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.
One of the most incredible places on earth.
A little isolated salt lake.
Out on my own, Bolivia.
Where’s Road Runner? Meep Meep!
Cave.
I was trying to show a “handy trick” to get out of a hole. Went well!
Ludicrously, I carried eggs for breakfast up this beach successfully!
There’s a glacier somewhere around there.
Beautiful lights.
I was not expecting TukTuks!
Yet another lake!
…wasn’t supposed to be there!
A national park in Argentina, iirc.
The biggest mirror in the world.
Ruta 40.
An extremely steep road.
A farm with beautiful skies.
Layers.
I don’t recall where this was.
Also Rio Baker.
Stayed a few nights at a friend’s farm.
It’s obligatory.
You Llama.
We had to hide from the wind.
Glowing Llamas.
Sunsets and Llamas.
No idea what or where this is!
The boys we met on the boat.
Emergency Fuel.
Down by the “legendary” fishing lake with no fish.
These guys saved my life in Peru.
Surprise!
We did not swim!
Very cold. No Swimming.
Volcanoes in the sunset.
My companion out on the salt flats.
Epic landscapes.
Washing the sale off.
The only shady tree.
Weather was, as a rule, very good – this looks a little grim.
Not for swimming…
365 sunsets a year…
Volcanoes.
Windy and cold indeed.
Remote places.
Jesus with Halo.
Fire, skies and camping. I miss this traveling solo.
This was down the Austral,.
I hope no train comes…
A Balkans-Feeliing.
We were happy to get to tarmac, but the roads were long and empty.
The field looks so calm compared to the lake.
Camped by this ultra windy lake. Looks like the sea.
One of the easier crossings, one very nearly did for me…
Dusty first steps at that.
Also Baker, I think.
A little pully operated river crossing.
The skies…
The Holy Llama.
Hiding in a wind shade.
😛
Definitely no swimming. This storm collapsed our tent!
Goodnight.
Could as easily be a field in Germany as on the other side of the world.
This route over to Argentina was surprisingly exhausting.
Ever the ladies man.
Rio Baker Too!
Just off the main road, perfect wild camp.
The only fuel for hundreds of miles, a logging station.
In trouble…
Some waffle about “a land of contrasts”.
As rusty as a two year old Himalayan.
The was to the Rainbow Mountain which nearly killed me.
Chilly.
Another European looking view.
Another world.
Love riding near a minefield…
Hello friend.
Fixed it!
It’s a cloud, not a volcano…
The classic.
The Ride. Kreiga OS18 system on the side panels.
Between Argentina and Chile.
Salty waters.
Chilly.
Rio Baker.
Contrasts.
On the trail between Chile and Argentina.
Didn’t catch anythng.
Not a place to break down.
Rainforest.
Old school transport.
In honour of Ed March.
Almost Scotland.
Drowned it!
Macho Pikkachu!
No fish for the fire.
A Machu-Picchu resident.
Just before a grim, wet night in the rainforest.
It’s like a giant, unending Alps.
The things left behind.
Old Motorbikes.
High up and not much there.
A salty lake.
This was up above Santiago, on my way to find a hot pool. Took all day!
Hurt my teeth doing that.
The way back to Santiago was icy cold, but beautiful.
Up high in Peru.
Sail Away.
First steps around Santiago.
Calm.
One colour was flowing into the other, but I don’t recall in which direction.
Infinity Mirror.
Sunset on the salt flat.
Spent three days on this little thing.
Good for rust…
Flat boats ferry traffic back and forth at pace, Peru I think.
Wonderful colours.
It’s a mighty dramatic landscape.
Well, hello there.
Very wild-west.
The classic.
A little desert feeling.
Here we did, but it was windy and cold.
Aguas Calientes to Machu Pikkachu.
I had to go, tourism be damned.
Finally, a proper desert, it has cactus!
More contrasting hillsides. Creative, right?
Just deserts.
Another campsite.
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