Broken Toe to start the New Year!

The new year hasn't exactly started off on the right foot! I don't believe in fate, I know exactly the stupid decision I took that led to snapping my right little toe in two! - That is, it's not a good idea to ride quad bikes with flip-flops - especially off-road :-) At the time it didn't hurt at all; I remember looking down after striking some low vegetation which ripped-off my flip-flop and noticed that my little toe was at a strange angle ... umm that's not good!

But shortly after the pain grew intense and I went into shock. I took a pain-killer and rested a while to recover enough to drive myself to the emergency room. The above x-ray clearly shows the displaced fracture. Actually, the worst part of this experience was the two injections of local anesthetic into my foot - which felt like the needle was being pushed through the bone!

After a few mins the doctor then pushed and tugged my toe to realign the bone - I couldn't watch, I wanted to throw-up at this point! Then to add insult to injury the clinic stung me for $182,000 pesos (~$400 USD) for the treatment - I won't forget that bike ride for a while, but I'm just glad that nothing happened to Anita who was riding 2-up with me.

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.