Freedom Ride

Ride Motorbike From South to North America

2010-06-20T02:38:00.001-07:00

The Motor Bike
Honda XR 250 Tornado

This is the story of an awesome little motorbike adventure.
Riding a small Honda 250cc, 24500km, from Buenos Aires to San Francisco to promote the book of the Freedom Flight microlight expedition around the world.

I have written stories and posted photographs of the trip hoping it will encourage yourself, the reader and perhaps others to do something similar.

The Americas are an amazing area of our world. Safe, cheap, awesome people and filled with fascinating history.

Good Luck and Enjoy
Ricky

Freedom Flight Book

2006-07-18T05:26:00.000-07:00

If you wish to purchase a signed copy of the Freedom Flight book about the microlight expedition around the world, please contact me on freedomflightbook@yahoo.com

Ciao
Ricky

Home!

2006-07-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

The book is out

2006-07-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

Yessss! Yes.
The book is out and about.
Some books were sent out to San Francisco and the book signing started with a vengence.

The book will be available next week on this www.safreedomflight.com web page.
I will also email details of where it is available. If you would like me to email you details please send me an email at freedomflightbook@yahoo.com

Ricky

2006-07-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

July 2006
San Francisco
USA

San Francisco has been a fun filled time with friends. Amongst the regular get togethers and related misbehaviour, we went sailing under the Golden Gate bridge in perfect weather and also wake boarding. As a result my return to Cape Town was delayed. I am sure it will catch up with me back home and at work but “More is Nog n’ Dag” (tomorrow is another day).

Lolo. The Red Cross Children's Hospital mascot.

2006-06-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

Lolo
The Red Cross Children's Hospital mascot.

War torn, battle scarred and happy to be at the end.

Loza Luff
Lolo

The End. Humm! Time to plan the next one.

2006-06-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

Today was FANTASTIC!
Perfect in everyway, even the weather played along.

From Santa Cruz, I cruised up the coast towards San Francisco where plans were made to meet up at the Golden Gate Bridge with another South African friend, Mark, Stacey and friends.
I had mixed feelings about getting to the end. Excited to be getting there but a pity that it was coming to an end. As I got closer this all turned to excitement when I got glimpses of the bridge and then a bit mushy when we met up (I am a boy shouldn’t admit to emotions). It was FANTASTIC to here.
23270km (14459 miles) across South, Central America and part the USA. Three months and eighteen countries.

1 Argentina
2 Uruguay
3 Brazil
4 Paraguay
5 Chile
6 Peru
7 Bolivia
8 Ecuador
9 Colombia
10 Panama
11 Costa Rica
12 Nicaragua
13 Honduras
14 El Salvador
15 Guatemala
16 Mexico
17 Cuba
18 USA

Leaving LA

2006-06-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

LA to Santa Cruz
USA

Is it mandatory to take a photograph of the famous Hollywood sign in LA?
Well I wish someone had told me it was not because I rode all over town (parked in the No Parking zone) and got entangled in traffic to get this photo.
From there I set out to ride along the coastal Pacific Highway and took the wrong off ramp (a mistake to be avoided on these big highways and busy traffic) and soon found myself heading out into the desert. Eventually made it back to the coast and onto the right highway. It is an excellent road with amazing turns perfect for motorbikes. It took restrain to hold back the desire to touch the foot pegs on the road around the corners. I kept reminding myself that this was the last stretch of this trip and to be careful.

In Santa Cruz I met up with a SA friend, Tony, who now lives here. We grew up together back in the teenage/surfing days so you can imagine how the conversation was dominated with stories of times gone by.

Have a Great Day
Ricky

Aviation Museum

2006-06-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

More Weird and Wackey signs

2006-06-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

Pacific Pond

2006-06-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Made it to the Pacific

LV TO LA
USA

Los Vegas was really worth the visit if not only to see the enormity or extent of extravagance that we are capable of. Every part of that city is fabricated, completely unnecessary and does not fulfill any basic human needs other than for pleasure. It is amazing how much we are prepared to spend on pleasures. And why not?

The desert heat was already setting in when I left early in the morning for Los Angeles. It was a straight forward ride along highway 15 through the mountains afterwhich the temperature dropped dramatically and I was into the flow of the LA traffic. I had been warned about the traffic but it was not bad. Yes it is very busy but the drivers are disciplined and things work well. I am staying with friends in LA and enjoying a bit of luxury before heading North on the final stretch to San Francisco.

Today I met up with Todd from Honda USA who was in Buenos Aires at the same time as I was there. At an evening diner in BA we promised to meet in LA and that I would bring a mate' gord (bowl) and he would bring the mate' and enjoy an Argentian specific drink. Today, to his surprise, I arrived with the gord that I have been carrying for over 22 000km and we did our little ritual.

Tomorrow it is off to Santa Cruz to visit an old South African friend and the next day to San Francisco where a few friends have planned to meet me at the Northern end of the Golden Gate bridge with beer and champagne. Now all I have to do is not fall off the bike on the last stretch to the end.

Hold thumbs. (if something I fall off it will be because you didnt hold thumbs. No guilt trip intended. )

Have a great day
Ricky

2006-06-14T23:58:00.000-07:00

What a name for a business?

The past and present image of USA

Mixing with the right crowd

2006-06-14T23:56:00.000-07:00

Its important to be seen with the right crowd

They Cubans think they have it bad?

2006-06-14T23:17:00.000-07:00

They Cubans drive in luxury.

A Time and travel Warp

2006-06-14T18:50:00.000-07:00

12 June 2006
Howdy from Cowboy Country

Today was a weird and wonderful day.
I rode along part of Route 66 which had that feeling of a time warp. Passed lots of very old cowboy towns with their original buildings, wagons/carts and real cowboys too. Added to this time warp was a travel warp which took me over the original London Bridge and then the Eiffel tower.
No! I am not loosing my marbles.

I left the quaint little town of Seligman with it's route 66 memorabilia and rode into a small town called Kingman and stopped at one of my favourite Subway grub stops. Sat down to have brunch and read the postcards next to the table. There was one with a photograph of London Bridge in the USA.
Yes! That is right!
The London Bridge that was built in London in 1824 is now in the USA.
I checked out the location and headed South, way off track, to go and see this bridge. It is at Lake Havasu City in the middle of the desert on the Colorado river. The ORIGINAL London Bridge, spanning across a section of the Lake.
It was bought by McCulloch Oil Company in 1968 and was dismantled in London, each piece numbered, shipped and trucked to Lake Havasu where it was reassembled and completed in Oct of 1971.
If you don’t believe this I can’t say I blame you but I saw it, rode over it, touched it and everything else to confirm that it was real and it is.

