Well back in Chile, border crossing really busy and we had the usual confusion of us having two bikes! (not sure why but it seems to be confusing) Stunning road again into Chile, but raining so decide to get away from the mountains and head to the coast. Stay in a little town that has a huge covered area with loads of little eateries that were really cheap (try crab and cheese empanards - pasties to us, yum) and traditional dancing on a stage. Camping not cheap around here (lots of haggling!) and most of the showers only have cold water. Have to head in land a bit as Tim neads to get some welding done on a bracket on the sub frame thats cracked. Find a really good campsite with the nicest couple running it, tim has to strip the bike down to get the welding done so stay a couple of nights, they let us use the kitchen and their PC and come over with a bottle of local Pisco Sour for a drink with us. In the morning they show us their family photos! Site is called Los Aromos in Chol Chol 20kms out of Imperial, (will put good accomadation etc up on horizons site after trip)

There seems to be problems in this area with the indigenous population, Mapuche people. The Europeons took their land in the 1900s, still seems to cause issues, though most of them survive on the tourisum here.

Heading north to Buchupureo, really nice site with hot water!! But have to ride a horrible dirt road with deep, not gravel but big pebbles, not nice to it. Meet (Gemma and Alfonzo, shes from Brigton and hes Chile, enjoy few beers with them, Gemmas only the second British person we ve met and only seen one UK reg bike!) watch bizare band with them that are trying to make a bit of a come back. Avoid Concepcion the town that had the big earthquake last year and has smaller ones all the time. See lots of damage from it still all over this area.

Seeing quite a few cowboys, not quite how I imagined them to look, like in the westerns. They wear ponchos and big hats. At Pichilema at mo, seaside town (bit like skeg) loads of surfers though as huge waves, they hold the world championships here, Tims having a go later...!

Start the bike shipping process on wednesday, wish we had the time and money to carry on south and up through Uraguay, Brazil etc. (but miss my dog too much !) We ve had a fantastic trip and even though its been more expensive in a lot of countries than we thought for food, accomadation and fuel, I wouldnt change it (if your thinking of coming do it soon as it doubles each year in some areas) We ve met the most fantastic people, made good friends and seen the most amazing and quite often sureal things! And I m sure thats what lifes is all about!!