Out on to the Salar de Uyuni 19-6 to 21-6-2010

Day 1

For the first time this trip I a hired guide. He took us on a 3 day tour of the world’s biggest salt flat, La Salar de Uyuni, and its surrounding beauty. The first days travel took us up and over several passes of 5000 meters and more, to several toxic lakes, salt flats, and thermal baths. This part of the world is fantastic and the camera cannot capture it´s true beauty. We stopped at one thermal bath and had a nice dip in the hot water and watched the sun set. We spent the night in an unheated shelter at 4500+ meters. The night was cold and crisp. The stars were brilliant. I was up early enough to see the Wenner ¨W¨ (that would be Cassiopeia for those of you who read books written by scholars who don´t know much) in the northern sky. It was very low on the horizon, but recognizable. The two pointer stars in the Wenner W pointed toward the North Star, which still is hidden well below the horizon. The Southern Cross had already set.

Uncle Walter

Uyuni, Altiplano, Bolivia 6-18-2010

 
 
 
 

Odometer: 7927.5 miles

Altitude: 3800+ meters

We got a bit of slow start as the gang did not want to get moving to soon, but never the less the first part of the ride up to the Altiplano was unimaginable. Then the road flattened and became very dusty and hot. The last 45 miles into Uyuni was the worst of the 2200+ miles of dirt road so far across South America. It alternated between a hard washboard where every speed made the bike vibrate like crazy and pockets of deep sand that would through the bike in all directions. Luckily no one went down, though we all had too many close calls. It was a great feeling to make to Uyuni and get off the bike.

Uncle Walter

 
 
 
 

Tupiza, Southern Bolivia 17/6/2010

Odometer: 7788.1 miles

Altitude:3800+ meters.

Crossing the border into Bolivia was real fun. The boarder was closed from 08:30 to 11:15 because the soccer game between Argentina and South Korea was on TV. Thankfully Argentina won (4 to 1) and the guards were in a good mood. I got out of Argentina and had passed Bolivian Customs without a problem. Then came Bolivian immigration. I was told by Bolivian Consulate in Chicago I could obtain a visa without difficulty at the border. Well, it was easy enough, but the visa has to picked up about 8 blocks back in Argentina. I was already stamped out of Argentina. So, with no one paying too much attention I ran back across the border without proper paper work to the Bolivian Consulate and obtained a visa for Bolivia. As I ran across back over I was stopped by 4 Argentinean guards. I was out of breath from the altitude. They asked to see my papers for Argentina, I told them the truth with my first breath, that I had no papers, and asked about the game with my second. The head guard asked if I knew if I was in Argentina illegally. I said yes. He then told me the final score of the game and took me through to the Bolivian side so as not to have any more difficulties. Bolivian Customs did not notice my new Minnesota plate has Minnesota spelt with only one n. We will have to see how it holds up at the remaining boarders. The rest went without problems.

The Bolivian Consulate Secretary had a nasty cough with fever for the last 10 days and was on injections of penicillin and not improving. I wrote down a few others antibiotics for her to try. She was so happy she gave me the number of the consulate to call if I have any difficulties while in Bolivia, and to ask for her. Always good to know someone with connections, but I hope not to use them.

Uncle Walter

Quiaca, Nothern Argentina

 

 

 

 

La Quiaca, JuJui, Argentina 16/6/2010

Odometer: 7729.8

The ride to Quiaca was great. We crossed the Puna out onto La Salines Grandes and down to Purmamarca. As you can see the road was great. We met up with Fernando, had some street food and went to bed. La Quiaca is the boarder town with Bolivia.

Uncle Walter

 

 

 

 

San Antonio de Los Cobres, La Puna, Argentina. 15-6-2010

Odometer: 7484.4 miles

Altitude: 3878 meters

We got up early and left late for an excellent ride from Salta, up and over the pass at 4080 meters to San Antonio de Los Cobres. The road was very dusty and dirty. The wind wasn´t too bad. The sun was bright. The canyon was very impressive, full of beautiful colors. La Poderosa suffered a bit with altitude sickness, but not as much as Uncle Walter. Once there we found an excellent hostel, Hostal de Cielo. We unloaded the bikes a bit and headed out to see the Viaduct, a bridge that the train to the clouds uses en route to Chile. The sunset on the way back to San Antonio was spectacular as well. We parked our bikes in the dining room of the hostal, had a great dinner and went to bed early.

Tomorrow we head to La Qiaca, the last town in Argentina, for preparation into Bolivia.

Fun was had by all.

Uncle Walter

Happy Birthday Little One!!!!!!

A day in Salta, Salta, Argentina

 

 

 

 

Salta, Salta, Argentina 11/6/2010

Odometer: 7155.3 miles

The road to Salta for Tafi de Valle was great and the day was sunny and warm. The pictures are in the last blog. On the raod I met 3 other long distance bikers. All of us are heading towards Bolivia and we have decided to join forces for awhile. It should be fun. We all started out independently going in all different directions, with different plans and destinations. Laurent is from Belgium and on a world tour, Fernando is from Peru, and Sami is from Canada. We make quite the team and it will be good to have some company for awile.

The above photos were taken yesterday in Salta.

Uncle Walter

Happy Fathers Day Pops, Skosh, Math, Butts, Jerry, Pat, Bill, George, Jaime, Antkee, Kieth

 

 

 

 

Just some more photos from the road to Salta. Happy Fatehrs Day!

Uncle Walter