Monday
January 11, 2010
Early tomorrow I plan on starting the bike trip to the dryest desert in the world. I'm first going to go to a place called "Valle Del Elqui", that should take about five hours to get to. Valle Del Elqui is a very picturesque valley on the border of the high desert, and it runs east into the Andes Mountains. I'll spend a day in that area, and then continue north to Bahia Inglesa (English Bay). This is on the Pacific coast and is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Chile. I will probably overnight there and continue to San Pedro De Atacama the following day. Probably a day there to see the salt flats and geysers, and then start heading back to Santiago, before heading south to my Aunts ranch.
Monday, January 11, 2010
All eMail Communications
A reminder to anyone sending me eMail while I am in South America. Please send ALL eMail to: thebmwrider@live.com I can not respond to eMail sent to my Roadrunner account while overseas. Thanx
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Not Much Happening
Sunday January 10, 2010
Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
It's the weekend and I don't have much to report at the moment. I've been to the Mall a few times to buy stuff like a cell phone, Mobile Internet Norrowband (not pleased with the performance) and a 16GB pen drive to load my pics on. Monday I have to go to the DMV to reregister the bike. I forgot I'm riding an unregistered bike at the moment. Ooooops! You might see me on "Locked Up Abroad".
I'm hoping to start the trip north early this coming week. Oh, by the way, The "Chile 2010" photo gallery (to the right of this page) is now active, so please take a spin over to see what I've been photographing.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Getting Stuff Done
Friday January 8, 2010
Today was a "buy day". A day dedicated to getting stuff done that I needed to do, like get the headlight of the motorcycle replaced because part of it came lose last year on the trip to Ushuaia, and there was no way to repair it. I also spent part of the day trying to locate a Mobile Internet Service for my Netbook. Finally I succeeded, even though it's a little slow. Better than nothing, I say! That's it for now.
P.S. Pictures have now been uploaded to the Gallery.
Today was a "buy day". A day dedicated to getting stuff done that I needed to do, like get the headlight of the motorcycle replaced because part of it came lose last year on the trip to Ushuaia, and there was no way to repair it. I also spent part of the day trying to locate a Mobile Internet Service for my Netbook. Finally I succeeded, even though it's a little slow. Better than nothing, I say! That's it for now.
P.S. Pictures have now been uploaded to the Gallery.
Santiago, Chile
Tallest building in South America, for now!
Thursday, Jan 7, 2010
The plane touched Chilean soil at 9:45am (local) this morning, about ten minutes ahead of schedule, which was OK with me because sleeping on the plane last night was a chore, as usual. In just about an hour, I managed to get thru the long lines of Customs and Immigration, and then the final bag screening. At the last bag screening, I was stopped by one of the Immigration agents because it seems I had forgotten to sign my Declaration form. That was easy to remedy, and then I went out into the main part of the airport and into the hordes of Taxi drivers trying to give me a ride into Santiago at twice the price. Since this isn’t my first rodeo, I pushed my way thru the crowded airport until I found the “TransVip” counter. TransVip is a company that runs shuttle vans from the airport to any place in Santiago, and since they can carry numerous passengers, the fare is much more reasonable. It cost me 6,200 pesos ($12.40) to get me and my entire luggage into Santiago. A fair price in my estimation.
So, by 11:30am local (9:30am EST) I arrived at my Aunts in Santiago. Door to door….22 hours! Once I was settled, I went over to my other Aunts, where my bike is stored, and proceeded to remove the cocoon that the bike had hibernated in for the past ten months. As expected, the BMW started right up. As not expected, I had a nearly flat front tire, but I managed to, very carefully, drive a few blocks to the gas station to take care of that. (note to self….bring the air pump you spent $100 on last year, next time you go to unwrap the bike) I have the pump here, but it was at the other Aunts house at the time.
Now it is 7:10pm here and my Aunt and I are going to go on the nightly ritual walk, something I could really use!
The plane touched Chilean soil at 9:45am (local) this morning, about ten minutes ahead of schedule, which was OK with me because sleeping on the plane last night was a chore, as usual. In just about an hour, I managed to get thru the long lines of Customs and Immigration, and then the final bag screening. At the last bag screening, I was stopped by one of the Immigration agents because it seems I had forgotten to sign my Declaration form. That was easy to remedy, and then I went out into the main part of the airport and into the hordes of Taxi drivers trying to give me a ride into Santiago at twice the price. Since this isn’t my first rodeo, I pushed my way thru the crowded airport until I found the “TransVip” counter. TransVip is a company that runs shuttle vans from the airport to any place in Santiago, and since they can carry numerous passengers, the fare is much more reasonable. It cost me 6,200 pesos ($12.40) to get me and my entire luggage into Santiago. A fair price in my estimation.
