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