There it is. The original 1824 London Bridge

Together with the British flag

At the tourist information they recommended I visit a town on Route 66 called Oatman. It was backtracking from where I had just come from but was a bit further North. I rode there and “blow me over with a feather” there was this very old cowboy town with the original pub, hotel and supplies store with cowboys wearing guns and all. It was like being in a time warp.
They got touchy when one of their local pony’s took a shine to mine and threatened to shoot me if I didn’t leave town soon.

I left in a hurry and continued North and found myself riding passed the Eiffel Tower, Venice, Luxor in Egypt together with a massive glass pyramid and several other world renowned sites. I am in Las Vegas.

It is absolutely amazing and soooo real. They have taken this desert town and turned it into a massive gambling mecca. Each casino is built as some famous part of the world.
I visited various casinos and was gob smacked to see the extent and detail of the buildings. It is super impressive. And all this from gambling? They got NONE of my smackeroos. I am too much of a Potgie.

Ciao
Ricky

Roadkill

2006-06-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

This is a bit of a rough menu.

For breakfast, lunch and supper.

Route 66

2006-06-14T17:37:00.000-07:00

Grand Canyon

2006-06-11T20:34:00.001-07:00

11 June 2006
Seligman
Arizona
US of A

Millions of Harleys riding around and an equal amount of parties to follow. Its really festive and I assume it will slow down after the weekend.
Got to the Grand Canyon today. Boy! Its impressive. I went for a flight in a small four seater Cessna through the canyon for an hour. It was more doing an impression of a ping pong ball than flying. It was very hot and the thermals were booming and bouncing us around.
That was a good and worth while trip. After sneaking into the park through gravel roads with the help of a local it was time to blend in with the visitors and screach "Got to get a shot of this" type of comments like everyone else.
Visit an airforce museum and dicovered a section of the old Route 66 and followed it to Seligman where i am now.

Got to get off the computer. Borrowing one form a local.

Have a good day
Ricky
In The Usa

More weird and wackey signs

2006-06-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

So Hitch hikers will have free acommodation?

Weird and Wackey signs along the way

2006-06-10T20:01:00.000-07:00

Billy The Kid

2006-06-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

10 June 2006
Springerville
Arizona
USA

Man this country is HUGE! I ride the whole day and only make a tiny dent of progress on the map. I am in Springerville in South Eastern Arizona state. It is only two thirds of the way from Houston to Grand canyon and I have been riding my bum numb, for two whole days. Hopefully I will get there tomorrow.

It is sooo cool to ride through the USA. This is doing things in style.
There are stacks of Harley's cruising along and most ride slow so I can follow them. In Buenos Aires we fitted some foot pegs in front of my engine (more as a crash bar than anything else) and I put my feet up on them, lean against my back pack and do my best to look Cool like the Harley riders.

Today I stopped at a small town because I saw some old cowboys sitting on the porch of an old building. Started chatting to them and it turned out to be the town of Lincoln which is famous for the story of Billy the Kid. He was a really cowboy and that is where he "shot the sheriff", escaped being hung and later died there in a shoot out. Great unplanned stop.

Still no luck with photos. Will keep trying

Have a great day
From USA
Ricky

2006-06-09T21:31:00.000-07:00

9 June 2006
Carlsbad
New Mexico
USA

All well here and pony running like a stallion across the USA.
I left Corpus Christi and headed up the coast. Bid the Carribean farewell and headed in toward Houston. Spent the evening there visiting friends and left this morning on a major long ride and have made it to a town called Carlsbad in New Mexico. It is blerry hot around here.
Great riding on the perfect roads and it also a lot easier to find my way around. The drivers are generally very good, even getting in and out of the congestion of the Houston traffic was a breeze.
Battling getting access to internet so expect some delays on updates.
The computer that I have smokkeled can't edit photos so those will have to wait too.

I am heading for Grand Canyon and and then to LA and on to San Francisco. I expect to get to LA about the 14th and San Fran about 18th or 19th. That ofcourse is if I do not get way laid along the way.

From here it is 3000km to go so there is still a long slog ahead but its easy riding around here.

Have a good dey!
Ricky

2006-06-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

7 June 2006
Corpus Christie
The US of A
Yesss! Yippeee! I am so happpy to be here. Partly because it feels like a big mile stone to have made it so far and partly because I have been stressing that the immigration may give me a hard time for having visited their not so favoured neighbouring country but all went well.

Suddenly all these foreigners who speak English? Hopefully I wont look like a fumbling Mr Bean anymore.

There is a lot of news going on about the illegal border crossing between Mexico and USA. I went to a supposedly quiter border crossing at Reynosa/ McAllen and it was crowded and jamb packed with cars. If that is the amount of legal crossing one can only imagine how huge the problem actually is.

Tomorrow I will ride to Houston and from there move towards the west/northwest.

I am by no means on the home stretch yet. there is still about 3500km to go and add to that a little Grand Canyon to visit along the way. At 100km/hr that will still take a while.

Ciao

Gringo Ricky

Met up with the boys in Monterey

2006-06-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

5 June 2006
Monterey
Mecxico

The primary reason for heading to Monterey was to meet up with some flying buddies Martin and I had met when we flew through here.

With Poncho accompaning me for half the distance made the ride feel like a short trip. It was a mere 500km ride.

I found my way to Artuo's house partially by recalling what the area looked like and the rest with a small map Arturo emailed me and the rest was luck.

It did not take much time before I was bundled into the back a a flying gizmo being Arturo's Husky. The wind was blowing more than I was comfortable with but how was I to show my fear? Before long we parted with mother earth and bounced around in turbulence between the mountains with Arturo trying to convince me that it was all fine and that we were not flying in a flimsy trike. I flew for a while and and played around in the air.
Monterey is surrounded by some big mountain cliffs and is an extremely beautiful area. I really appreciated the flight, admittedly more so once we had landed. The evening ended with a Mexican barbeque with tortillas and a few beers to extinguish the hot spices.

