I flew from Santiago to Puerto Montt where I met our guide, Daniel. We are a group of four. Dave and his Jane are from Maine.  We all have many interests in common including world travel, mountain biking, outdoor sports, … We spent the day organizing our gear, getting acquainted, enjoying some nice food and drinks, and previewing our route.

I avoided the protests in Santiago downtown area. Staying in Vitacura, I enjoyed walks in a very modern, international city. The nearby mall had top end shopping and many places to eat. I enjoyed walking through nearby parks, visiting museums, a scooting around on the Lime scooters.

All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go. Preparation for this trip has been different from past rides. I am focused more on my packing than on my motorcycle. For long trips, much of the road experience depends on the preparation of my bike…. I miss that. I started packing by filling my bikes panniers with what I am taking. There is no kitchen equipment, camping/sleeping gear, or emergency tools to bring along. So the packing puzzle was based … Read More

Tommorow evening I fly from Atlanta to Santiago, Chile. As with previous rides, I enjoy having a “theme” for the ride. The time spent on a bike provides a certain meditative quality. It is a chance to shift my thoughts into new areas. My first Motorcycle trip focused on rediscovering America and challenging myself by achieving a teenage dream. On this ride, I explored the gulf coast, the Mississippi River, the Ozarks, Route 66 (the mother road), and places of … Read More