Lesson of today, hear this man out!

I think most of us are in a pursuit or at least searching for meaning and happiness. It does not take much to fulfill these aspirations. Here is someone who has many things to teach us in the matter!


http://www.theplaidzebra.com/man-quit-job-restored-boat-sailed-around-world-video/


(Picture from Sandiegomagazine)

Interesting Fact

Interesting fact, the distance from Ushuaia, Argentina to Punta del Este, Uruguay, will take you from Stockholm, Sweden to Lisbon, Portugal all across Europe. This is not even close to the total length of Argentina. 

Fix & Tricks on the road

There has been a few occasions requireing a little bit of home-made engineering. 

Luckily I had just what I needed to fix it. 

I bought a new windshield in Ushuaia, but only after a few days of the trip did I lose a screw to it. In the middle of nowhere with harsh winds and no spare screws, I had to fix it! 

I recommend any adventurer to always carry a few plastic straps!

I was able to strap it back on, and surprisingly it held against the wind all through Patagonia till I was able to find another screw.

Because of the high centre of gravity of the bike, especially with all the luggage, we always keep a good eye on the bike so that it doesn´t tip over. But just when we were about to leave Río Gallegos, a little tap made the bike tip over toward the wall behind it. Nothing dramatic, but it cracked the side mirror. 

Adventurers, add tape to that list of good things to carry with you!

The bag we keep over the tank has had some serious maintenance work done by Caro as well. She has strengthened both straps on the sides and resown holes that have popped up. 

Lastly, add needle and thread to the list!

Everything Fits!!

I did not want to wake up the day we were going to leave without having packed everything on the bike, to see that it actually fit, including our co-pilot Caro! So after having packed the backpack, the side bags, and folded the tent, we brought everything out to the motorbike.

At the end, after everything was strapped on the bike, we were quite happy with the result! Everything fit!!  Moreover, the bike is not overburdened nor packed excessively horizontally nor vertically. Although the wind is strong, I think she will be solid on the road, not catch to much headwind, nor be hard to balance due its relatively low centre of gravity. 

Even though there are always more things you haven´t thought of, there is still space in the backpack, so I´m not worried. Spare parts packed, food and water will come later. So when the two of us took our seat, we were both comfortable and satisfied! We will take a tour to the national park tomorrow before heading off on friday!! 

Now Caro has started to work on a comfortable cushion, to make the long distances not soo terribly long! Even if the Tornado is an incredible bike to travel with, the seat makes you stop every 1-2 hours because of pain-in-the-butt!! - To say the least, Im excited to see the result! 

Organizing our stuff

Here we are, organizing all the stuff we need to take with us; spare parts, tools, camping kitchen + gas, etc. Fortunately all this fits in the side bags. We will pack the rest; cloths, sleeping bag etc in a 60 L backpack! 

Recently I bought the electric bump to inflate the tires, a windshield for the motorbike, and I am still looking for a 3 L tank to carry extra fuel (for the long distances without gas stations along La Ruta3 a.k.a. the highway along the east coast). 

We will take a tour down to the national park before we head out of Ushuaia, to see that everything works! I´ll up-load some photos before we leave on the 29th!

A bit windy

So this morning when I woke up the the wind howling outside, I found that the wind / rain cover for the bike had turned into a skirt,..from the look of things! I was once told: "If there is no wind, it is simply not Patagonia"...

La Patagonia is notorious for the harsh and unmerciful winds! Here in Ushuaia the strong winds come and go, but never stay for an extended time. It is the wind however that I am a little concerned about! ..still nothing you can really prepare for! Windguru is a useful tool though!

Happy belated birthday Tornado

Today, as the sun showed itself for the first time in a week, the plan was to attend to my Chilean "polola" (Chilean word for girlfriend), which definitely was overdue. We headed for the outsides of town, close to the beach where I found a wind sheltered location between some trailers to clean the (+16k km) chain. I was recommended to use gasoline, which led me to find a spot out of town (so no one would complain). The work required some effort, but after I had finally oiled the chain after finishing the cleaning, I immediately felt the difference, the unquestionable "joy" from the bike as we cruised back to the house.

