I've spent the last few days burning through Chile. Ruta 5 takes you
2,000 kilometers along the western coast of Chile and through the
Atacama desert, one of the driest places on earth - scientists estimate
that many parts of the Atacama have received no rainfall for over 400
years. I expected big rolling sand dunes, but it's more like what you'd expect of Mars - craters, cliffs, and rocks scattered in a red sandy mix.
I arrived in Santiago yesterday and planned to
make a push for Argentina today. This was not to be. My bike broke
down in the middle of morning traffic today. I found a great mechanic
online through the adventure rider
forums
and he had my bike taken apart and the problem (electrical) diagnosed
in a few hours. I'm actually crashed out at the back of his shop as I
type this now. He had a room and I was glad to take it. It's just me
and a sweetheart of a pitbull for the night. Hopefully I'll be back on
the road tomorrow or the next day.
-John
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| Mano de Desierto |
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| Gas station where I camped for a night (tent bottom left). |
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| The giant mano and my moto. |
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| Camped at a roadside eatery in Chile. |
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| My bike on the operating table. |
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| My roommate. |
