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Published: April 11th 2010
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From Chile back to Argentina
The past few days we have made a run down the coast of Chile, with stop over’s at Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta and Copiapo.
These are 500km plus days, all on sealed roads, cutting through the Atacama Desert staying awake and focused being the biggest problem. We regrouped at the ’Hand in the Desert’ and at the monument defining the Tropic of Capricorn and quick stop at the La Portarda, just before entering Antofagasta.
The ride from Copiapo to Tinogasta, in Argentina over the San Francisco Pass, is not only our biggest day, but also one of the most spectacular. We have a border crossing and we lose an hour when we enter Argentina, also there is no ‘official’ gasoline for 520klm, but sometimes we can get extra fuel from the border guards at twice the going rate per litre.
We headed out from Copiapo just after 8.00am, with a good run up to clear Chilean customs, then the long drag up to the summit at 4,700m on unsealed, but well formed Chilean roads.
After crossing the ‘Limit International’ we enter Argentina and a grand sweeping sealed road, down to the border and immigration
control building.
This is where the fun (not) started for me, the customs computer, would not let them process my entry, because when I left Argentina in April last year, the pratt at customs, never typed my leaving details into the computer, so as far as this customs dippo was concerned, me and my moto were ‘overstayers’ !! so he could not let me in !!
After showing him my exit stamp in my passport from last year, and the fact that I had already entered Argentina three weeks ago, with my moto, didn’t seam to make a difference, as HIS computer would not let me in.
After a couple of phone calls and e mails to Buenos Aires, we still had no progress, so we sent the rest of the riders and the truck on their way, as Gerardo and I must solve the problem.
The part that really annoyed me, and we made it known to Dippo, was that it was a problem created by them, not us! He even had a signed copy of my exit documents and of course my passport confirmation, that I had left Argentina last year Dah! But he was not game
to make a decision or make me a manual entry form, even though he had them there. We are now getting close to being there for 3 hours now and we still had 200km plus to get to Tinogastsa, it was time to put on some pressure, so Gerardo and I hatched a plan, I would pretend to be suffering from altitude sickness and at the same time he would put pressure on Dippo.
I began to suck air, like an air starved gasping Kawasaki, while leaning on the counter, rolling my eyes and going all dizzy, Dippo said that I must sit down and he will organize some oxygen for me.
The police jumped into action and bought in a huge bottle of oxygen for me, but I had to walk over to another desk and chair, so Gerardo said that he would help the old man, so he took my arm and escorted me, with collapsing legs, to my new chair, the three young police, quickly getting the oxygen to me, about now, I was not sure how I was to react, not having been here before, so I just closed my eyes and breathed in the
oxygen, as I was not actually suffering, I was not sure how long I should take to get a ‘positive reaction’. The police asked how old I was and Gerardo told them 79, they were absolutely amazed that I am riding a moto in these conditions…..
Soon there was some excitement from Gerardo, he said to get off the oxygen as the papers were being processed. What he had done was to suggest that with my passport number, which starts with AA, just drop off one of the A’s and I will become a different (same) person, BINGO, Dippo could now process my entry into Argentina, after THREE BLOODY HOURS. I must be in the running for an Academy Award for this performance! With Gerardo getting the Drama Award.
With the sun setting on our backs, Gerardo and I made a run for Tinogasta, arriving at 7.00pm local time, finding all our team relaxing around the swimming pool.
Within minutes of arriving we experienced another earth quake that shook the hotel and slopped water out of the swimming pool, those sitting around the pool, hanging onto their chairs.
After a Rocky Road dinner, we all wearily hit the sack.
We
Act one, scene one
the 79 year old con...... are currently in La Rioja, having a day off to do washing etc. With only three more nights here in Argentina, I am really not looking forward to the exit drama as we leave Argentina and enter Chile for the last crossing of the Andes.
Hasta Pronto,
Rosco
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Phill Rosenow
non-member comment
Good act, Video
Hello Rosco I'm sure that everyone got a huge laugh from your little altitude sickness. Great thinking to come up with such a devilish plan and passing as a 79 year old bike rider, (must have something to do with the beard). How old are you really??? I also ask if you are still taking any videos of your trips and wonder if it's possible to see some. Is there any on youtude or anywhere that it can be viewed via computer? If not, you should part some on so that we can all see some of your wonderful journeys. Then let us know where we can see it Phill Rosenow