After 25 years of faithful service, my old station wagon named “Fofão” (for “Big Cutie”) has retired into the nearby Royal Road Antique Car Museum in Bichinho here in Minas Gerais.

She has driven over 270,000 kilometers (nearly 168,000 miles) entirely within Brazil, on several long and somewhat risky drives along Brazil’s remote and extensive borders.

Her adventures – always with a black Lab riding shotgun – are captured in the first of two books, To Belém & Back. (The second adventure, along Brazil’s southern and wild west frontier, is nearing completion.)

After 25 years of caring for and investing in Fofão, I am pleased to report she will now – after protecting me bodily against numerous hazards – work during her retirement by selling my books, on sale at the Antique Car Museum’s reception.

Can you imagine a better outcome for a loyal and dependable station wagon after 25 years of service? [please hover over images for captions]