RandK

Leaving Ushuaia is not as emotional as I thought it would be. With most journeys when you turn for home it is a bit sad because you always want to go a bit further. However with this journey there is no-where further to travel. We cannot go south any more and this has been our route for five months. So while turning north is a major step and not without regrets it is the only way we can go. We retrace our route back to Cerro Sombrero in Chilean Tierra Del Fuego for our last night on the Island and then the next morning recross the Straits of Magellan. It is a choppier crossing than previously but just as quick. Our route then diverts and we turn east to head towards our final land border crossing. ... read more

The only things separating these two photos are 21,000 miles, 5 months and a hell of an experience!! More to follow with better photos and full update. However first we are off to get very very very drunk...... ... read more

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 Williamson Barrow Motors, an Inchcape company!) WBM BMW, fully serviced and with new tyres and a new tank bag as the old one's zips had failed. The following day as we park the bikes outside ... read more

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 can no longer ride and spends the rest of the day in the van. Another feature of the altiplano is the flocks(?) of Llama, Alpaca and Vecunia. They are very cute but clearly quite skittish ... read more

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 was fantastic. Kevin met Mauricio in 2003 when they set the Guinness World Record for the Trans Am trip. We arrive in Medellin, in the dark at 7.30pm. The road emerges almost 1000m above the ... read more