Back With A Bang (Part 1 of 2)💥

Well its been a very busy time since we last spoke…!!

I certainly didn’t think that after finishing my last blog post in October 2023, my next foray into the creative storytelling world would not be until 7 months and 6 countries later. This is family life on the road I guess, full-on, non-stop and all-encompassing.

Cusco in Peru is our current destination, 3600m above sea-level, a height we have more or less been at for nearly 6 weeks now. I grew up admiring long-distance runners, however never quite understanding how “high altitude” training better prepared them for major events. Having spent so long now at these heights, and barely gotten used to exerting myself without almost running out of breathable air, I can now appreciate how those who do conquer such a challenge really excel on the track!

We recently had the pleasure of having my parents visit and travel with us for 3 weeks. Having never previously been to South America, or any similar developing countries, they made the very brave choice to break this duck by flying straight into La Paz in Bolivia and then proceeding overland to Cusco in Peru with us in the campervan. For those of you who have been to Bolivia in particular, you will know that it is another world the for many reasons. The mountainous barren landscape, the altitude, the street-sellers, the Cholitas and their bowler hats, the chaos, the poverty, the locals hospitality…its all very different to life in Ireland.

They hit the ground running and we all enjoyed a few great days exploring La Paz. The city recently launched the world’s longest cable-car transport system to counter the relentless traffic growth in the choked-up city. We took full advantage and got amazing views of this unique metropolis. Great local museums were visited and gorgeous eateries frequented. We were really on a roll when we spent an afternoon at the “Valle De La Luna” or “Moon Valley” site on the outskirts of the city. It was none other than Neil Armstrong who christened the site upon visiting it some years ago. A spectacular location, we enjoyed a leisurely midday walk-through, posing for photos and taking videos at every opportunity. We then took a taxi back towards our hotel ahead of more exploring in the afternoon…or so we thought…

Soon after commencing the drive, a terrible fainting sensation came over me. Sitting in the passenger seat of the taxi, I mumbled a few Spanish words about pulling the car over immediately. Our driver Pedro did so and I stumbled out onto all fours beside a barb-wire fence protecting me from a rather large cliff-face. For 20 minutes I stayed there, unable to get up, completely devoid of a single morsel of energy. It was a state I had never been in before in my life and certainly hope to never repeat. With the considerable help of my Dad Kevin, my wife Laura, and Pedro the taxi driver, they eventually managed to get me into the back-seat of the taxi where I lay down until we reached the hotel.

On arrival I was helped to our room, where I was given oxygen by the hotel staff. The oxygen was to counter what we all thought was a delayed reaction to the high altitude we were at, and the sickness that it regularly causes. While this temporarily improved my condition, I soon fell back into a similar energyless state. Extremely concerned, my family called the doctor and I was assessed promptly. Not liking what they saw, I was quickly put in a taxi bound for a local clinic. Arriving there was the strangest of feelings…obviously concerned for my own well-being, but equally concerned for what my wife, children, and recently arrived parents would be making of the whole situation. Not exactly the “Welcome to Bolivia” that we had promised them…

The clinic and the staff there were really second-to-none. I was seen by a senior doctor, had bloods taken and was on a drip within a half hour of my arrival. Other tests were subsequently conducted revealing that I had an unwanted combination of salmonella and a parasite infection that had quite literally knocked me for six. Four long, slow days of medicine, rest and recovery followed, after which I was ready to venture back out into the la Paz chaos. I must admit I still felt quite a bit shy of 100%, but the medical staff assured me that would slowly be achieved over the coming days (which it did). Arriving back to the hotel and seeing all my family again was a truly marvelous feeling that I will always cherish.

Click here to read the “Back With A Bang (Part 2 of 2)💥” blog post