I am stay here for an extra day to catchup with everyone and have the pony serviced.
From here the "plan" is to cross into USA and initially head for Houston.

I am fabricating stresses about what the US immigration may say if they find out about the little detour to the "forbidden country". Tomorrows problem.

Ciao
Ricky

Crossed the Tropic of Cancer

2006-06-06T14:47:00.000-07:00

The next day Poncho rode with me from Zacatecas and along the way we crossed the Tropic of Cancer. From here it become increasingly steep down hill.

4 June 2006

Zacatecas

Mexico

I battled to find my way out of Mexico City in the rain but fortunately it was early on a Sunday morning so the traffic was reasonable. I rode to Zacatecas to meet up with a microlight pilot Francisco (nicknamed "Poncho") who had invited me to visit and stay over. The weather remained bad for most of the 600km ride.

When I got there we did our boy pilot stuff and visited his microlight. An Australian Airborne 912 with the same type of engine as Alan and I used. They are pretty much the best trikes in the world.

The rest of the day was spent walking around the sites of Zacatecas and ended with a pleasant dinner which included his wife and friends. I really enjoy meeting people in this way. One can visit tourist sites and in a way they start to become similar but people are always interesting and different.

Adios

Ricky

Things don't always run smoothly

2006-06-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well things don't always run smoothly. Poncho (Francisco) got a puncture on his back wheel half way between Zacatecas and Monterey. His back tyre was not in good condition so he opted to ride back to Zacatecas. We bid each other farewell and I continued to Monterey to meet up with Arturo, Estaban and the rest of the flying fraternity.

In Mexico

2006-06-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

Pyramid of the moon

3 June 2006
Mexico City
Mexico

Back in good old Mexico City. Went to visit the Pyramid ruins outside the city and am now getting ready to ride out of here tomorrow. Will be heading to Zacatecas about 600km North west of Mexico City.

I am looking forward to getting to USA and getting around with English only. Hopfully will be able to meet up with ultralighting people and do some small presentations on the microlighting expedition to promote the Freedom Flight book while I am there. If you know of any interested groups out there please let me know.
Just received some great news. The book is complete and on the ship from China on its way to Australia and South Africa. It will be on the shelves in the first week of July. Five copies were couriered to South Africa and one copy is on my desk. Damn! It´s going to be a biggg surprise to see it for the first time.

Ciao
Ricky

2006-06-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

2 June 2006
Havana
16) Cuba

I have left Cuba with mixed emotions about it.
It was hellish expensive and old Fidel has turned Cuba into a nation of beggars. There is a constant drone of "Amigo, uno Pesos" (= one USD) and every street is lined with propaganda of some sort. Most people will give a limb to get off the island.
Met a young taxi driver who was so excited because he had received a visa to go to Italy and was swore blind he was not coming back.

I travelled by bus to Santa Clara in the South East, to visit Che Guevara’s museum. He is promoted here as a state hero. Some vagueness as to whether or not he was supportive of Fidel turning to the communists, why he left Cuba and if there was some input into him being killed in Bolivia.
Scary looking at the photos of Fidel and Che in the early days and to imagine those hippies/dope head looking guys were taking over the country. No wonder the world panicked.

Also went to Vinalles, then a sea side town called Trinidad and did the tourist things like visiting cigar factories etc.

In general the place has an amazing atmosphere and is great to stroll around the old world, listening to Salsa/Jazz music. The real dangers of walking the streets at night is that a piece of old building might fall on your head.
Met some nice people and time past quickly.

Adios
Ricky

I have met my match

2006-06-03T17:36:00.000-07:00

I have met my match.

Meet Joyce from Tronto, Canada.
So far she is beating me to visit every country in the world. Her story is truely inspiring.
Since she retired 12 years ago she has been traveling all over the world and has done almost all of it on her own. The middle East, Africa, East and West Europe, South America. Asia and has challenged me to go with her to Mongolia and North Korea. She is 70 years old, is an incredibly positive person, travels on her own and so far has travelled to over 150 countries. Now how is that?
The world is our oyster when we move beyond our fears.

Getting in with the locals

2006-06-03T17:31:00.000-07:00

Getting in with the Locals

The face of Havana

Chatting to a local who everyday pumps water from a leaking pipe in the street into a tank to use for washing.

TLC

2006-06-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

Good old faithfuls

Some "Oldies" are still in good shape but just in need of a little TLC

A collectors heaven

2006-06-03T17:15:00.000-07:00

Its old cars and old bikes. This place is a collectors heaven

A day in the life of a Cuban

2006-06-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

It doesn´t matter how desperate things get one will still find flower sellers and the flowers will always be pretty.

The stories of long ques and stores with empty shelves are real.

Ever wondered what a Cuban parking lot looks like?

2006-06-03T17:06:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what a Cuban parking lot looks like?

When In Rome ...

2006-06-03T17:03:00.000-07:00

When in Rome do as the Romans do.

Roaming the streets of Havana just has to be done in an old car with a cigar shouting "Amigo! Uno Pesos."

He is a hero

2006-06-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

Che is a national hero around here. Some of us only know he was a hopeless motorbike rider.

Lets hold thumbs Coca Cola moves in here soon

2006-06-03T16:25:00.000-07:00

Propaganda bill boards are everywhere with pictures like these.

The individual at the end of the signs is Posada. He is an anti- Castro terrorist who has been a big baddy for many years.

Maybe they are getting these boards in position to paste McDonald and Coca Cola signs on them in the near future.

Will update when in Mexico 2 June

2006-05-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

Hi!
Will update when in Mexico 3 June.

Internet desperately slow and a battle.

All well and very interesting.

Ricky

La Habana

2006-05-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

26 May 2006
Havana
Cuba

Yess! This is where I am right now. At a slow internet.

This place is quite something. Right now I have mixed thoughts as to whether or not to rave about it or not.

Bad Picture first: The whole place is run down and poor. When I say poor I mean people live in desperate conditions. The most amazingly beautiful old buildings but falling appart almost beyond repair and people live in them. This Fidel boytjie makes Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe look like a saint.
Today I went on a tour of Havana which was very interesting especially chatting to the guide about deatils of living here. Can you believe officially cell phones and internet is illegal here. In this day and age. The hotels have internet at USD$2.00 per 15min.

