Trans America and beyond, 2005

Zona de Arena - Panamerican south of Lima

The road south of Lima is very good and well maintained. We decided to stretch as much out of the front tyre as we could. Fine.... now where do we pack the newly purchased tyre?

We had briefly carried a tyre on the top box. This was ok however, with some experimenting we found the new tyre fitted beautifully on the front crash bar. Although it did act as a bit of a "Lean-O-Meter" on tight right handers under heavy breaking.

Sacred Valley

Road to Cochabamba

What do you do when three giggling young girls hastily converge upon you in Plaza 25 de Mayo, Sucre? Gripped with terror and not knowing which way to turn, I gasped, finding the scene far too alien.
What do they want and why are they so happy ot see me? And why, with my dishevelled appearance of faded jeans and shabby hair-doo, do three attractive Latino girls pour over me with big brown fluttering eyes?

High on Life - Up the Andes... again

What a culture shock... leaving Bolivia and entering Argentina.Argentine servos (gas stations) have cafes that are a) open, b) stocked and c) clean! Along the highway you find pull outs with a shady tree and picnic table. Tourist information offices are open with friendly staff and information!! OMG! we felt like we had returned to civilization.

Bienvenidos a Chile

The woman rapped out the hotel information at the pace of a firing machine gun.
"What the hell did she say?" asked Grant
"I don't know," replied Jules "I can't understand a single word she said!"We are accustomed to arriving in a new country and the inevitable differences in words and accent. It, generally, takes a day or two to adjust, however we floundered our way around Chile for two weeks asking ourselves "¿Commo?" ("What?)

Mount Aconcagua 6,959m - Highest Peak in South America

It was easy entering into el Centro, Ciudad Mendoza and despite the frequent warnings, about personal safety from fellow travellers and locals alike, along the way the city appeared to be somewhat calm and relaxed.

A photo album of the HU Meeting in Viedma, Argentina, December 8 - 10, 2006

Enough Photos Already! - Total Group Photo

Group around the Beast
L - R Aasha, Pete, Greg, Alexis, Jason, Anita, Lew, Emma, Jules

Javier & Grant working on Piggy - Buenas Aires

Brian the Rapid Rider - Not on the Ripio

Disembarking the ferry on Tierra del Fuego (the Land of Fire) the weather was cold and wet, we had 116kms of ripio (dirt) to traverse before entering Argentina and her paved roads. Following Brian for a few kilometers it was not long before Piggy wanted to go faster and we wanted to wear out the rear tyre.
Lupins at Lunch Stop

Lago Azul - near Rio Gallegos

The view of sparkling blue waters in the caldera of an old volcano was the perfect setting for a picnic. Now to find shelter from the icy wind on a clear sunny southern Patagonian summers day!The tranquil setting was beautiful for a hike down to the waters edge where wary Upland Geese took thier young to a safe hiding place. This was a nice start to our trek up the ripio (dirt) road of the famous Ruta 40.

Piggy with Lupins - Carretera Austral

"Whats this thing called love?" - Fuel Pump Mod

Ancient Ruin? Moto Guzzi

On February the 18th, 2007 we arrived in San Rafael and stopped at the Cabañas Calderon. This is a photo journal of our time there.San Rafael is located in the heart of Mendoza province approximately 1000 kms west of Buenas Aires and 200 kms east of the Andes on the same latitude as Sydney, Australia.

Miss Piggy - 2002 Suzuki DL 1000 V-Strom

Around this time last year we were in Nicaragua, now another year has passed and we are still in the Americas.

Close to heaven on Ruta 47

Virgin de Perpetua Socorro - Salta

Road Works on the Ruta 16

Oh My! That's a dirty fuel filter!

Back in Argentina, and finding that changing the fuel did not really help Miss Piggy's nasty cough infact it got worse. Grant pulled out the fuel filter for inspection. The pre-filter mesh was.... well, you look at the photo!

OOOH Goody, Choices!

What can be said about Brazil? It is:
Big, Bold, Beautiful, Brassy, Boobs, Bums, Babes, Beaches, Breakfast, Beans, Bikes and Bloody Friendly!BORDER CROSSING

Argentina
* Go to the Brazillian Embassy and sort out visa requirements;
* Drive up to the Argentine Customs & Immigration window;
* Complete formalities
* Drive Across the International Bridge

Touch down, all arrived safe and sound. All being a bit strange to be driving on the left after two and a half years in the Americas, not having to speak Spanish and reading road signs in English.We were met at the airport by Robin who took us for a 10 cent tour of Cape Town, a beautiful city perched by the sea with a whacking huge mountain smack dab in the middle of it (Table Mountain).