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Published: March 11th 2014
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Tongoy Hot Tub
D Duke and Christine enjoy a salt water hot tub. Are we in Harley Heaven or what?
Over the years I have made many dumb decisions and also a few bright ones, but the decision to ship our Harley over to Chile was one of the brightest, these motorcycles are just made for the long wide winding highways that run the length of Chile.
Leaving Tongoy after three days was hard, but we needed to ride, so we said our farewells to Marcella and Jamie and headed North to Copiapo.
The usual challenge of the truck traffic, north of La Serena, was not there, and then I realised it was Saturday.
It was a good run our lunch stop and a refuel at Vallenar.
After lunch we were able to travel relatively trouble free with virtually no on coming traffic until we reached a long hill, where we came upon a 3km traffic jam, with no traffic coming down the hill, we rode up the other lane to the top of the hill to fine a couple of buildings on huge transporters blocking the road.
We took our care, and made a run between the buildings and the stationary oncoming traffic until we were stopped
Tongoy for lunch
Our flash lunch spot! by the police escort! He was not happy with us, as he knew we would have had to come up the mountain on the wrong side of the road. We left all the negotiations to Gerardo, I thought I saw a tear of sorrow run down his check as the officer was keen to give us all a ticket.
The story ended well, with him ushering us away, with that there was no hesitation to get out of there....If we had not done what we did, we would have been stuck in that for at least three hours, as it was we never got to Copiapo until around six pm, all in all a big day for us.
We left Copiapo at 8.30 am for one of our biggest days so far, as we continue North through the lower reaches of the Atacama Desert to our fabulous hotel on the waterfront in Antofagasta.
As the Spyder only has a 200km range, we have to be sure not to pass any gas stations in this very remote area.
We refuelled and had a great lunch in a truck stop on the side of the highway at Agua
Verde, which is just a wind blown barren nothing, only the Copec and this run down wind and sand blasted building, but the food was great. On entering Antofagasta we all filled up, well not me as I still had just below half a tank, but as we all know, we must NOT pass the gas station!!.We finally got to our hotel around 6.00pm and one of the most anticipated showers of the adventure.
The next day was a lay day, well of course I had organised a ride out to the monument of the Tropico de Capricornio and to visit La Portada (Chile's version of the Hole in the Rock)
We left the hotel soon after 10.00am and made our way out of town, well it has been quite a few years since I have been to Antofagasta and I had forgotten how far outa town it was, as I am checking my fuel gauge (remember I never filled with the others) we reached the monument, took our obligatory photos and stupidly I just turned onto the road we came in on and headed North....next town Tocopilla 130km away... Bugger, I found the next 'Returno' and headed
back towards Antofagasta with my fuel gauge now resting on the pin at the bottom of the gauge.
As we approached the exit toward La Portada, you have to believe it, but I went past it!! only by about 20 meters, but so did everyone. We are on a one way road, not a lot of traffic, could we sneak back? We decided to obey the rules and rode on until we found another 'Returno'. As we exited the motorway towards La Portado, the Harley gave a few coughs and a hiccup, but by now we were running down hill, as we pulled up and parked, I am sure it was only fumes left in the tank.
This exercise was of course planned to bring home the importance of NOT PASSING A GAS STATION - Yeah Right Rosco!!
Lucky I have my trusty syphon and Ross d Duke has a full tank, along with Bob's empty spare fuel container (for Mary) I was able to demonstrate my fuel transfer technique. There endeth the lesson. We returned to the hotel with Bob and Mary as we waved to Ross D Duke and Christine, as they went on an
Another great dinner
A Parrilla at Copiapo exploratory ride around the city.
Gerardo will be staying a few days here in Antofagasta, as his Daughter and Grand Daughter live here, also, his wife, Marisol and son Kevin will be here, so a bit of family time for him. He will rejoin us in San Pedro de Atacama in a few days. Hasta la vista. Rosco
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AnnK
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Am dreamin'
Rosco and Bones, I can only but dream of your adventures so am totally enjoying your blogs. Thanks for your effort in preparing them.