An interesting dynamic is that education is free here and most people study to beyond school level. At one of the street market stalls there was a man selling books who spoke English very well. It was fascinating to hear him trying to sell books to the tourists. He is obviously very well read and had Tom Sawyer, Kipling etc books that he was punting. They were originals first printed in 19 voetsek.
How does a man of such high intelect land up on the side of a streets begging tourists to buy books. This is Cuba.

Good Picture: The old buildings and cars and motorbikes are absolutely amazingly beautiful. It is another one of those places that gives one the feeling of taking a side corridor in the passage of time.
It's like walking around on some movie set. Zoom ... past comes a 1950's car billowing smoke then and old motorbike with a side car.
There is an huge mixture of culture here. It's like being back in Cape Town. A lot of people speak English.

I have to run the internet is closing.

Adios
Ricky
PS I will smoke a cigar for you.

Money seperation anxiety attacks

Pony all wrapped up and parked for a week

2006-05-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

24 May 2006
Mexico City
Mexico

Pony all wrapped up and parked for a week

Today started off with a visit to the embassy and then a travel agent to arrange flights and details.

The rest of the day was spent at the most amazing museum of Archiology here in Mexico city. I am into this sort of stuff incase you havent noticed.

Will be off tomorrow to the Land of Che Guevara.

Hopefully there is internet there.

Adios
Ricky

PS. A little travel tip I picked up today. If in a foreign city and need a travel agent head for the 5 star hotels. If they don't have one in their lobby they will recommend a reputable one.

2006-05-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

Pigs seem to have an affinity for me.
Maybe my ex-girlfriend had a point.

This must be the only animal that looks better well cooked on a plate

Find place to eat

2006-05-24T17:15:00.000-07:00

It is not always possible to find a place to stop and eat where I can keep an eye on the pony at the same time.

Buenos Dias from Mexico City

2006-05-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

23 May 2006
Mexico City
Mexico

Buenos Dias.
My Spanish is coming along well but not yet good enough to test on another hair cut.

Left Tapachula and rode about 600km to a small villiage Tuxtepec, near Veracruz which is on the Caribean side of Mexico. The mission for getting there was to visit Manual Fernandes whom we stayed with when Martin and I flew through here on the microlighting expedition. I stayed over and took a rest day from riding. Also got a chance to repair a broken side mirror and windscreen.
It was a pleasure to spend the day with Manuel and his family.
Kinda makes me mushy and home sick being in such a cosy enviroment.
This morning I bid them farewell and rode to Mexico City. It is a massive city with a population close to 20 million people. It is apparently the third largest city in the world.

Driving around the city was a nightmare because there is so much traffic and all the &%$(" roads are one way only. To turn back and crossing roads is almost impossible but I was rewarded with finding a nice hotel in a great area with parking for the bike.
( For bikers it is called Hotel Del Principado, http://www.hoteldelprincipado.com.mx/ )

You may have noticed me riding long and hard. Well it was not without reason. I have time constriants (and budget) to get back to South Africa and desperately wanted to fit in a special sideline trip. Did my homework on it and it seems I can do it so it's all systems go. Hopefully fly out of here on the 25th and will email you from ................
To give you an idea I am going to discover more of Che Guevara´s turf.

Until the next destination
Adios
Ricky

A quick run down on stats

2006-05-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

Lolo, the Red Cross Children's Hospital mascot is still leading us from it's cosy spot behind the bug splattered windscreen. This is not just a silly little doll. It has a history of note. It has been around the world on the back of the microlight.
You should see what it's passport looks like.

20 May 2006
Tapachula
Mexico

The pony is running like it is chasing a fresh bunch of carrots.
IE. It is running very well.
The range of the fuel tank has increased substantially since new. It now gets 280km to a full tank of fuel. (11 litres )
With this I must add that availability of fuel stations has not been a problem. Only once did I nearly run out of fuel and that was in the Atacama desert in Chile. Generally not a good spot to run dry.

The motor bike already has over 15000km and touch wood to date has not given any serious problems. I am really surprised and pleased with its performance.
The fastest I have been able to ride it has been 125km/hr on the flat road. It now happily cruises at 110 to 115 km/hr although it is rare that I have been riding at those speeds because of the winding roads or the trucks and busses.
Add a softer seat and it is a good bike for this trip.

There have been several scary moments of close calls with bad drivers and an occasional dog. The bad drivers have been the biggest safety issue.

A bit of useless info: I have found it entertaining that in each country people warned me to be careful in the next country and the next country turns out to be very similar to the previous one. The people are in many ways similar, warm and welcoming. At times I have felt like I am the bad one in the country.

In Guatemala, a gentleman who hardly spoke English started a conversation with me in a restaurant. We conversed for a while and afterwards he paid my bill. It is difficult for me to accept but I have come to rather accept gracefully and do the same for others.

Ciao
Ricky

Unconventional transport in El Salvador

2006-05-20T15:39:00.000-07:00

Don´t find too many of these still operating. Notice the solid wodden wheels

The route through Central America

2006-05-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

Taxis are as bad as in Africa

2006-05-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

Tried to play chicken but I lost.

The taxis are just as bad as back home in Africa.
These people are hanging on because the inside is jamb packed.

Three guesses where I am

2006-05-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

Asking truck drivers for advise

2006-05-19T16:47:00.000-07:00

19 May 2006
Guatamala

Asking truck drivers for advise.

I have been following the coast roads where possible all the way from Nicaragua,El Salvador and I am now in a town called Escuintla in Guatamala. I am still trying to get hijacked but nobody wants me.
Maybe it´s time to wash my clothes

Adios
Ricky

El Salvador

2006-05-19T16:42:00.000-07:00

El Salvador

It started raining so I turned into someones shed along the road. Out came Victor (whiskey breath and all) who spoke English in a fashion. He was an illegal worker in USA for 4 years.

Checking out the surf

2006-05-19T16:40:00.000-07:00

Checking out the surf over a little breakfast in El Salvador.
Good surf along this coast

Don´t see much of this anymore

2006-05-19T16:38:00.000-07:00

El Salvadoran Lady carrying goods to the market

Internet &%$"/(&%

2006-05-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

In Guatamala and having internet problems.
Will try a bit more and see what happens.

The whole world is trying to buy here

2006-05-17T20:18:00.000-07:00

The whole world is trying to buy here

It seems that Central America is for sale. The road side of the Panamericana is property sales bill boards like you can't believe.