So on the way back, I had no choice but to buy (what she has been needing for some time), a little tent to shelter from rain, sun etc. If the sun stays with us for a bit longer, we will see to the overall cleaning of the bike, ...as that too is overdue! After that there are only a few spots with rust that need to be brushed clean and re-painted! 

How to cook canned tuna

My friend Andy from New Zealand told me how you can cook canned tuna with just two sheets of toilet paper. Hmm...

Enjoy!

How to turn a beer can into a camping stove

They say that you always learn something new each day, and undoubtedly some things are more useful than others. Some are things that you will actually find useful in the future, others ... I guess for the curious one. But, I think there is a real merit in sharing the things that may prove to be real useful. Here is a little neat something that I stumbled upon. 

http://vimeo.com/64726512

Now there is always hope for a warm cup of coffee after a long night of drinking beers (if you bring medical liquor with you)! :)

Enjoy

Also see: What equipment you need to travel on a motorbike 

http://motorbiketoursa.blogspot.com/2013/10/advice-from-truckdriver-useful.html

Daily routine - travel time / distance

To give you some hits from my experiences so far when it comes to travel time / distance and routine. When I read up about this myself, I found most people recommending a 350 km / day, even though it is not impossible at all to push for +500 km. I have come to realize that, although you may be able to push yourself farther for some days, it all catches up with you in the end. Here we go:

I think 350 km / day is a good calculation to use when preparing for a trip. But it is also important to include days of rest to recover both your body and mind. I have seen people use a 80 - 20% to set aside time to rest. I`d recommend anything from 20-30% of your days travelling should be allocated to rest. Even on the road, I usually ride for 50 min, and then take a 10 min break. Don`t forget to set aside 30-60 min lunch too.

Now it does not seem like much to ride just 3-4 hours a day, but for a novice rider like myself, I have learned not to push myself much farther than that. And here is where the routine comes in, which is really what saves you time in the end! To get up in the morning, to pack up your things and get the motorbike ready, and to have breakfast. On the road, it will be your breaks that really determine how fast you will arrive at your destinations, rarely your actual speed on the road. So do not push your bike or your speed limit to make up for "lost time", work on your routine.


I just have to say a word or two about Patience, maybe the most improtant / rewarding concept on your trip. Never rush yourself on the road! Never stress yourself to get somewhere before a certain time / date! Being stressed, irritated, or even tired on the road, can have fatal consequences. Instead, give yourself ample time, so you can enjoy the ride, make stops to take photos, and arrive in time to look for accomodation 2-3 hours before sunset. Also, keep in mind to check air pressure, gas station situation, and how well your luggage is tied down!

Any questions or comments, put them in the comment "box" por favor! :) - Enjoy the ride!!

Crossing the border from Chile to Bolivia

I know some of you have had problems crossing the borders between Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. 

I crossed the border from Chile to Bolivia at National Park of Lauca, along with ALL the trucks and trailers coming and going from the harbour in Arica. But with my bike, I passed the km:s long line-up, and looked up what had to be done before being cleared to exit Chile.

I only had to show proof or purchase and registration of the motorbike (in my case since I am the only owner), an International Insurance, and fill in some paper work. 

Later I proceeded toward the Bolivian border, and after making some photo-copies, getting some stamps on a piece of paper, I was set to enter Bolivia. However, which I came to learn when leaving the country. I was never given a "Permission to Circulate" (Permiso de Circulación) nor was the bike actually registered in Bolivia. Be sure to have this in your hand as you leave the border control!!

