2018 and 19 were something of a machine gun. In 18 it was Hellas Rally then shortly afterwards I was off to Iceland. Obviously back in my IT days I must have been paid a little more than I am now as a teacher. Hectic as well because one relationship was ending as another was starting. Then while I was in Iceland Lenore failed for the first time. Boom.
Then, snow still on the ground in Germany, and freshly in a new relationship I found myself flying off to Santiago in Chile to buy two XR150s and head out on a four month long trip with a companion who’s total riding experience to date was “a few times around the garden”.
I’ve already written about drowning my bike on the salt flats in Bolivia, and I have written a technical article on buying and registering a motorcycle in Chile. I’ve written nothing else. Here at the end of 2025 I find myself somewhat sad that I don’t even have any notes. It was an epic journey by any measure, the most exotic of my travel career to date. This photo essay is, I hope, a first step in regaining some resolution in my memories of the trip and writing about a few more episodes.
Somehow the dates on the photos have gone wrong, as has my memory of where and when they were taken, so the gallery is intentionally randomised.
Here we did, but it was windy and cold.
I don’t recall where this was.
Volcanoes in the sunset.
There’s a glacier somewhere around there.
Camped by this ultra windy lake. Looks like the sea.
One of the most incredible places on earth.
Very cold. No Swimming.
Rainforest.
Washing the sale off.
Up high in Peru.
You Llama.
😛
We had to hide from the wind.
…wasn’t supposed to be there!
The only shady tree.
A Machu-Picchu resident.
My companion out on the salt flats.
Infinity Mirror.
Where’s Road Runner? Meep Meep!
This was down the Austral,.
Another campsite.
Hurt my teeth doing that.
A national park in Argentina, iirc.
Stayed a few nights at a friend’s farm.
An extremely steep road.
Definitely no swimming. This storm collapsed our tent!
Fixed it!
Just off the main road, perfect wild camp.
On the trail between Chile and Argentina.
Ludicrously, I carried eggs for breakfast up this beach successfully!
Ever the ladies man.
Rio Baker Too!
No fish for the fire.
Good for rust…
Calm.
I was not expecting TukTuks!
These guys saved my life in Peru.
Some waffle about “a land of contrasts”.
Almost Scotland.
The classic.
A farm with beautiful skies.
Out on my own, Bolivia.
Drowned it!
Macho Pikkachu!
Just deserts.
Not a place to break down.
Ruta 40.
The boys we met on the boat.
Sunsets and Llamas.
It’s obligatory.
One colour was flowing into the other, but I don’t recall in which direction.
Hello friend.
It’s like a giant, unending Alps.
Rio Baker.
The skies…
Fire, skies and camping. I miss this traveling solo.
Spent three days on this little thing.
The way back to Santiago was icy cold, but beautiful.
I had to go, tourism be damned.
As rusty as a two year old Himalayan.
The Holy Llama.
Just before a grim, wet night in the rainforest.
365 sunsets a year…
Also Baker, I think.
Down by the “legendary” fishing lake with no fish.
Remote places.
Yet another lake!
Could as easily be a field in Germany as on the other side of the world.
Another world.
Goodnight.
This was up above Santiago, on my way to find a hot pool. Took all day!
The field looks so calm compared to the lake.
Not for swimming…
Beautiful lights.
More contrasting hillsides. Creative, right?
A little pully operated river crossing.
Layers.
Epic landscapes.
First steps around Santiago.
The biggest mirror in the world.
Weather was, as a rule, very good – this looks a little grim.
The was to the Rainbow Mountain which nearly killed me.
Old Motorbikes.
Salty waters.
Also Rio Baker.
High up and not much there.
The things left behind.
Volcanoes.
Another European looking view.
Love riding near a minefield…
In honour of Ed March.
In trouble…
Between Argentina and Chile.
A little desert feeling.
Contrasts.
Surprise!
Well, hello there.
The only fuel for hundreds of miles, a logging station.
It’s a cloud, not a volcano…
Sail Away.
Glowing Llamas.
This route over to Argentina was surprisingly exhausting.
Chilly.
I was trying to show a “handy trick” to get out of a hole. Went well!
We did not swim!
Dusty first steps at that.
Sunset on the salt flat.
I hope no train comes…
We were happy to get to tarmac, but the roads were long and empty.
The classic.
Jesus with Halo.
Aguas Calientes to Machu Pikkachu.
Very wild-west.
The Ride. Kreiga OS18 system on the side panels.
Windy and cold indeed.
Finally, a proper desert, it has cactus!
Wonderful colours.
It’s a mighty dramatic landscape.
Chilly.
No idea what or where this is!
A salty lake.
A little isolated salt lake.
Flat boats ferry traffic back and forth at pace, Peru I think.
Didn’t catch anythng.
Hiding in a wind shade.
Emergency Fuel.
Old school transport.
Cave.
One of the easier crossings, one very nearly did for me…
A Balkans-Feeliing.
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