OK No Bullets... From Fuetaleufu we ride straight back onto the dirt and ride some tough but lovely tracks to the start of the Carretera Austral. This is a largely dirt (They are trying to tarmac it slowly) road connecting the top of Chile to the bottom built by Augusto Pinochet's Chilean Army in the 70's and 80's. It was originally only there for the army but opened to the public in the late 1980's. It varies from deep sand and gravel, hard compacted surface two lanes wide, to rocky narrow twisty hairpins. Two stretches of newly graded sand catch at [View Full Entry]

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Four days off in Santiago were largely spent resting. However we did take the opportunity to go to Cocha Y Torro, one of the largest vineyards in Chile. They produce Castillero Del Diablo, which is prevalent throughout Central and South America as well as Tesco's etc in the UK. The tour was interesting and then we settled down for our tasting, with cheese and four different wines. Educational for a heathen like me. The sommelier's has helped me establish that I don't like wine with tannins but a Merlot is not too bad. Collected the bike from WBM (Not a typo [View Full Entry]

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From Puno we set off across the altiplano again towards Chivay. This is the highest day so far at 4885m and the highest paved road in Peru. It also has some of the best and worst roads we have seen. The best are lovely smooth tarmac; the worst are tarmac that is so broken up there are foot deep potholes randomly scattered about. It would be better as dirt. The altiplano remains desolate but beautiful in a moon scape sort of way. Occasionally you come across herds of alpaca or vicuña being kept by old ladies, who seem to be a [View Full Entry]

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Today is the first ride across the altiplano. These high altitude plains are common throughout the Andes. We ride up to 4500m, but unlike previously we stay there or at least above 3800m for most of the day. The effect is noticeable for me but less so for Karen. I feel hung over and tired and have to work hard to concentrate. We stop to don waterproofs which is always a palaver but at this altitude just about finishes both of us off. We are panting by the time we have got them on. One rider, Tony, is so affected he [View Full Entry]

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We leave for Peru early as the border is only 3 miles away. Its a quiet border only recently opened to vehicular traffic. Its the usual routine and takes a couple of hours. The only worry is that two of the guys went through early and their bikes are not recorded in the police log! We shall see if this is a problem when we come to exit Peru. The first 60 miles of Peru are mountainous and similar to Ecuador but then we cross into the northern Peruvian desert. This is depressing as the shanty towns are made pampas and [View Full Entry]

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After a few days rest in Bogotá we spend our last evening at Autogermana for a press and customer event for Kevin and Julia to promote Globebusters to the Colombians. This involved me being asked to speak to the group with an intro and closer in Spanish. Although Max also spoke and did the whole of his in Spanish! Clever dick! The ride to Medellin the next day was spectacular. The scenery was the most consistently beautiful of rolling hills and green mountains, The roads were equally entertaining and following Mauricio and Kevin for 30+ miles of bend bend bend bend [View Full Entry]

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We have arrived in Bogota safely and due to the Colombian Customs being pretty efficient and very pleasant and helpful we came through the airport and then went straight to the Aduane Offices. By 5.30pm we had cleared the bikes (After a fire drill and them supplying us with complementary espressos) and were on out way to the hotel on the bikes! Brilliant! If you are following the itinerary we left then you will see that because no-one had come through here before as a group we were scheduled to be stuck here for a few days. There was always a [View Full Entry]

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From Playa Hermosa we head to Volcan Arenal. The route plan is to take in the Cloud Forest (it is what it sounds like) but this is a gravel road and the recent heavy rains mean it is a no no. Only five people have done it in previous tours and two of them blew their rear shock absorbers. So we climb into the volcano range and the clouds close in and the humidity drops. We ride with Kevin and Julia and stop for lunch at a German owned café / gallery. It looks OK from the road but when we [View Full Entry]

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Two day off in Antigua are well spent drinking with the locals to celebrate Independence Day. Did you know.... Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and Panama all share the same Independence Day 15 September 1821. This was only from the Spanish though, they then had to get independent from the Mexicans as well. We sampled the local delight of Aguadiente (picture on the Globebusters blog with new Colombian face hair!) which is US $1 a bottle. We had US $8 worth and its 36% proof - Then on to the obligatory Irish bar, O'Reilly's run by a Norwegian. This was bettered on our [View Full Entry]

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San Miguel Allende is a very beautiful town. Almost Moroccan in style with roof gardens and narrow entrances to opening courtyards with cafés, stalls and shops to explore. However before this we need to get there and the road works means diversions through narrow cobbled (more like rocked) streets in small side towns. Then we need to navigate through San Miguel Allende itself. This took only two attempts. The hotel is indeed an old converted monastery and while basic the rooms surround and large courtyard, now festooned with motorcycles. No luxuries like air conditioning or too much hot [View Full Entry]

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