I
can’t describe how it felt when I got to the shed, it was the most exciting ride I have ever
had. I felt like I had won the biggest challenge I have ever faced. The bike was what I have always
dreamed of owning; the BMW riding gear is perfect for this kind of travelling, bloody expensive
but warm, comfortable and will keep you dry. The BMW lift up helmet is great for taking photos
without having to take the helmet right of all the time, its like all the things that I have done for
this trip have been good choices and not a waste of good money. I have a long way to go and now
I am starting to feel good about the decision to do this trip. Chile was hard for me as I had to put
up with the frustrating wait, the customs crap and the money I had to spend just waiting. I felt
fairly lonely bussing it around Bolivia and Chile. It was hard watching couples enjoy the travelling
together, making decisions together, helping each other with all the hassles of buying bus tickets,
trying to find hostels and not being able to speak Spanish, I am really struggling with the language
but I seem to get by.
The scenery I had just seen was magnificent. I feel so lucky to be able to see so much of such an
amazing piece of earth, I survive on just being in this sort of environment, and it’s like a drug.
Getting clearance from Chile was no hassle; the next stop was the Argentina gate just down the
shed a bit. The lady sitting there waiting for my paperwork was stunned when I pulled up. She
poked the guy next to her in the ribs and just stared at the bike. She pointed to the Chilean side
and I signalled no, I was going into Argentina. She handed me a bunch of forms to fill out and then
after I asked her what this question was she came out and we went through it together. Pretty
hard not knowing what she was saying, but we got it done and she stamped it all and smiled as
she signalled it was OK for me to go. She actually gave me a little wave as I left.
My next task was to get fuel as I had used a lot getting up the hill and I am hoping to top up as I go
as people have told me that sometimes in Argentina petrol is hard to get in some areas and it’s a
good idea to keep a full tank at all times. 12 km down the road is a petrol station, great I thought,
fill up before I start going down the other side. I was pretty anxious to get off the hill as it was
getting late and the wind was coming up, and blowing a thin wave of ice across the road and into
my face. It’s weather like this that sticks in your memory bank, I’m on top of the Andes, it’s
snowing, and just to make it a bit more of an effect, throw some snow flakes in his face at 60kmh
so he doesn’t forget where he is.