Internationally renowned geologist, car collector, sculptor of erotic pottery, and lover of cats, Owen Miller is about to embark on his latest, and some might say most unabashedly bonkers adventure. The intrepid Scotsman’s goal is to combine his love of country music with his enthusiasm for gaudy spectacle, and the result will be a ten hour drive across the Peruvian Cordillera, into the depths of the Amazonian rain forests, to arrive at a country music festival in the German founded town of Oxapampa. His vehicle for this epic quest, will be none other than an American Cadilac shrink wrapped to look like the Peruvian flag.

Now, that ought to turn some heads.

Miller already went viral several years back, when he converted a red Mercedes convertible into the “Patriamovil” by painting the hood and doors with the white stripe and shield of Peru’s national banner. Photos of the “Patriamovil” which roughly translates to ‘The nation’s vehicle,’ took the Internet by storm, and Miller appeared on several local news shows to discuss the special kind of insanity he exhibits which provoked him to decorate his car like the national flag.

With the Oxapampa country music festival on his radar, Miller knew he couldn’t trust the trip to mere German engineering. So he turned to his American made 1973 Cadillac El Dorado convertible, and decided to tap in to the history of superior USA technological advancement that led to the first human steps on the moon. The Cadillac is being shrink wrapped even as we speak, it’s a white vehicle, so the tactic of a simple hood, door, and trunk shield wasn’t efficient to convert the American gas guzzler into the “Patrialancha” (The nation’s boat).

The 400km trip promises to be a most epic endeavor, crossing the Andes at Ticlio at 4818 meters before descending into the rain forest where roads run the risk of high water wash outs. However, the Oxapampa Country music festival is well worth the risk, boasting performances by 19 renowned international artists, including Lima’s best Eagle’s tribute band: The Eagles Tribute (for a complete list of acts, check the Oxapampa Country Fest 2018 Facebook page here).

Normally, a trip to Oxapampa is not considered a life or death expedition, but with Owen behind the wheel, anything can happen (especially since he’s insisting on painting a big red target on his back and announcing his journey weeks in advance). Accompanying Owen will be a fleet of support vehicles featuring a crew of cracker jack mechanics all personally trained by Mr. Miller himself. Renowned videographer Daniel Garate will also be documenting the journey, no doubt hoping that he’ll end up with something of similar quality to “Aguirre: The Wrath of God” (I, for one, expect Mr. Garate’s film and ‘Aguirre’ will both boast a conclusion where the protagonist is covered with spider monkeys, ranting at the universe, while his whole world slowly sinks into the dark, Amazonian depths—it’ll be the funniest thing you’ve seen since ‘Million Dollar Baby’).

The convoy will be leaving Miraflores on the morning of Thursday, June 7th, 2018, with one scheduled stop at Tarma, before arriving at Oxapampa for the Country Music Fest which goes from June 8th to June 10th. Owen Miller is available for interviews, bachelorette parties, or other media appearances and can be reached at 990198100, or at doctor289@yahoo.com.

For those of you who are inspired by this journey and who wish to undertake some kind of epic road trip on your own, minus the discomfort and unreliability of a 1973 Cadillac, I’ve been told there are new campers for sale in PA. Best of luck to you, and be sure to write Owen and thank him for all the inspiration!