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