Damn it! I came here to tempt being hijacked by hooligans not by sales reps.

I am in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, riding my little bike inbetween all the state of the art four wheel drive motor cars. What has happened to the wild image of this place?

Let me rather go and try to be hijacked next door in Honduras.

Adios

Ricky

Traffic jamb in the jungle

2006-05-17T20:06:00.000-07:00

17 May 2006
Costa Rica

Traffic jamb in the jungle

A side road I took along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica turned out to be a bad dirt road that the entire nation was using on the same day.

It was dirty fun.

Ricky

The Panama Canal

2006-05-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

Waiting under the shelter of a local store for the rain to pass. Riding over the Panama Canal

16th May 2006
Somewhere in the Costa Rican jungle
10) Cost Rica

Hi from the land of `Pura Vida` (pure life)

Today was a day of continuously getting lost and then coincidently being on the right road.
Headed out of Panama City wanting to find a good place from which to view the Panama Canal en-route. I rode and asked and asked and got lost and then found a perfect bridge to ride over and view the canal. It turned out to be the road I needed to ride on to get to Costa Rica. Bonus.
Did my photo session while riding and cruised on with the plan of making it as close as possible to the border. The road was good and in no time I was there. Oh well! May as well cross the border and get the &?%$*” paperwork done.
All went smoothly and off I headed for the nearest town because the afternoon rain clouds were looking very pregnant. The nearest town never appeared and after consultation with the locals I found out that I had missed it. The town must have been so small it got hidden behind a bush.
Off to the next town being Cortes. The waters broke and I pulled over, undercover of a local store roof and waited for the rain to stop. The big down pour was over in twenty minutes and I continued. Stopped several times after that for the rain and eventually missed that town too and the next one. Eventually I was besides myself looking for a place to stay and followed some signs promising accommodation, which took me down some dirt roads and then up a huge muddy hill. There was no way of riding back down without the bike sliding and me falling on my &??%$/ so I continued and came out at a bed and breakfast stuck away in the jungle that is run by a French Canadian couple. I have no idea where I am but it is a fantastic spot with the most amazing variety of colourful birds, frogs and interesting goggas.
It is now raining big time and hopefully it will clear up by tomorrow but if it doesn`t …………

Adios
Ricky

Got the pony and ready to roll

2006-05-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

15 May 2006

Panama City

Panama

Hi.

I picked up the motor bike from the air freighters today. All worked out very efficiently and I was ready to leave within an hour.

Well that was until Armando arrived. He has ridden from Mexico City and was airfreighting in the opposite direction, to Bogota in Colombia. We had stacks to chat about and exchange advice and talk of the experiences etc. I helped him get ready and we took the fuel out of his bike into mine, swopped maps etc. Generally the boys played nicely with their toys. At the end of it all I gave him a lift to the main airport building and said our Adios.

From there it was off to fit a new front tyre and replace the broken windshield. The windsheild is a big bonus. I only noticed how great it is when it was not there.

Tomorrow I will head towards Costa Rica.

Adios

Ricky

2006-05-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

2006-05-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

I was a good boy! Went to Sunday church and didn´t take too much change out of the collection plate.

2006-05-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

One of the best childrens hospitals I have seen so far

2006-05-14T16:57:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon band practice

Sulking because we cant play in the band with dad!

2006-05-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

14 May 2006

Panama City

10) Panama

Central America

Wow! What a great city.

Will be here probably until Wednesday getting ready to ride on North.

Off to visit the Panama canal.

Adios

Ricky

2006-05-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

13 May 2006

Bogota

Colombia

The one day dash around Bogota was a rush but I got a fair idea of its old buildings and both the central area and the upmarket northern area of the city. The articles I read on the city certainly does not do it justice. It is a great modern city with big shopping centres and all the facilities.

There have been TV reports of major flooding in the Southern poorer side of town. Can´t say the rain has been too much of a problem along the road. I have had good weather most of the time. The rain is the typical afternoon thunder showers and when it does come down it lets rip in a big way.

Yesterday I rode into Bogota and went directly to the cargo section of the airport. Within an hour the motorbike was cleared and ready to air freight to Panama City. I have opted for the air freighting option is primarily because of time. Also other motorcyclists have advised me to go this route as it is the safest, most efficient alternative and a similar price to shipping it across to Panama which can take a week or more.

The narcotics police made me take the bike apart to check absolutley everything. Do I look like a drug smuggler? Please don´t reply.

Got to rush boarding the plane to Panama now.

Adios

Ricky

Getting to school

2006-05-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

Grabbing a ride

2006-05-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

Its a common sight to see locals on their bicycles hanging on to the back of trucks going up the mountain passes. It looks hellish dangerous when the truck speeds up or goes around a corner and the cyclist is hanging on the outside of the turn.

Talking of cyclists, there has been a lot of racing cycliests training up the passes. It is serouis training because the passes are up to 6000 feet high and they are peddling up there.

Rock falls

2006-05-11T16:05:00.003-07:00

Rock falls around corners are part of the need to ride slowly.

2006-05-11T16:05:00.002-07:00

11 May 2006
Almenia
Colombia

Colombia is an amazingly beautiful place. The scenery could so easily be mistaken for Alps regions of France or part of Switzerland in the summer.

I have been riding long hours because the more I ride the more I realise what a long time it will take to get to the USA. I seem to average between 40 to 50km/hr since Peru. The slowsness is due to a blend of the high mountain passes, many, many trucks and the roads passing through every village. There are also other wondeful delays like local farmers drying their crops on the road, rock falls and the police doing body searhes. Today I got to a que of trucks more than a kilometre long. Weaved to the front to find the police were body searching the truck drivers. One driver was so mad, he was close to assualting the policeman.

I have been enjoying winding around the corners of all these mountains and passes.
So far Colombia is going onto my list of countries to come back to a revisit with more time.

I am now at a town called Almenia which is about 8 hours ride from Bogota. Hope to make it there tomorrow.

Adios
Ricky on a mission.

There is always space in a reception area.

2006-05-11T16:05:00.001-07:00

I make sure the pony is well stabled in the evenings.

Crossed the Equator today

2006-05-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

10 May 2006

Pasto

9) Colombia

Look at the sign in the back ground. 0 0´00´´. That means down Hill.

