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bike friends
bike stuff
some stuff i like
border crossings
why i didn’t go to ushuaia (or, how to avoid the end of the world)
Well, the border was closed. The river had risen and the men in uniform deemed it unsafe. I should ride to San Sebastian, cross the border there, and follow Highway No. 3. That is, back track 150 kilometres. And, then, 250 kilometres of pavement, traffic, towns. The river appears around thigh deep. I appeal to […]
Also tagged chilecrossings
CHILE/ARGENTINA: VILLA O’HIGGENS — CANDELERIO MANCILLA — EL CHALTEN Lakes, borders, bridges: there are always crossings to be made. The route between Villa O’Higgens and El Chalten is somewhat famous or infamous, depending on your predilections. * None of us felt the urge** to try the trail by Lago del Desierto as an alternative to […]
Also tagged argentina, chile, dirt roads, friendsthe forest foray
CHILE/ARGENTINA: CHILLÁN — PEMUCO — YANGAY — ANTUCO — SANTA BABARA — RALCO — LEPOY –LANQUIMAY — ICALMA — CUNCO — VILLARRICA — PUCON — COÑARIPE — PASO CARIRRIÑE — SAN MARTIN DE LOS ANDES — TRUFEL — SAN CARLOS DE BARILOUCHE * “When I was younger, I was a stock trader…,” was his somewhat […]
Also tagged argentina, chile, dirt roads, friendshorses in my dreams
ARGENTINA/CHILE : MENDOZA — TUNUYÁN — PAREDITAS — EL SOSNEADA — MALARGÜE — BARDAS BLANCAS — LAS LOICAS — TERMAS DE AZUFRE — EL PLANCHON In Mendoza, as the year turns, I imbibe a certain dissatisfaction that I’m not sure I really feel. Mendoza, in the grip of a savage heat wave, is full of […]
Also tagged argentina, chile, desert, horses, mountainspaso sico
CHILE/ARGENTINA: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA –TOCONAO — SOCAIRE — PASO SICO — CATUA — CAUCHARI — SAN ANTONIO DE LOS CORBRES When the time comes to leave San Pedro it happens that the Pikes and I are – initially, at least – heading in the same direction. I am going to enter Argentina via Paso […]
Also tagged argentina, chileexit peru
PERÚ: TRES CAÑONES — ESPINAR — LLAMAC — PUNO — YUNGUYO Perú is endlessly fascinating and l feel I have barely scratched the surface but there always comes a time to leave. With the Andean wet season setting in, the prospect of – maybe – getting to Patagonia this season, rather than next, starts to […]
Also tagged leaving, people, perúexit south
The unexciting but essential bus journey to Quito/Tumbaco and back successfully accomplished, nothing remains but to cycle to the border. Bye bye, Ecuador.
Also tagged ecuador, leaving, on the highwaybogota to the border (in ten and half days)
I can’t say I recommend the border or bust approach but after my unsuccessful Venezuela visa wrangling I find myself with only ten days to get to the Ecuadorean border from Bogota before my Colombian visa expires. It’s only around 800 kilometres, which seems doable, but there are some serious mountain ranges to cross and […]
Also tagged bike, colombia, things breakbogota reprise
I arrive back in Bogota at the central transport terminal at 5AM after a 7 hour bus ride. Stopping only for a restorative cup of coffee, I head straight to the Venezuelan Embassy where I am redirected to the Consulate a further 5 kilometres away. It is like any Consulate anywhere – queues, security, stony […]
Also tagged city life, colombia, visa bureacracy