Punta de Chorros

With the exception of the odd trip into work, the bike has been
covered up for the last seven months. So now that spring is offically
upon us, we decided to make our first ride of the season to Punta de
Chorros

Day 9 - 3,619km

From the point at which I decided to head home it took me 3 days to reach La Serena - I arrived around 6pm on Sunday after riding for 9hrs! Needless to say I was very tired but happy to be home.

My GPS shows that I clocked up 3,619km over the last nine days! Whilst I'm a little disappointed that I didn't make it further south, I'm nevertheless happy with what I achieved, it was hell of experience with great company.

Day 9 - Los Vilos

Made an early start and got through Santiago by midday. So much for
quiet roads, they are packed with holiday traffic!

Topped up the gas in Los Vilos - only 270km to go now!

Villa el Descanso

After riding for over 7hrs I finally arrived at my half way stopping
point, this hotel at km187 south of Santiago. It felt so good to be in
an airconditioned room and to take a shower!

I have another 662km ahead of me to reach La Serena so I need get a
good night sleep. Since it's Sunday tomorrow and 2nd round of
presidential voting, I expecting the road through Santiago to be
fairly quiet.

Day 8 - heading north

I bid farewell to the familiy in temuco to begin my 1100km journey
north back to la Serena

Day 7 - returning to Chile

Last night we made camp in the Lanin National park - south of San Martin Los Andes. Overnight temperature dropped to 6c - I was freezing again!

Over 2,000 km traveled and a week into the journey south, I decided that it was time for me to return home. I really wanted to make it through the Carreterra Austral but I don't have the right gear to keep me warm at camp and my off-road motorbike skills are not really up to the pace required to make it through the 'ripio' without risking life and limb!

I was also really missing the family :-( it's hard being on the road with very liitle contact.

So I packed up early this morning and wished Glenn and Cheri all the best and headed SW towards the border crossing at Puyehue. The mountain pass is absolutely beautiful, a real pleasure to ride.

I arrived safely at Anita's family home in Temuco 8 hrs later.

Glenn's Fish

Here is the fish that Glenn caught yesterday. Unfortunately it's a
'sucker' fish so not very tasty, so Glenn returned it to the water.

This area is a hiking/fishing paradise, breath taking views and crystal clear waters