Sunday, April 4, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Day 20 - Our Grand Arrival....Sort of....
Again sorry about the long time between posts - we have had a combination of challenges - including Wifi, iPhone and lazieness....We are about 8 days behind and we have a few hours off so will try to catch up (cause I am such a fast typist Tan!). Jeff will be back in Perth soon and will update as soon as he can. Also as I am doing the blogs on my own now they will get a little shorter until I have caught up.
Day 20 started with a great sense of anticipation and anxiety - today we were to take on Santiago - the capital of Chile and final destination point for all but Dad and I. After waking about 10 times in the night to go to the bathroom due to the constant sound of the waterfall (Jeff will tell you more) in our backyard and last night's over zealous dinner we were all a little tired and while not manly to admit a bit worried about the traffic were were going to face.
Breakfast was a sombre affair as we all contemplated the end of our adventure and the challenges we had faced as a group. Today was also special for Bruce as it was his birthday! What a way to celebrate it! Not a bad achievement on your 68th birthday!
We set off and made it past the over zealous guard at the gate to the hotel. As we got onto the first road we started to see the real first effects of the earthquake from last month - despite the fact we were over 200km away from the epicenter the damage was unbelievable - all the roads were cracked, there were sections of road where Chile's main highway was diverted onto a gravel side road and we saw at least 15 bridges that had totally or partially collapsed - we were all praying for no more aftershocks as we crossed the still standing bridges.
Today was a long ride - over 500 km - a tough day normally but with all of the diversions it was becoming a very long one! We stopped for lunch at one of the service stations about 200km out of Santiago. For most of us this was the last of our Troopy (the name of our support truck) picnics - these were one of the key reasons we have all put on holiday kilos - bread rolls, meats, salad, chocolates, pastries and many other goodies - while riding has been tough it has not yet quite managed to burn off these lunches!
As we set off on the final stretch we were all excited and Dad, Jeff and I set off in front - all good - great roads again, intercoms and cue the memories. 30km down the road Jeff slows down and veers off the road - Oh No! Jeff's bike has done what Steven Bradbury's competitors all did - fallen down just short of the line.
After a 10 minute wait the Troopy caught up and Leo our fearless tour leader came back - Jeff's trip was over! Battery problems strike for the 4th time in 2 weeks! But wait - Jeff's bike gets my old battery and - It's Alive! I am not sure if Jeff was Sad or relieved when it broke down - but when it was alive I am sure he was happy - deep down, way deep down!
So the final stretch started again! After such a big build up the ride went very well - despite some hairy moments - including some crazy Chilean truck drivers we arrived at our hotel! After 18 days and over 500km through some of the toughest road this continent has we had all made it - all riders and bikes safe and sound! Amazing!
The best news was still to come - as an great surprise we all had our own rooms - after nearly 3 weeks in the same room this little moment was a moment for more celebration!
Dad, Jeff and I went shopping for groceries and after a shower in our own rooms caught up for a pre-Dinner drink.
For Dinner we we joined by Mick - One of Compasses's owners - who had flown over ear;lier to join our next tour - with over 60kg of spare parts in his luggage! Dinner was a great event as we all said goodbye and a few speaches were made to laugh and thank the crew! What a great experience!
As dinner wrapped up a few of us headed for a drink at - yes that is right the local Irish bar - yet this one had a twist - Karoke! Luckily were we able to keep Dad away from the microphone and we laid our heads down at 4am - What an adventure!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Day 18 - Border dramas and meeting the locals
We regretfully awoke from Bariloche and were met with the thickest fog we have ever seen - all for what is meant to be the best ride of the trip - Great - We have become whinging poms!
We left Bariloche - sans bacon again - into low lying fog - damn I fogot my wet weather gear! Wet and 6 degrees for 130 km - Wow - tough work!
We then hit the mountains - now I rememeber why I am her - over 150km of riding into the best valley I have seen - beautiful ride, great lunch - happy Dave!
Over 3 hours border crossing when the Chilean Customs found us smuggling Salami over the border folloowed - much joy!
Then 200km of tough gravel (including Jeff's bike malfunctioning and going sideways on a 500m drop) and bitumen to see an amazing active volcano and the town of Pucon. Great town and dinner! Chat tomorrow - so tired!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Day 16 - Dodging Cars, Dogs and Blood Sausages
Day 16 started with a very welcome sleep in - until 8am! aking in our own rooms wigthin a studio apartment was a rare joy - as was the strong WiFi signal as we took the chance to update iPods (I think I have heard all my songs at least 5 times by now) and call loved ones.
For the second day in a row as we went to chack out Dad had lost the key again! Asx the others boarded their steeds with engines running we frantically searched the apartment for our key. Dad had lost they key in the last town and had sworn black and blue that he had handed iot the the surly manager in the last town. After ten frantic minutes we found the key....to the last apartment in Dad's Jacket! Finally both keys were located and a rather sheepish Dad organinsed for the key from the night before to be mailed back (internal mail in Argentina - if mailed express - takes 15-18 days to arrive!).
Finally we set off on the bikes - into peak hour! Scary is an understatemengt - at one point we had three bikes abreast in a 2 lane road only to have 2 cars try and pass in the gap in between us! We were all pretty glad to get back on the highway.
The morning was a pleasant ride and finally it was starting to get warmer - we finally hit 20 degress for a short while.
Lunch was great as the group imbibed in more sandwiches and a potato salad made by the boys - I have never been so glad to get some veges in my system.
The afternoon was the best ride of the whole trip! Amazing - over a mountain pass, down through forrest and past a beautiful lake! For the riders out there this was a 120km patch of the best motorbike riding roads ever created! 120km sweepers and perfect road conditions. This one ride alone made the trip worthwhile - when we got there we all wanted to turn around and do it all over again!
Finally we arrived in the town of Bariloche. This town was founded by Swiss, German and French immigrants and is a famous tourist destination that boasts the best Chocolate in the world - the ladies on the trip were excited!
We stayed on the outskirt of town on the lake in custom designed wood cabins (again we got to spread out) that were the best accomodation thus far on the trip! Truely beautiful and a place I would love to visit again.
After arriving and the usual unpacking process Dad and I took a ride to get some supplies - Beer and Bacon! The cabins had a kitchen andx we promised ourselves Bacon for breakfast! So exciting! :)
As we left the cabins to the local Supermercado (our Spanish is getting progressively less impressive with every passing day) we had to dodge obstacles for the second time today - this time the local dogs who love to say Hi in their own special way - by running directly at the bikes and trying to trip you up.
The Supermercado was brilliant as we topped up on all supplies - yes we found and trying to trip you up! We found bacon - should we get the 500gram pack or the 1kg pack - tough decision - we got three large packs - One each! :)
When we got back the Cabin owners put on a traditional Argentinian Assado - BBQ. This was a real highlight as the BBQ was in their back yard with great company, their whole famiuly including dogs, more meat than you could ever consume and beautiful surrounds. The best BBQ of the trip (there have been a few!) and a home cooked meal. The funny moment of the night was when gthe Blood sausage was served - we all lost our nerve and declined - the toughest dodge of the day!
As we head off to bed we are all excited about the day off to explore Bariliche tomorrow!
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