11th Sail along the coast [Mocambique, South Africa.] Calm sunny weather. On the 12th mountains of Cape Town barely visible in shrouds of mist. Then into Atlantic. Albatrosses. Small trawler. Disabled liner, listing to starboard, towed by tug. Chess games [with whom?] Sunday 12th Jog […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: Africa
May 24, 2026
Finally my ship, the Zoe.G, is ready to sail from Lourenço Marques for Brasil. It’s eight o’clock and dark. L.M. Wednesday, May 8th The pilot appears in the doorway of the captain’s cabin. A dark, bearded figure in a heavy coat. He seems shrouded in darkness and mystery. A portentous figure. “Are you ready, Captain? “The boat has been shivering gently for hours, a […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: Mozambique
May 17, 2026
Here I am, in Lourenço Marques, waiting for my ship to sail to Brazil. I can hardly contain my excitement. May 3rd 1974 Tomorrow, I sail for Rio and leave Africa behind. It’s the end of a journey that started in a war and ended in a revolution. In the aftermath of the Portuguese coup, Laurenco Marques simmers with a gentle excitement fueled […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: Mozambique, April/May
May 10, 2026
I arrived in Lourenco Marques at the end of May, and made contact with the shipping line that had agreed to take me to Brazil on the Zoe.G. I struck up a very good friendship with the shipping clerk, who was of Indian descent. He wasn’t sure when the ship would leave and I had to hang around. I spent a lot of time in […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: To Laurenço Marques
May 3, 2026
I left the Balmoral Hotel (which is still there today) to go back down to Durban, on the coast. Before leaving I parked my bike at the back of the hotel and left the engine idling while I checked on the oil pressure, which was still behaving oddly. Monday, 22nd April. Kokstad to Durban. Boy at hotel dancing to the rhythm of the engine […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: Port Elizabeth
April 26, 2026
I’ve come several thousand miles since Johannesburg and the bike is showing disturbing symptoms. I have already asked Lucas in Jo’burg for parts, and hope to get things fixed in Port Elizabeth, at Lionel’s shop. Friday 19th April Into Lionel’s first thing. Call Joe’s [in Johannesburg]. They have the parts. Just delivered [from England] but they won’t get to P.E [Port Elizabeth] today. Decide […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: South Africa’s South Coast
April 19, 2026
I’m still travelling through fairly civilised country – if you can call apartheid civilised – being handed on from friend to friend, and taking a day off in Hermanus, another delightful village on the South Coast. Just to remind you, these are raw notes – it would take a book to explain what they all mean. Sunday 14th April Idleness. Paperwork. Walk on beach […]