A bit of Chile

Arsey

Well-known member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Mar 5, 2008
Messages
29,078
Reaction score
2,995
Location
Guernsey or on another beach...
We've just spent 3 days riding around Chile,from our Santiago base.
So here's just a quick report for anybody interested.
I'm composing it using Twatatalk so will have to do it in bits as you can only upload 4 pics per post.

We arrived on Thursday,and after a night on the town,met up for brek and then Uber'd to Ride Chile to pick up our bikes.
I was to use an F800GS and my mate a G650,as that's all they had left,but would prove to be perfect for what was install.
Bikes came with Peli cases and a tank bag,along with locks and spare tubes and tools.

69f6b2d79d591b06963294fe2f6dcefb.jpg


The plan for day 1 was to head up the old Ruta Antakari to spend the night in Combarbala.This would be about 250 miles ,of which probably 100 would be dirt roads/tracks/paths !!

7cb00cb7062042d519349a9ac696a154.png


After Cabildo we entered the first of many ancient tunnels.These buggers are single track ,with a dirt floor,sometimes wet and very slippy,unlit and no passing place.Just about ok on a bike as you can lean in and let a car pass but if car meets car,then one will have to reverse sometimes miles !!!

b4eab1504b778eb0f5c6c3c8bd7896e8.jpg




After that first tunnel,the road turned to dirt and would stay that way for about 100 miles with just the occasional bit of tarmac.

Bye bye tarmac !!!!

c2297b00c779766d7ec342b93bf06b1a.jpg



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
3f5718a5d36014757894719324f365b8.jpg


a2ccdc037a2e893464f22fff00c5953a.jpg


fd8126142a27ba06b198ba4f1d0af4ad.jpg


After filling up in Illapel,we finally reached Combarbala for the night,tired and filthy.

b03816ab93932a21da8de386188a84c6.jpg


I'd done about 30 miles off-road in one day before but never this much in one day on the dirt.But the 800GS was very capable ,shod with Anakees.

We did get lost a few times and went up some very steep,rutted tracks which would prove to be dead ends after miles.No pics of the worst ones as too busy trying to stay upright !!

Had a beer or 7 and a dodgy pizza before hitting the sack.

Day 2.

Decided to route down the coast on the motorway,as the only other option was to retrace our steps completely and my mate was shattered from day 1,as was I to be honest.

Quite scenic though :

413bee35809a5e9f372bc62d25946a0d.png


751384fabf792dcd5e7ca04f970d8fd6.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
We went via Valparaiso but was a bit of a dump,despite the photos :


6172af43be791ee9daa2628c66693e0b.png


So back to our crew hotel and a night on the piss with a large lump of cow

0d534bcdb7b5a2fdd13125f3daf1e45a.jpg


Day 3

As Ride-Chile said we could have the bikes till 3pm,we decided to head to Banos Morales in the SE,some 90km from Santiago.

da099f8c08616245ba062b535158f252.png

This is a lush volcanic area with a large glacier than can be hiked up to from a base camp.
Not in full bike gear and 28 degs C so I'll save that for next month.But the ride there was beautiful and such a contrast to the north.
Recent fires made it hazy so pics don't do it justice.

ec39a6746c5a1b37b6d5ea5a6b66ce17.jpg


345a45edf6044c00349f3f8528e2b59e.jpg




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Had a spot of lunch then headed back via a waterfall about 5km back down the road.Rather than park up,we decided to ride up the gnarly track to get there !!

2172b1c451c10bec786f28a18aec6147.jpg
01c829e451927e0ae17f0149649cb903.jpg
632bd57b0b6e09f9c9273bd30aae5b6d.jpg
85a19949eca32bc13c5025238808cbfa.jpg


ABS off for the way back down ,avoiding the locals !!!

Then back to Santiago.

We did 620 miles in total.Great fun,no mishaps,as could have been a bit dodgy in the mountains,up a track with a puncture or worse !!

But the drivers in the city are utter cnuts and will cut you up constantly.Got to be on your guard !!!!

So that's it really.A fun few days.Off to the coast now for dinner with some of the girlies then home tomorrow.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Looks a great trip:thumb

You must have been devastated when they gave you a "very capable" BMW.......:augie

:D
 
Was that your whole per diem ......... ?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1708.jpg
    IMG_1708.jpg
    128.2 KB · Views: 511
Arsey, thanks for sharing....looks very interesting and varied....(wonder if those tunnels are just old railway routes that have been adapted out of necessity)...noticed the Lycra-clad cyclist in a shot from Banos Morales - perhaps this is a favourite route for them. also - but how the Heck do they keep tyres in one piece?

Also noticed the horseshoes set in the pavement at the kerbside - nothing like wishing you a bit of good luck when crossing the road, I suppose?!

It will be interesting to see more from your next visit....
 
Looks fabulous. Wish my employer would send me to locations I'd like to explore more often

:beerjug:
 
Nice one Arsey, brought back some good memories looking at your photos. Could almost smell the burnt sand once more. Surprised you never had any dog photos, it is what I recall the most, never seen so many.

Take care

JimmyMac
 
I would love to ride the whole length of Chile.:tumbleweed
 


Back
Top Bottom