 Bolivia is such a beautiful country to ride a motorbike! Good luck to all of you crossing the border! ^^

Pic fr www.carlosdmesa.com

High altitudes - You and your bike

There has for sure been an eye-opening experience to deal with the higher altitudes along the Andes. I was at first not aware of the effects of ascending or staying at high altitudes, neither on my bike nor on myself. I have therefore come to learn (through experience) more than I have cared to learn. :)  

Altitude sickness:

At higher altitudes (+2,500 masl), although the 21% of oxygen in the air remains the same, the air density decreases. This means that the lungs absorb less oxygen than it would normally, which makes any physical activities harder to perform. (Ex. Walking up a set of stairs). Aside from this, further side effects may include head aches and stomach pain, which may show up to 12 hours after the actascent. However, higher altitudes may for some people not be a problem at all, and for others (like myself) be a pain in the @ss. 

Enjoying a cup of coca-leaf-té in the morning sun at Lauca

It was in San Pedro when we went to see the Geysers (at 4,500 masl) that I first started to appreciate the effects of high altitude. Just walking briskly had me catch my breath. We had prepared some hot water with coca-leaves before we left, which is suppose to help against head aches and stomach pain (you can even chew on the leaves). - When I later went to Lauca National Park at 3,000 to 5,000 masl and stayed for a few days, I got really bad, piercing head aches (which I first thought was the effect from the first night´s party). But some head ache pills helped to alleviate the pain a bit.

It is important to drink plenty of fluids, even start a few days before the ascent. Furthermore, it will help to ascend slowly, spend a day or so at lower heights (2,500 - 3,000 masl) before continuing. Also, if needed you can descend a bit if the symptoms become to intense. Keep in mind to maintain a low pace, take it slow, walking as well as just moving around. 

Have a read at wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude_sickness

Riding a bike at high altitudes:

As I approached San Pedro (at 2,500 masl) earlier on my trip, my motorbike started to ride both slower and weaker. Without much thought to the matter, but rather focused to arrive at my destination before sunset, I turned up the accelerator. In this manner did I not only use up way above avg gasoline / km, but also (according to my Honda mechanics at 2nd service) busted a vale in the engine. :S ..ops!  

Like us humans, the higher altitudes makes it harder for the engine to perform physical labour. The carburetor, which is responsible for the air and gasoline mix that enters the engine, will mix air with less density then normal, hence with less oxygen and relatively too much gasoline, the engine will lose power output. Now being aware of this, I don´t turn the accelerator to maximum believing that it will generate maximum power, but notice instead when I force too much gasoline into the engine, and release the accelerator to arrive at a optimal balance and power output.  

I came across a video that explains very well how a carburetor works and what it actually does.

It can be a good point to ask the service mechanics about this, if you are heading up into the mountains. And if you have not been at high altitudes before, remember to ascend at a cautions rate, especially if you intend to stay at this altitude for some time. - Good luck and let me know if the post is useful!! 

(Comment box below) 

Advice from a truckdriver - Useful equipment to carry with you

On the road from Santiago to La Serena, after my embarrassing accident (my bike fell over when I was parking) a truck-driver stopped to help me out with minor repairs. With his +30 years of experience, he shared a few insights I had put in the back of my mind.

Always carry tools to repair a flat tire:

On my bike, it works very similar as to a normal bicycle. Therefore, I carry, two metal "rods" to displace the tire, patches to cover the hole of the tube, and glue to make it stick. Also, as a regular bicycle hand-pump wont do, I bought a "can" that will temporary that will inflate the tire sufficiently to get to the closest gas station. 

Moreover,

Plastic cable ties, whether it´d be a screw and bolt gone missing, or to to secure a piece of equipment, ...like duck-tape, it always comes in handy!

Lubricant Oil for the chain, I´ve been recommended to use it every 200-500 km for good maintenance of the chain. In a normal store, a guy gave me a W40 to use for cleaning and free up rustic pieces, but it does not work for lubricating the chain (Hence, go to a garage or dealer with your questions if you are unsure).

Use a rope to secure your luggage

I mainly used the common stretchable ropes with hooks at the ends to tie down my things on the bike. I was taught that they will eventually start to lose tension, hence allowing your luggage to shift when you drive, and in worst case scenario make you fall over at high speed. The wise truck-driver recommended me to mainly use a normal rope to secure your bags, and use the stretchable ropes and nets to compliment afterwards.