Also note, I got rid of the kak that was stuck on the pony´s tail and am now down to only the back pack. If it continues like this by the time I get to USA I will be down to a tooth brush and riding naked.

Left Santo Domingo in a bit of as drizzle with the locals assuring me that it would clear up and also adviced me to take an alternative route to following the Pan Americana ¨Highway¨. The route took me to La Concordia, Los Bancos and Mid Del Mundo (Middle of the World) a town on the equator and then joined on Pan American, North of Quito .

The rain stopped , the sun shone and it was a magical route through the jungle with hardly any traffic. Northern Equador is a far cry from its poorer Southern half. Everything is modern and up to speed with the modern world.

I crossed the border into Colombia with zero hassles and rode to a town called Pasto. It was a day of winding up and down mountain passes. Landed up riding into the night because I misjudged how long these distances through mountain passes can take.

The evening ended with two new beer labels being added to our Freedom Flight beer label collection.

Adios

Ricky

Tropical Ecuador

2006-05-09T15:45:00.000-07:00

9 May 2006
Santo Domingo del las Colorados
8) Ecuador
Day 52

Yesterday was gripe day so I will try and make amends today.

The terrain in Ecuador is a big change from riding through the Atacama desert. Here it is tropical and lush green. The desert has the advantage of predictable rain patterns. As I am writing it is raining outside. I have been very lucky with the weather. Only had one day of about 1 hour rain so far. Hold thumbs it continues like that.

Today I left Machala and rode slowly most of the day amongst banana plantations and palm trees. A pleasant change. The road was generally good but every town seems to have the characteristic donkey size potholes.
Other motor cyclists have warned that progress is slow through these parts and Central America but it is not a problem if the riding is amongst such tranquil scenery. Plantations and jungle covered mountains and judging by my visor there are lots of flying gogges around.

The plan is to ride to Quito (the capital of Ecuador) tomorrow which is trough beautiful mountains passes and takes about three hours to ride 200 km. The mountains usually get clouded in, in the afternoons so I chose to wait until tomorrow morning to get the full view of the scenery. Ecuador is renowned for it´s major eco-biodiversity (hope those are the right words).

I am 29 km south of the equator and will cross it tomorrow which traditionally means it is down hill for the rest of the way.

Adios
Ricky

Pity it was not a border post

2006-05-09T15:17:00.000-07:00

8 May 2006
Machala
8) Ecuador
Day +-50 (loosing count)

Pity this building wasn´t at a border post with the officials standing underneath.

I don´t want to leave you with the impression that maybe I hate border officials, so let me tell you in no uncertain terms that I &%$"/&%$ hate them with all humanly possible emotions and today´s experience was yet another reason why.

I arrived late yesterday (after the 900km ride) at the border post and got on with the process of crossing into Ecuador. It was a struggle to find the customs and immigration posts amoungst the chaos but all the paper work eventually got completed and last was the Ecuador immigration where I diligantly presented my passport with all the necessary ´please oh great sir´gestures. He paged through the passport and then gave me a dirty look and in a loud stern voice said, `What are you doing here? You need a visa´. I appologised and said I had asked at the consulate and was told that it was not necessary. He proceeded to tell me I should know I needed a visa and must get out of the country before he locks me up. I felt it best not to tell him he was a &%$"& and smelt bad so I went back to undo all the customs and paperwork to get back into Peru.

This morning I was at the Ecuador emabssy, all bright and bushytailed asking for a visa to be told that it was not required. When the mixed emotions dissapated I explained the situation and was told `sit, wait´ (something Alan and I heard way too many times on the microlight trip). A mere four hours later I was given the name of the Immigration officer, Sorgent Torrenus, who they had spoken to and was expecting me.
Off I went and rode 110 km back to the border and entered the paper generating processor. Two hours later I was spewed out with all necessary documents and ready to undertake the immigration process once again. This time I walked in and loudly asked for ¨Sorgent Torrenus¨. One man lifted his head quickly making it obvious that it was him but he refused to acknowledge it was infact him. (spineless &%$"/). When I said the embassy had sent me to see him, he took my passport and stamped it and I was sent on my way, leaving a muff faced Sorgent behind.

After 200km and a long day of ´sit wait´I only got as far as next town Machala.

I don´t suppose I should write about this stuff but it makes me feel better.
Ricky
(Grumpy)

2006-05-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

7 May 26

Tumes

Peru

Day 49

Been out there riding hard and long. Got in 900km today. Am on the border with Ecaudor. Hope to get a visa and enter tomorrow.

Visiting Macchu Piccho and Lake Titicaca was a big highlight. It was an area I have been looking forward to visiting for years. Now that is done I am going on a mission to try and catch up some distance to get to USA by mid June. This is the best area for me to do the racing because it is all desert so the weather is favourable and from other motor cyclists I understand that Central America is a lot more congested, slower and the dog problem is infintely worse.

Stray dogs along the road is a serious danger. I have already hit two. The second one nearly had me off the bike.

The ride today was along the Pacific coast and all desert. Came across two little surfing villages which looked very inviting to stop at for a decade or two. There were a few ¨Casitas¨ built on the beach waiting to be moved into and a hamock hung between the patio posts. Best of all the beach is smooth and hard and looking very much like a perfect microlight landing strip. Anyone care to join me?

Ciao

Ricky

My Spanish is clearly useless

2006-05-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

6 May 2006

Tujillo

Peru

Day 49

I have been spending a long time in the saddle lately and I am going to have to get used to it. From here on I will need to race to get to USA.

Lima was planned to get a few much needed chores done. One of which was to have a haircut. I simply asked for a haircut in Spanish and closed my eyes. Guess my Spanish is up to &%$"/.

The pony went for a much needed service and got a bill of excellent health. It has even had a shampoo and is looking pretty again. I replaced the back tyre and that was about as major as it got. The bike now already has over 10 000km.

While at the motor bike shop I met up with and went to dinner with a few other bikers. It was all stacks of fun.

Lima also has its ruins, Huacana Pullacana, to attract us tourists. I must admit I am now cathederalled out and ruined out as well.

This morning I left Lima and have ridden to Trujillo en-route to Ecuador which I am being over ambitious about getting to tomorrow.