So, by 11:30am local (9:30am EST) I arrived at my Aunts in Santiago. Door to door….22 hours! Once I was settled, I went over to my other Aunts, where my bike is stored, and proceeded to remove the cocoon that the bike had hibernated in for the past ten months. As expected, the BMW started right up. As not expected, I had a nearly flat front tire, but I managed to, very carefully, drive a few blocks to the gas station to take care of that. (note to self….bring the air pump you spent $100 on last year, next time you go to unwrap the bike) I have the pump here, but it was at the other Aunts house at the time.
Now it is 7:10pm here and my Aunt and I are going to go on the nightly ritual walk, something I could really use!
the Flights
Wednesday Jan 6, 2010
The flight from Buffalo to Boston left on time, and as we climbed out of the heavy overcast that covered all of New York State, we broke out of the clouds to a glorious sunny day on top. It was a strange feeling as we broke out of the clouds. The tops of the clouds looked so still and peaceful. Like a huge sheet of white cotton candy. The flight to Boston took just about an hour. There was a very marked increase in the number of TSA agents (Transportation Security Administration) in Boston, but to be honest, getting thru security wasn’t that much different in either airport. It went pretty fast.
When I arrived in Boston, I stopped in the “Legal C Food Restaurant” (don’t ask me, I didn’t come up with that name!) to get a bite to eat, and since I can’t stand C Food, I asked for a Sam Adams and an order of fries. I figured that would be safe.
I am now on my way to Miami at 30,000 feet, at this moment, and of course, I got the seat that won’t recline, so I figured I would move one seat back which happens to be an Emergency Exit. It has more leg room and I figured it would at least recline. Boy was I wrong! Not only did it not recline, but for some reason, sitting next to that door was like sitting next to an open refrigerator. I almost got freezer burn. Won’t do that again! Even with a blanket between me and the side of the plane, I’m cold.
It’s 9:15pm at the moment, and we are due to land in Miami at 10:20pm.
We actually landed in Miami at 10:00pm, and I am now at the gate waiting for the overnight flight to Santiago scheduled to leave at 11:45pm.
The flight from Buffalo to Boston left on time, and as we climbed out of the heavy overcast that covered all of New York State, we broke out of the clouds to a glorious sunny day on top. It was a strange feeling as we broke out of the clouds. The tops of the clouds looked so still and peaceful. Like a huge sheet of white cotton candy. The flight to Boston took just about an hour. There was a very marked increase in the number of TSA agents (Transportation Security Administration) in Boston, but to be honest, getting thru security wasn’t that much different in either airport. It went pretty fast.
When I arrived in Boston, I stopped in the “Legal C Food Restaurant” (don’t ask me, I didn’t come up with that name!) to get a bite to eat, and since I can’t stand C Food, I asked for a Sam Adams and an order of fries. I figured that would be safe.
I am now on my way to Miami at 30,000 feet, at this moment, and of course, I got the seat that won’t recline, so I figured I would move one seat back which happens to be an Emergency Exit. It has more leg room and I figured it would at least recline. Boy was I wrong! Not only did it not recline, but for some reason, sitting next to that door was like sitting next to an open refrigerator. I almost got freezer burn. Won’t do that again! Even with a blanket between me and the side of the plane, I’m cold.
It’s 9:15pm at the moment, and we are due to land in Miami at 10:20pm.
We actually landed in Miami at 10:00pm, and I am now at the gate waiting for the overnight flight to Santiago scheduled to leave at 11:45pm.
Time To Leave The Snow Behind
Wednesday Jan. 6, 2010
The time has arrived for me to head to the airport in Buffalo. I will first fly to Boston, then on to Miami, before boarding the long overnight flight to Santiago. Once off the plane in Chile, I will go thru Customs and Imigracion, which takes maybe 10 minutes or so depending on the line. Once that is done, it’s off to reunite with my luggage and then the final luggage check if you are so chosen. Then it’s out into the warm sun of Santiago and a shuttle ride into the Capital, to my Aunts house. After getting settled, I will go to pick up the BMW at another Aunts house and begin the adventure.
The time has arrived for me to head to the airport in Buffalo. I will first fly to Boston, then on to Miami, before boarding the long overnight flight to Santiago. Once off the plane in Chile, I will go thru Customs and Imigracion, which takes maybe 10 minutes or so depending on the line. Once that is done, it’s off to reunite with my luggage and then the final luggage check if you are so chosen. Then it’s out into the warm sun of Santiago and a shuttle ride into the Capital, to my Aunts house. After getting settled, I will go to pick up the BMW at another Aunts house and begin the adventure.
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