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