Finally I'm in South America! 3 years after deciding this continent would be the next I'd explore I'm tucking into my first Asado (bbq) out the back of DakarMoto's with Javier and Sandra, woo hoo!
A few months ago my mate, Jason Homewood, decided to come along and retrace some of the places he visited on a similar trip a few years back and to explre some more.
Well Im into my second week of Spanish classes and as much as I wish it was getting easier, it isnt! Lots of study required and those that know me well know that study aint my strongest suit. Hopefully a private one on one session that Ive booked for tomorrow will get me up to play with the rest of my classmates.The 8.30 starts have not helped us with socialising in BA either. Its completely normal to eat at midnight or later or to not even go out until 2 or 3am. Weve been slowly building up to staying out this late but have yet to master the art of the siesta.
What a difference a week can make
Jase and I were having fun in Buenos Aires but I really was struggling with the Spanish classes, that and the routine. Getting the tube to school at 7.30 AM, sitting in the class for 4 hours then home for a siesta, more study then dinner was, in a weird kinda way, reminding me of work back in London (though I shouldnt moan, it was bloody hot and the beers are cheap!)
So I thought stuff it, lets hit the road!
Its been just over a week since my last entry but it seems like ages ago I was enjoying the grandeaur of Iguazu Falls they are are massive and spectacular. The day before I was planning to head to the falls I met Glenn, an Aussie on a 1 year trip from Brisbane. He already had a ticket booked for the next day which included a 4X4 trip through the jungle and a boat ride so we teamed up to check it out. The boat ride was really cool and allowed us to get up close, and even under, some of the falls and we got completely soaked. Good thing though as it was stinking hot again.
We were pretty happy to leave Necochea, its a typical coastal holiday place but with not many people there it lacked... well, much fun! We also discovered the KTM dealer had moved to Buenos Aires so there wasn't much point hanging out there any longer.After an easy, but bloody hot, days ride west we found another coastal hang out, much smaller this time, Puehen Co. The holiday season for places like this only lasts about 2 months but as we were a bit early we had the only open campsite to ourselves.
Its been over 2 weeks since my last update but so much has happened (all good!) it seems like about a year.
Firstly happy new year to everyone and thanks for reading my blog and all the messages of support.
Hola from Coihaique, Chile - where its warm... finally. So if you look on a map youll see we havent made it very far from Ushaia in te last 2 weeks but weve got a year so theres no hurry;-)We finally made it out of Ushaia on January 2nd (my birthday, yay!) after a brilliant 2 weeks of camping, partying and general larking around. The cold was starting to get to me so it was north we went, firstly back to Rio Grande to the hospitality of Garicella at Hostel Argentinos (a must for anyone traveling this way).
Leaving Jason to wait for a new rear tyre in Coyhaique I headed north conscious that I was on my own and fending for myself. No prob I thought, Im a big boy etc etc. 40 ks into the ride disaster struck Okay so it only took me 30 minutes to track the cause of my bikes miss-fire down to a loose battery terminal but that point at which you realise there is actually something wrong with your bike and ignoring it doesnt make it go away creates an empty gut type feeling in the pit if your stomach.
Oh boy its been far too long since I updated this and now I dont know where to start! I guess where I left off would be the logical place Mendoza. The more time I spent there the more I liked the place. Great atmosphere, fun fiestas and a park the same size as the town itself. Oh, and did I mention the wine... fantabulous.As Jase was otherwise engaged with the lovely Virginia (Salt Lake citys finest) I hooked up with some old friends of his, Harriet and Werner, who happened to be in town for a couple of weeks. Harriet is a real horse lover (hmmm...
This section of the blog is written from another point of view, including a good one of the back of Peters helmet. Yep I was pillion for a month and hes asked me to update the blog for him to give a fresh perspective. Its the least I can do following such a great trip.To introduce myself, I am Harriet Adams and met Pete in London.
