Paul and Helen Dickson are gypsies at heart and dreamed of doing an extended vacation while they could still walk uphill, climb steep steps without too much panting and sit on rickety bus seats for copious hours.

In 2007, they sold their business and flew out of Australia. Their destination was Mexico, the first stop on a 10-month journey of discovery across Central and South America, and into North America.

They discovered the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, paddled a long canoe on the Amazon River, did an exploratory tour of the Panama Canal, and swam with seals in the Galapagos Islands, as well as many other adventures in places away from the usual tourist destinations, camped through 18 National Parks and became engrossed with the lifestyle of colonial Mexico.

Where this book's journey will take you -

. Colonial Mexico to discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Miguel de Allende then other intriguing areas, both coastal and ancient sites.

. Come drive criss-crossing the Rocky Mountains from Monument Valley, Arizona to British Columbia in Canada and along the way encountering bears, moose and countless other wild animals during our journey.

. The entire Panama Canal on a boat.

. The Amazon delta and canoed into a remote jungle resort.

. The Galapagos islands for a trip of discovery on a catamaran.