News from Jupiter
From My Notebooks In 1974: Electrical Spaghetti
October 18, 2026
In Buenos Aires an X-ray put my fears of lung cancer to rest; did some reconstruction work with a friend on the flying jacket which was worse for wear; and made friends with some students. Friday October 11th Yesterday had cholera and typhus jabs, in little clinic on the waterfront. Doctor entered the typhus on my card before I’d had it, so I had […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: Campo Stella, Villaguay, Entre Rios
October 11, 2026
I started my journey with two canvas bags slung across the tank. Apart from catching fire off the exhaust pipe, they could obviously be improved upon. In Nairobi I got two leather boxes made – better, but still not great. In my mind I designed bags that would really fit the contours of the tank and carry much more. Argentina seemed like a great […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: San Ignacio to Villaguay
October 4, 2026
Given my appearance and eccentric mode of travel, it was always uncertain how I would be viewed in a new destination, but more often than not I was received as a visiting dignitary. So it was in San Ignacio. September 12th. San Ignacio. Lunch at Auto Club hostel. Then taken to parish priest – “Der Farrer” – José Marx. German missionary of the Stegler […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: San Ignacio
September 27, 2026
I crossed the river and entered Argentina with a minimum of fuss and took the road south through the heavily forested State of Misiones, where the Spanish Jesuits had established some of their missions in the 17th century. September 11th Customs on both sides of Iguaçu are minimal. Not interested in my papers at all. What a contrast with Fortaleza. Dirt road starts at […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: Brazil to Argentina
September 20, 2026
September 10th, Paraná Travelled from Curitiba 350 km app. Find dirt path off road leading down to reaped maize field and clearing above stream with shed and slimsy wooden shelter of branches and veneer over heap of corn husks. Put my ‘rede’ [hammock] across two posts, tying it to crosspiece. Got out tin of feijoada [Black bean stew] and coffee. Went for short walk and […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: Sâo Paulo to Curitiba
September 13, 2026
6th September, Sâo Paulo to Curitiba Probably the nastiest ride of all time. At first the dreaded traffic didn’t bother me. Then came fog (or cloud), rain, wind. And it went on non-stop for 8 hours. Cold. Throttle and clutch cable seized. Couldn’t see – and froze. [I didn’t record the diesel that dirty trucks spewed over me, though I still remember it very well. […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: Riding south from Rio to Ouro Prêto
August 30, 2026
Friday, August 30th My last night in Rio. Lulu, Holly, Esmeralda and Tito, and Gill Anthony gathered at “Amigo Fritz” to say goodbye. Shrimps and corn. Old sayings. Antonio came too. This morning left Rio at 7.30 (saying goodbye to Jandira for second time). With Antonio – his clutch cable had broken, my front brake was still soft. We made a sorry pair in the […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: Rio to Brasilia
August 23, 2026
August 21/22 Somebody in the military government must have thought it worth trying to persuade me that they were the good guys. They booked me two nights at the Hotel Nacional and bought me a bus ticket there and back. The bus was very luxurious, better than a plane, 16 hours overnight and I arrived in the morning. Brasilia, built from scratch by Niemeyer, was […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: Andrade’s Story
August 16, 2026
Rio, August [My imprisonment/detention in Fortaleza was Kafkaesque, in the sense that I was locked up in an office where, during the day, all normal office procedures took place. There was a plump young blonde secretary at one desk, and the head of a drug squad (Toxicos) at another. A handful of agents, three or four men, one woman, hung around waiting for a call. […]
From My Notebooks In 1974: An Ex President In Rio
August 9, 2026
Still enjoying the luxuries of Rio de Janeiro, making the most of my very highly connected friends. I have been waiting for a chance to talk to an Ex President. August 2nd Finally had meeting with Kubitschek. Mild mannered man, surprisingly un-monstruous. In fawn suit. Flat featured, grey-eyed, a faded tan colour. With him was a stocky fellow in casual academic disarray suitable to […]