The cartoonist Julio Fairlie "El flaco" to his friends, "Sampietri" to the rest of Peru, and grandfather of 5, is back on the road this time on his 70cc "mini" motorbike, since tomorrow he will start his journey to Arequipa to celebrate the 445 anniversary of this "white city".
Julio who is already in his early 60's (he said so himself), has done a series of modifications on his small motorbike, assisted by nation motorcycle champion Guillermo Loza, he changed the transmission for greater speed.
"I'm doing this to celelbrate the day of Arequipa and as a tribute to that great tango singer Schemelling Peralta, from "la peña Tanguera de Arequipa" who died last June", he said.
"For the truck drivers to see me, I'll be taking a tall green flag with me, I was thinking of a red flag but my mother in law advised me not to since I could be confused as a terrorist. isn't it strange that a mother in law worries about you?" he said laughing.
fairlie covered the legendary "caminos del Inca" (inca roads) and many other in the south, but on a bigger and tougher motorbike. "Now my wife and 4 of my kids tell me that with this "germ" I have as a motorbike I wont make it past the corner, but they'll see, I'll show them".
"The only one who agrees with me on this trip is my youngest son Julio, who has the same adventurous and sporty personality that I have. I'm going to scape the boring routine that you live in Lima".
"The governer of Arequipa, Humberto Arias de Broders, will recieve me when I get there and then we'll go to the "Gran Serenata Arequipeña" and he'll have a party to celebrateSampietri's 32 anniversary.
This is how the adventurous, and 5 time grandfather will make it to the "white city" among the rejoice of his people. "Is old only who wants to be it" he said.
Captuion: Julio fairlie, the author of the popular comic strip "Sampietri" has started on his small motorcycle, a trip that he hopes will end in his land:Arequipa.
After a long conversation and good wishes, they left me alone again. It was 7:00 am of August 13 1983. Now I didn't have anyone to take pictures for me, so a few kilometers ahead, I took this picture of my small and loyal little bike.....
RALLY LIMA-AREQUIPA-LIMA ON A 70cc.