Ciao

Ricky

Cusco to Lima

2006-05-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

5 May 2006
Lima
Peru
Day 48

Something I have had to learn (the hard way) over the last few days is that when I ask a local the distance to the next destination and they answer X hours, I had better listen. I used to insist on knowing the distance and did my own calculation of the time but now I understand that distance and time are completely unassociated.
The mountain passes wind on forever and 500km can take 14 hours to ride and nothing will change that. Each corner can only be ridden at 30km/hr and each town, with it´s multitude of street crossing inhabitants and dogs (minus one) will take X time to pass through. Enough of this. It took two days to get to Nasca.

Nasca is world famous, for its centuries old lines marked in the Atacama desert. The lines are massive and can only really be appreciated from the air so off I went to the local airport to seek a charter flight. There are many flying operators promising better prices and tourist agencies guaranteeing scheduled flights etc. Basically regaurdless of price, they are all Deigo operations. When there are enough people to fill a plane is when Dei Go.
It all turned out to be worth it. The lines are as magical as they are made out to be.
The desert floor is covered in a multitude of lines, shapes and designs all made by men who could not possibly ever see what their hard labour had created. The spider in this photo is one of about 20 figures, would cover several football fields and is not visible from the ground.
There are many theories as to why they did these designs but none are confirmed.

Got to run
Ricky

Not all of Lake Titicaca is blue

2006-05-01T18:04:00.000-07:00

Not all of Lake Titicaca is blue.

local Ladies

2006-05-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

Local Ladies with their traditional bowler hats that would have Charlie Chaplin green with envy.

Machu Picchu

2006-05-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

1 May 2006
Cusco
Peru
Day 44

Getting to Machu Picchu and back to Cusco is a 14 hour day of bus and train rides. The option I would have preferred, if time allowed, was to do the 4 day hike through the jungle and mountains.
I was really excited to get to the ruins as it has been an ambition for a long time to visit it. There are stacks of tourists but there is so much space that it is not really a problem. Everything about the trip is great. From the train ride along the river and between the mountains to the last hike up to the top.
The ruins were started in 1500 and took 40 years and 20 000 people to complete. How the Incas built it was through a taxation system where instead of people paying taxes they worked for the state for a period of time. (interesting concept).
It was an area of worship for the Incas and was inhabited by about 700 people and vacated when the Spaniards invaded the nearby towns and killed the Inca ruler.

Nasca lines next
Its Chow for now.

Ricky

2006-04-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

Making Friends with the locals

2006-04-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

Its not only the Lama´s around here that like me.

2006-04-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

La Paz. Well what can I say about a huge sprawling city that is laid out in a valley surrounded by beautiful snow covered mountain peaks. A, lets say memorable visit was visiting the witches market with is dried frogs and baby animals etc, certainly delayed lunch.
Che Guevara is very popular throughout the region and particularly in Bolivia.
There seems to be a desperate need for someone to step into his shoes.
It is good to be back in Puno with the Lake laid out below. I am now riding to Cusco to visit the Inca ruins in Maccho Piccho an area I have for a long time been wanting to visit.

2006-04-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

About 80 km on the Bolivian side of the border I came across the recently discovered archeological excavations of the ruins of the Tiawanaku temple (there are several ways of spelling it like Tiahuanacu).
The temple dates back to about 50years BC which is well before the Inca´s were even thought of. The tribe of the Tiawanaku were dominant in the Peru, Bolivia and Northern Chile area. The temples are built with the same geometric form, alignment with the planets and seasons, in the same way as many others around the world. This is something that always fascinates me as to why they all did that yet had no connection with each other.
The Spanish removed the stones from the walls of the temple and used them to build several churches in the area so a lot of it is busy being reconstructed.
I spent so much time there that it became too late to make it La Paz on time so the rest of the day was spent strolling around Tiawanaku seeing how simple life still is. The one little shop still sells things out of big bags by the pound (actually kilo ). The evening was spent with a family dinner and sleeping at Mrs Grassi´s little family “hotel.”

Ricky

Bolivia Border Crossing

2006-04-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

From Puno I headed South to get to Bolivia and did my much loved border crossing process which went off well but I somehow landed up crossing over the pedestrian crossing and it was so packed that there was no way back other than to follow the crowd. The border officials grinned, processed me and muttered “&%$”& tourista.”

And what are you doing?

2006-04-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Meet Sara, Dominique and little Jade

Along the way I have been meeting and hearing about some amazing people. In San Pedro I briefly mentioned the medic prof and the Stuart, the Bristish media guy traveling around the world. Well along the road I recently met this Swiss couple who I rode along side and spoke to. They have been riding their tandem bicycle for five months so far, from Ushaia (the very south of the continent) and are on their way to Mexico. They have already covered 14000km and in the small cart at the back is their 3 year old daughter.
Now does that not prick a small twinge of emotion in you as to what are you doing?

While on the subject have a look at this web site. http://www.enterpriseafrica.org.uk/
They are a family with four children traveling through Africa from London to Cape Town in a land rover.

Ricky

Puno Peru

2006-04-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

Puno was the next stop which is set on the banks of Lake Titicaca and is a more of a tourist spot than Juliaca. Like every city in South America it is centered around a central plaza which is always called Plaza Armas. Another aspect that takes getting used to in this part of the world is every town or city is almost totally one way streets. It makes things easier to handle the chaos/traffic.

Puno is known for the people who live on floating islands on the lake. They make the islands out of a mixture of the reed roots and pile massive amount of cut reeds on top to create a platform. They then build houses, also out of reed, on top of this floating island.
They developed this island system hundreds of years back when they were chased off the land by warring tribes. Judging by the general girth of the inhabitants they have adapted well to the lifestyle.
The boats which is their only means of transport between islands are also made of these reeds.

Juliaca Peru

2006-04-29T14:38:00.000-07:00

Local transport in Julica and the surrounding area. This is a brand new three wheeler scooter with its proud owner about to dissapear in the mayhem of traffic.

29 April 2006
Puno
Peru
Day 42

Apologies for the delay in updates but I have been working hard. You probably think this is all play well it aint. I have been writing (and rewriting) articles for magazines and newspapers in the hope that it results in sales of ¨Freedom Flight¨, the microlight expedition book.

