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