If you are unfamiliar to securing with ropes, there are several youtube videos showcasing the basics!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9YVoZMndbc

• Always secure your luggage with more than one piece / kind of rope, in case the first fails.
• Keep in mind to pack your things as low as possible to avoid a high point of equilibrium. (See the impeccable example above) :)

From Santiago to La Serena

La Serena is another important destination in Chile with much to offer in terms of outdoor, coastal life and star-watching at its numerous observatories. It is hard to miss, but you have to keep in mind to plan to stay for some days to fully enjoy the stunning environment and nature surrounding La Serena. The road from Santiago is a long, but (unless road constructions) easy ride.

I managed to to fall over though. The height of my bike (or the short length of my own limbs) still make it tricky at times to manoeuvre getting on and off the bike. At this point, I was about to get off to take a break and stopped at an unfavourable inclination, which led to her falling over with bags and everything.

I thereafter had to take off the fist-cover, as it was interfering with my front-break. While trying to fix this a truck stopped on the other side of the highway, and a friendly Chilean (with 36 years of experience) offered to help me out. Moreover, he shared some very important advice, some I guess I conveniently have neglected. - Tools to fix a flat tire among the more important things. ... : / jeje

I will post a summary of my experiences, mistakes, and things to keep in mind regarding motorbikes, maintenance, and equipment  needed!

The rest of the way passed by without any issues. You need to keep in mind your gas-status because there is just over 100 km between some of the gas stations. When I hit the coast line, the wind grew significantly in strength and surprised me at times with strong cast-winds. It was more of an annoyance than anything else.

Long stretches of nothing but wind and windmills! :)

Tornado 250cc

My Chilean family!

So here she is! Entirely in black, and way bigger than the last bike I had, 125cc Patagonian Eagle. I have only rounded up a few hundred km so far, but I´m already getting very comfortable with the height, size, and power.

A few things I have noted is, there is no RPM meter, nor liters of gas indicator. When I asked in the store about the latter, he told me I just had to calculate. "Just start a count of km after you fill up the tank!" - Great!

Otherwise she is running very well. A notable difference to a 125cc. I will head back to Santiago in a 5-7 days to get the last paperwork done, and complete the first service with oil change etc.

On the topic of buying a bike in Chile

I was in Buenos Aires looking for a motorbike when I fortunately was advised to go to Chile instead, which I believe all foreigners do in this errand these days. This is mainly due to the strict import/export laws of Argentina and Uruguay, that supposedly protect their ecomonies! : / Anyways, there are a lot of forums on this topic, so make sure to fully up-date and familiarize yourself with the process, paperwork, and what bike that suits your need! I found everything I was looking for, and much more!

My bike

I decided to go for a Japanese bike; therefore Honda since neither Yamaha nor Suzuki have much market in South America. I chose the Tornado 250cc, which seemed like a common bike, and has a really good second-hand price! Also, it is well designed for most terrains, and with an up-right, comfortable driving position that is good for long distances. I added windshield, fist covers, a grill to tie up my luggage, and a bag mounted on the tank. 

Forums

Lachy writes a good and well-researched article on the topic at Horizon Unlimited, which helped me to get a good idea of what to expect before buying a bike.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/south-america/steps-buying-used-bike-santiago-45637

Papers

I have read many accounts where a "paper of approval" from previous owner have been an issue crossing some borders. Therefore ask for one!!

Also, Lachy´s article speaks of the various documents you need to "legally" drive your bike on the road, also the insurance you need to pass into the neighbouring countries.

Lastly, always make a copy of your driver´s licence, and all important documents, just-in-case! I also have them scanned and stored online.

Gear

To buy gear, there is an entire street designated to these purchases, Lira (close to Diez de Julio), 10 min walking distance from Metro Universidad Católica, down Lira. Remember to always haggle, as all the stores easily settle with a 15% discount (usually given straight up), to be negotiated down to 20-25%. Also, remember that paying with cash should always get you a better discount! Lastly, do walk around to check other stores to get a good idea of the price and other products that are available before buying anything.

