Last preparations in Jo'burg

This is the start: Getting the bike ready for a three months trip from Johannesburg to Munich.Welcome to my blog and for joining me on my way from South Africa to Germany.
After months of preparation, updating plans I initially started back in 2010, today is the first day of my personal biggest adventure so far. I have arrived in Johannesburg and will soon be reunited with my bike.

Si, yo hablo Espanol, pues yo no hablo Chileano

Camping with sleeping bags and ground mats is the way forward. After our nights in the desert and on the beach, using our bike clothes for padding and warmth, in future it's ditch the sleeping bag and take the ground mat.

We enjoyed one last blast out into the Elqui valley, in the foothills of the Andes, tasted Pisco Sours (brandy, lime, sugar, ice), supped wine, star gazed and also navel gazed.

Pakistan 17.06.09 - 13.08.09

welcome to pakistan

It's cold in Moscow , this time of year - commrade.....Yes !! - Er no

Alarm call goes off but I am awake already - no change there then !!. Breakfast was probably the best we've had, although very similar to all the others. We are now set into a routine, I get two juice ( one each) while Mark gets his breakfast and gets two tea's while I get my breakfast, two helpings this morning. Every where we go, each hotel, the bikes cause men,women and children to stop and stare. Men talk about them in groups of two/three.

The Rain in Spain

We arrived in Santander at 1815 which allowed us time to head out for a 2 hour drive, mostly in the dark through mountains and tunnels, climbing all the time.

La nueva casa de Pengy

Seno Otway penguinera, near Punta Arenas, Chile.

Pengy spotted his relatives returning home from the sea, after a long day fishing. When they had finished resting and 'socialising' they all waddled back to their burrows making a lot of noise and stopping from time to time for some beak rubbing and flipper waving.
Pengy then found a salubrious looking burrow and took up residence for a short holiday.

nepal 25.02.09 - 13.04.09

Unable to cross Burma or China with our bike we are forced to take a plane from Bangkok to Kathmandu. Instead of flying with Thai Airways, we’re challenging our luck and hitch a ride with the cheap Royal Nepal Airlines. The plane definitely saw better times already but the service is excellent and, hey, we land in Kathmandu without any incidents!

5. Lima to Santa Rosa, Bad cops, Big water and lots of mud....

Onward to the Banana boats of the Amazon river, criminals wearing police uniforms and more bike destroying roads !!!It was great to be back on the road again after the holiday at Dave & Kates place, but I was falling behind schedule a little ( actually a lot ), and I had to press on. Before doing that however, I have to plug a quick thankyou to Marty and Gosia Aitchison, who not only delivered an oil filter for the bike, but also some vegemite and crunchie bars for my taste buds - most appreciated !

Ready to roll

Finally, time has come that I leave after all the planning, lists, notes, visits and advice.
Live the dream, ride the future!

La pared de graffiti

Bogota, Columbia. 2 of numerous photos I took today. Well, you have to when you're in a new continent!

1. Graffitti wall near our hostal.

2. View from mountain to east of Bogota. Look! Its the foothills of the Andes (foothills being at 9000ft.............)

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MAURETANIA 06.01.11 - 18.01.11

Taking the direct route through the Nomansland gives us the advantage of being the First at the Mauretanian side for Passport control and Customs. Half an hour later we're ready to go!

welcome to mauretania

and here are the results of sand riding...

Movin' On Up

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.