I rode from Arequipa to Juilica where it was refreshing (both literally and figuratively) to be out of the desert and back on top of the mountains again.
Juliaca is a small town with very little tourist appeal but an interesting place to have an insight into the real lifestyle up here. Most of the transport is either on three wheeled bicycles where the passengers sit on the front seat. These develop into a similar configuration but in a motorcycle form which transport anything from people to quantities of building materials and the traffic is an absolute mayhem of a blend of these contraptions.
The local market also has a wide variety of goods from fresh fruit to fresh Lama skins and all at good prices.

En-route from Arequipa to Juliaca

2006-04-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

From Arequipa it was a steep climb back on to the top plateau into the amazing mountain areas.

2006-04-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

Have I been spending too much time on my own or what?

2006-04-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

25 April 2006
Arequipa
Peru
Day 38

Arequipa, as I found out today, consists primarily of Cathedrals, churches and a convent where nuns are sworn to abstinence from society and related indulgences. (Why?)
The towns name translate to English means ‘White City’ and the reason for this is because it is where the `Whites`(Spanish) established themselves enroute inland. Hum! Thought it was only South Africa that had these ‘Whitie’ issues but it seems not.

Tomorrow I head inland into the mountains and hopefully to Lake Titicaca on the border of Bolivia. I am really keen to ride through those areas and to discover the land of the Incas and some real history.

Adios
Cathedraled out Ricky.

Not a prefered ambulance.

2006-04-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

An interesting ambulance outside one of the many churches in Arequipa.

2006-04-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

After a while in the desert one gets to see strange things

Riding to nowhere inthe Atacama Desert

2006-04-24T19:04:00.000-07:00

2006-04-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

The Tacna Catholic Cathederal with it's neaby neighbour a Muslim Mosque. A rare sight in this very Catholic enviroment.

2006-04-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

24 April 2006
Arequipa
Peru
Day 37

Appologise for no photos but there seems to be a prolem with this blogger system. It's definitely not an operator problem. (Or at least I hope not).

Did my little bit around Tacna checking out the cathederal and more interestingly I came across a mosque. It looked very in place in the desert surroundings but unusual in this very Catholic enviroment.

Arequipa is a pleasant break from the vastness of the Atacama desert. Don't get me wrong the desert has its own beauty and magnificence. To ride for hours increasingly paniciking about the next fuel staion and then to ride over a 4000ft sand dune like mountain and suddenly look down on a valley of lush greenery in the river bed below, is breathtaking.

It is nice to have the grinding paste out of the mouth. On this note I must send a message of gratitude to the weather fairy. It has been really good and in an area where windless days are rare. Thanks

Hopefully tomorrow I can send ome photos and save you from having to read my mumblings.

Ciao
Ricky

2006-04-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

Hot water geysers or back of the moon?

2006-04-23T16:24:00.000-07:00

22 April 2006
Tacna
6) Peru
Day 35
Distance 5650 km

Having trouble updating the web page.

I am at Tacna in Peru. A great little town which is well accustomed to tourists and has good fascilities.

Passing my favourite officials at the border went so easily I almost wanted to go back and do it again.

Its all desert through here and probably will be up to Arequipa. Amazing to look across it and far in the distance to see the high Andes mountain peaks iced with snow. Its almost surreal.

2006-04-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

Eating at local kiosks to aleviate the money seperation anxiety at San Pedro Atacama.
Top of Paso de Jamo
Chile

21 April 2006
Iquique
5) Chile
Day 34
Distance 5200km

Ouch! Chile is giving me money seperation anxiety attacks. It sure is not cheap on this side of the border.
San Pedro Atacama was a good bit of Fun. It is primarily a tourist village and is a very basic desert outpost with a good community feel to it.
The major attraction is the hot water geysers about 60km North into the mountains. It is beautiful and impressive to see the steam blasting out of the ground. We left San Pedro at 4am to see them at sunrise which was amazing. Later in the day I took a ride out to the Vale de la Luna ( Valley of the moon). It is equally amazing with a variety of rugged mountains and dunes in colours ranging from white, reds to dark greys. It is similar to Sossuesvlei in Namibia.
The evening was spent over a few beers talking to a medical proffessor who has travelled and still works all over the world and an Englishman who is also enjoying doing the midlife crisis thing. He sold everything and left London in Dec 2004. He has travelled through Most of Africa and now is doing the Americas. We had many stories to exchange and equally agreed that most countries around the world are great places.

600km later I am now at Iquique on the Pacific coast in Northern Chile. I was really excited to see the Pacific ocean. It was a kind of highlight to have ridden this little pony across South America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Adios
Ricky
P.S. Surfies.
This is the surf spot of Chile and the waves look good. Today they are pumping a good 8ft.

2006-04-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

19th April 2006
San Pedro De Atacama
5) Chile
Day 32
Distance 4600km

Yes! Yes! Yes. In Chile.
The only problems with the border crossing were the ones I fabricated.

The Paso Jama from Argentina continued to become more and more impressive. I will let the photos speak for themselves.

As for the little pony, today it earn all my admiration. According to the GPS the highest altitude it took me to was 15772 feet and it did it with power to spare.

Besides being in front of the computer I am now in San Pedro De Atacama in Chile and it is……. Well let me go and find out and I will let you know.
Oh! There is a volcano nearby which erupted yesterday and is billowing smoke. Hopefully tonight we don’t get any unplanned fireworks.

Ciao from Chile
Cheerful Ricky

2006-04-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

18 April 2006
Jujuy
Argentina
Day 30
Distance 4300km

I left Salta today having had an effect on some paper salesman’s budget this month.
With the help of Manuel, who knows all the important people in town, I managed to pay a minimal export duty on the motorbike which in theory leaves me free to cross the border.
I have ridden to Jujuy and tomorrow morning will leave to the same Jama border post and hopefully St Pedro de Atacama in Chile.
Today along the way the road was blocked by locals at various points but they let me trough on the motor bike. I asked the police what the situation was but unfortunately couldn’t understand the reason they tried to explain. Bit of a communication gap.
Contrary to the warnings people have given me about the police here, my experience with them has been very pleasant. Hopefully this will continue into Chile.

AdiosRicky

2006-04-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

The top of the Andes

2006-04-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

It is easy to get lost on the Salinas Grande in more ways than one.

Riding through semi-desert like area toward the perfectly white Salina Grande with the back drop of snow capped peaks.

The the massive mountains are both figuratively and literally breathtaking