Retailer

I bought my bike at a retailer, as I could not find what I was looking for at http://www.mercadolibre.cl/ and did not have the time to wait. I found it hard to negotiate with the sales people, but I think they all give you a 5% on the bike, and they gave me a 10% on accessories. (Ask if they can throw in some cords and nets to tie your luggage on the bike)

Good luck, and be sure to consult people in forums about this topic! 

The First Chapter of my trip

I am just about to buy my motorcycle and finally commence my journey! I have talked with various Honda resells after trying to find one second-hand, and will hopefully be able to settle a deal by Monday/Tuesday!

I am looking to buy a Tornado 250cc; -->

and equip it with some extra accessories! 

(And hopefully not excessive amounts of luggage!)

I have looked over the route and adjusted certain details. I will aim to drive all the way up to Lima/Peru, through Bolivia, to meet a good friend to my family. He has invited me to take part of his expedition to study the fauna in the Peruvian jungle. After about two weeks in Lima, I will head back to Bolivia, and continue my journey South through Argentina to Mendoza. I will finally finish off the route in mid December in Santiago again.

Highlights noted are, thus far; Valparaiso, the Atacama desert, the salt flats, La Paz, and all the national parks on the way! (Please feel free to leave suggestions!)

Upon my return to Santiago in January 2014, I plan to head South to explore Southern Chile, la Patagonia, and the Southern parts of Argentina! 

 I will keep you all up-dated!

Food for thoughts...!

The second chapter

I have started to draft on how I want to travel through South of Argentina and Chile. I will start up again in early/mid January 2014, and have as a goal to travel all the way South to Ushuaia (the worlds most Southern city) along the coast, and back up to Patagonia along the Andes, to finish off in Santiago again.

I have already mapped a few stops at distinguished national parks, well-known cities, and famous most-see-landscapes! I hope to reach Bariloche towards the end of February/beginning of March the latest. It doesn´t give me a whole lot of time, although I don´t want to miss the late-summer season in Patagonia!

Let me know what you think, and please share some opinions on the preliminary itinerary!
Thanks!

A preliminary route of the First Chapter

Hey guys!
I have drafted a preliminary route of the first phase of my trip: the northern parts of Chile and Argentina.
Copy-n-paste to see it in google maps: http://goo.gl/maps/Lp5rH

Chile:
The plan is to initially start off from Santiago heading North towards Bolivia. In Chile I have listed stops in:
Valparaiso / Viña del Mar
La Serena (hopefully on the 18th of September, the Chilean national day)
Pan del Azúkar National Park
San Pedro de Atacama
Lauca National Park
I will also keep my eyes open for the Pisco vineyards along the way!
(Anything I forgot!??)

Bolivia:
I haven´t heard, or read anything about absolute essential stops in Bolivia, and the plan is to cruize through, enjoying the landscape, the people and some peace! The salt-flats is on the list! I will return to Bolivia at a later stage on my trip, thus no hurry!

Northern Argentina
This is something everyone talks about in the hostel world. Cities like Salta, Tucuman, Cordoba are well recognized and visited for their unique character and are thus the stops marked on my check-list!
I will save Mendoza for my trip out east, and Iguazu for next year, as I only have a month and a half before I need to be back in Santiago.

At the start of November, I am invited to take part of an expedition to explore the jungles of Peru in search and study of Orchids! A random stop perhaps, but certainly a one-time-opportunity to see the jungle from a very unique perspective! So I will fly out from Santiago and meet up with a friend to my family in Lima, who is in fact leading this expedition!

Head back East, from where I once came

After this 2 week break in Peru, I plan to head East from Santiago, passing through the impressive pass of the Andes, through the wine fields of Mendoza, the cultural city of Cordoba on my way to the beautiful summer of Uruguay!!

I´m going back to celebrate Christmas with my beautiful family in Sweden (due time) and plan to continue my journey in January 2014. Upon my return, I have waiting the astonishing south of Argentina, the incredible Patagonia and much later..Brazil!

Please leave comments!! I appreciate all feedback!!
Thanks,