Satay, Surf and Salsa - Asia, Australia and the Americas 2006-2008

Thanks to the generosity of a friend of the family we had a place to stay in Santiago; we enjoyed spending a few days there in a comfortable flat getting ready for the Big Off Part II. We were both incredibly excited; new country, new continent, and not too many firm plans.

We'd loved Easter Island, and despite what Hamish said in the last blog Tahiti was lush and green and beautiful, and full of very gorgeous big brown men with long hair and interesting tattoos, singing and playing the Ukulele. (Although maybe that's why Hame wasn't so keen?!).

(27th December)

After a couple of Asados (traditonal Argentinian grills) at our campsite on Peninsula Valdez, it was time to go.

Bruno demonstrating how to do Asado properly

Pete, Hame, Mark, beer

We are here

After a great few weeks, we finally managed to leave Ushuaia. We were experiencing an unusual phenomenon; we had a deadline to meet! Helen & Bob, Em’s Mum and Stepdad, were meeting up with us in El Calafate in a couple of weeks, therefore to have sufficient time to enjoy the ride North, we had to get on the road.

We spent an excellent couple of weeks with my Mum and stepdad Bob, based in El Calafate (about 600km North of Ushuaia) in self catering cabanas near Lago (lake) Argentina. 'Cabañas Nevis' was run by a Ricardo Paterson - yep, you guessed it, another person of Scottish descent. They really do get everywhere... We enjoyed the luxury of the cabanas and took the opportunity to mend and clean various bits of kit, discovered our tent was still green under the layers of Aussie and Argentinian dust.

We've not got too far... read on to find out why!

Patagonia

On April 22nd, Em and I celebrate one year on the road. It hardly seems a year has passed since we left our home, pets and possessions for the trip of a lifetime.

We've experienced some amazing lands and the roads which travel through them, the people we've had the pleasure to meet along the way making it a memorable trip. Lines on a map that become adventures, situations that become experiences, strangers who become friends.

This month it's all been about tractors!

We hung out at the Cabanas in San Rafael for another week or so, and enjoyed being with friends.

At Cabanas Calderon

We've had an adventurous past month, travelled with friends and even made a bit of headway. Irrespective of the fact it's been in the wrong direction!

Click below to read more...

Leaving Santiago the plan (I use the term loosely), was to return to Argentina and take an easterly meander towards Buenos Aires. Only it didn't quite work out that way...

Continuing on with friends Grant and Jules we explored the far North of Argentina and headed towards Bolivia.

Our trusty steeds

Sundance Kid (to Etta): Butch and me have been talking it all over. Wherever the hell Bolivia is, that's where we're off to.
(From the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", 1969)

Unfortunately it was in Bolivia that the duo met their end at the hands of the Bolivian police, after they robbed several banks.

Che Guavara was also gunned down in Bolivia, after trying to take on the capitalist system and rouse the masses.

BRAZIL!

Arriving in Brazil to Corumba's bright lights and paved streets was a stark contrast to the last 600kms of Bolivian dirt, but where was immigration? By the bus station and closed for the night. As illegal immigrants, we treated ourselves to a well earned meal and a couple of beers. Immigration could wait until morning.

Ever felt like you're going in circles...? Back to Argentina, in BA - How on earth did that happen?!

We really enjoyed Brazil, but unfortunately Bertha didn't. On the first day the bearing had gone, but as we left Brazil something far worse had broken... Read on to find out more...Atlantic Rainforest

It could have been worse...

It could have been worse I guess. After all, it was merely the drive-shaft that had disintegrated and not the gearbox as initially suspected.

Having established a replacement drive-shaft to cost in the region of US$1000 (and a five week wait) from BMW Buenos Aires, I picked myself off the floor and placed an order with a supposedly reputable dealer in the US, for half this price.

It was great to be back on the road!

Neither of us is a city person and five weeks was more than enough of BA. I love the things you can do in cities but all the noise and cars and hustle and bustle is soon far too much and I crave small town life. Colonia was the perfect place to relax and we spent a couple of days exploring the old cobbled streets and colonial architecture.

ISDE 2007

Every cloud has its silver lining as they say. Therefore our delayed departure from Buenos Aires as a result of a broken drive shaft, coincided nicely with attending this year's ISDE (International Six Day Enduro) in Chile.

Click on the link below to see all eight ISDE short movies.

ISDE vids

We should rename our blog, "How to kill a bike" after these last few weeks.

Here we go again...

Our route so far....

Peru's version of IrnBru

Looks like anti-freeze, tastes like IrnBru, Peru's national drink was so popular that Coca Cola couldn't beat it - so they bought it. As we were shortly to find out, it is sold everywhere....

"Which way Em?"

We'd had a great time in and around Cusco, however it was time to go. The touts and package tourists were beginning to get to us, so we set off in search of tranquility.

Peru route - courtesy Peru Toursit Info and a red marker pen!

Where's the road gone?

The seasons finally caught up with us in Ecuador, with rain 28 out of the 30 days we were in the country. Just as well we bought those waterproofs!

The Peru - Ecuador border crossing was tiny; no more than a few huts and a barrier. For the first time in South America, a border guard asked us for a 'fee'. "Got a receipt?" we asked. He fuffled with some papers and looked at the floor. "No," he mumbled. "Off you go."