Mountain biking & sand boarding


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Published: May 26th 2007
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San Pedro de AtacamaSan Pedro de AtacamaSan Pedro de Atacama

Iglesia San Pedro, in Plaza de Armas
San Pedro was truly an Oasis in the desert after being so cold. With blue skies and 25 degrees in the day, the weather was perfect for a bit of biking.

We headed off with Amy & Miriam (from the Salar de Uyuni trip) with our mountain bikes to the Devil´s Gorge. After a few kilometres on fairly decent road by South American standards, we finally came to a river. Yes it was clearly marked on the map that we needed to cross it but no bridge in sight.

After much nonsense from the girls - I´m not walking through that with my lovely trekking shoes on type comments - we eventually were met by an Australian and a British guy coming the other way. They swiftly whipped off their shoes and got right in, and failing to point out exactly how cold the water was...

So came our turn. And pathetically we all made it through, whining about our freezing feet, in the name of adventure.

Once across we started our way into the Gorge itself. I wont bore with the details, but of course we got lost. The ´clearly marked´circular route quite clearly was
San Pedro de AtacamaSan Pedro de AtacamaSan Pedro de Atacama

Little Catrin, big tree
not clearly marked!! So we back tracked and Rich insisted we then try the route the other way around, just to prove that it could be done. Damn boys.

At this point, the girls left us for a 24 hour bus ride down to Santiago. We had another day, so hired the bikes again, and this time, a sand-board too. For some reason, in this town, they didnt think it necessary to take you on a trip, give you lessons or just all-in-all keep you sane while you do this rather frustrating activity. Instead, they say ´its easy´you just put some wax on your board and point down...

So we did... and it proved harder than expected. We didnt really go anywhere to start with and when we did, the wax rubbed off the board after a few metres. Whilst Catrin thought the whole thing hysterical, this only rubbed up Rich the wrong way even further, and there was much throwing of toys out of pram!

That said, as you can see from the photos, on one occasion or two, we did get from top to bottom... and almost elegantly ;-)

Last but not least, we
San Pedro de AtacamaSan Pedro de AtacamaSan Pedro de Atacama

Chilling out in the Plaza
did the sunset trip to Valle de Luna. Pretty scenic and high on the romance scales!!



Additional photos below
Photos: 20, Displayed: 20


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San Pedro - Devil´s GorgeSan Pedro - Devil´s Gorge
San Pedro - Devil´s Gorge

The entrance to the Gorge
San Pedro - Devil´s GorgeSan Pedro - Devil´s Gorge
San Pedro - Devil´s Gorge

The river we so bravely crossed...
San Pedro - Devil´s GorgeSan Pedro - Devil´s Gorge
San Pedro - Devil´s Gorge

Lucky she is wearing her helmet!
San Pedro - Devil´s GorgeSan Pedro - Devil´s Gorge
San Pedro - Devil´s Gorge

Rich, Miriam & Amy
San Pedro - Devil´s GorgeSan Pedro - Devil´s Gorge
San Pedro - Devil´s Gorge

Can anyone spot the ´clearly marked path´????
San Pedro - Devil´s GorgeSan Pedro - Devil´s Gorge
San Pedro - Devil´s Gorge

The church we should have found 2 hours earlier...
San Pedro - Sand BoardingSan Pedro - Sand Boarding
San Pedro - Sand Boarding

If sand boarding wasn't enough, we had to power ourselves to the dune as well
San Pedro - Sand BoardingSan Pedro - Sand Boarding
San Pedro - Sand Boarding

Catrin takes her first tentative 'boarding steps'. You can't fall over if you don't move right??
San Pedro - Sand BoardingSan Pedro - Sand Boarding
San Pedro - Sand Boarding

Still looking good...
San Pedro - Valle de Luna tourSan Pedro - Valle de Luna tour
San Pedro - Valle de Luna tour

Massive rock formations!
San Pedro - Valle de Luna tourSan Pedro - Valle de Luna tour
San Pedro - Valle de Luna tour

Valle de Muerte. Actually named after Mars, but the name changed to Muerte (death) over the ages... as it would
San Pedro - Valle de Luna tourSan Pedro - Valle de Luna tour
San Pedro - Valle de Luna tour

Watching the sunset over Valle de Luna
San Pedro - Valle de Luna tourSan Pedro - Valle de Luna tour
San Pedro - Valle de Luna tour

Our best picture yet surely


22nd June 2007

Really enjoying seeing the photos guys. These are incredible. You look like you're having a fantastic time. T
25th June 2007

lost item of your kit?
What happened to the invaluable Xmas gift I gave you, that raised a smile of amusement on opening - the essential compass - never leave home without it!!!!!!!! seems like you may have inherited your Mum's hopeless sense of direction........ :) At least you and Rich seem ever smiling through any adversity

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