So what is going on Trevor? Did you complete your trip? Are you back in the States?
Escape from DC
- Thread starter dcstrom
- Start date
Hi Guys! Well I'm ALMOST at Ushuaia - should be there Sunday. Everything is great, the bike has hardly missed a beat, except for that nasty cracked frame business. Best forget about that! The repair is holding up well so far.
Here's the map, up to date.
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2147530
By Sunday it will be 478 days and 42,000 miles since leaving DC. I cannot lie, it's been fantastic! ;-) Everyday I think how lucky I am to be doing this trip. The scenery is incredible, people fantastic, bike has been amazing... is that too many superlatives? I've been very lucky with the weather, and everything else. No incidents of note, except for a dislocated shoulder in a silly fall in northern Peru. Even then it was worthwhile for the people I met and the first-hand experience of the Peruvian hospital system!
Rather than go through the laborious process of posting pictures here - there's so many of them - I'm just gonna give you a google+ link. It's easier to view them there, but if you see any than you particularly like feel free to grab the link and post it back here.
https://plus.google.com/photos/107632123776958177476/albums/5959484018650757297?authkey=CJzDjfTCsqDB3AE
Trevor
Here's the map, up to date.
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2147530
By Sunday it will be 478 days and 42,000 miles since leaving DC. I cannot lie, it's been fantastic! ;-) Everyday I think how lucky I am to be doing this trip. The scenery is incredible, people fantastic, bike has been amazing... is that too many superlatives? I've been very lucky with the weather, and everything else. No incidents of note, except for a dislocated shoulder in a silly fall in northern Peru. Even then it was worthwhile for the people I met and the first-hand experience of the Peruvian hospital system!
Rather than go through the laborious process of posting pictures here - there's so many of them - I'm just gonna give you a google+ link. It's easier to view them there, but if you see any than you particularly like feel free to grab the link and post it back here.
https://plus.google.com/photos/107632123776958177476/albums/5959484018650757297?authkey=CJzDjfTCsqDB3AE
Trevor
eemsreno
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That is a lot of good pictures Trevor, Keep having a good trip looks fun.
I expected nothing but great pictures and was not disappointed..... thanks for sharing.
Enjoy the balance of the trip.
Alan
Enjoy the balance of the trip.
Alan
tubebender
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Only 478 days to ride North and South America? You're no Nick Sanders!
Great pictures Trevor. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
What happens when you get to Ushuia? Turn around?
Great pictures Trevor. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
What happens when you get to Ushuia? Turn around?
limey
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Awesome pictures Trevor. Merry Christmas and safe travels in the new year. ::008:: ::008::
Amazing Trip! Lots of culture in those pics.
I may not be Nick Sanders, but I AM at least using one of his cast-off front tires. When he got to Santiago on his return let he changed tires, front was less than half worn, he gave it to Roberto (Thagua) who gave it to me. Thanks guys! I squeezed 5000 miles out of the Pirelli Scorpion Rally front, but it was well gone by the time I made the switch. I figure the secondhand Tourance front and well-used K60 will get me to Buenos Aires, then new tires there.tubebender said:
As for what's next... well the start of the Dakar Rally at Rosario is within range, about 1800 miles from Ushuaia and I have a week to get there. Follow the race for a few days before heading back to Buenos Aires to meet a friend coming from the US. After that, not at all sure. MotoGP is back in Argentina at the end of April, I'm sure I could find some things to keep me occupied until then!
Congratulations on an epic adventure. Kudos on the excellent photos.
That's the difference between a job and a Holiday. ;Dtubebender said:
Great photos Trev. Keep upright and best for the leg north.
There has to be a book in this somewhere.
::003::
Graham
Wow.
Took my time and soaked each pic up. Just amazing.
Life's been good. I can't complain. But I have an unfulfilled dream of unscheduled adventure. I've practiced enough.
Thanks for sharing.
Took my time and soaked each pic up. Just amazing.
Life's been good. I can't complain. But I have an unfulfilled dream of unscheduled adventure. I've practiced enough.
Thanks for sharing.
Dirt_Dad
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Trevor, looks like you have seen and done some spectacular stuff in the last 42K miles since I last saw you. It's always a treat to see what you can do when you bring out the good camera. Those photos are awe inspiring.
Glad you are doing well and enjoying the experience. Are you close to putting yourself and the bike on an airplane and heading to another continent? I seem to remember you had a 2 year time table, and there's a lot of distance between you and the intended destination.
Thanks for the update. I don't have a facebook account, so I really enjoy it when you post over here and bring us up to speed. Stay safe, and Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all that kind of stuff.
Glad you are doing well and enjoying the experience. Are you close to putting yourself and the bike on an airplane and heading to another continent? I seem to remember you had a 2 year time table, and there's a lot of distance between you and the intended destination.
Thanks for the update. I don't have a facebook account, so I really enjoy it when you post over here and bring us up to speed. Stay safe, and Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all that kind of stuff.
Thanks for the link to the photos. I/we sure appreciate your taking us along!
Like Jon wrote, it's been a long time and yet feels like just a couple of weeks ago. After south America, are you and the bike going west? or East?
And don't forget that big party in Ushuai: http://youtu.be/xlvKLVwRgbs
::018::
Like Jon wrote, it's been a long time and yet feels like just a couple of weeks ago. After south America, are you and the bike going west? or East?
And don't forget that big party in Ushuai: http://youtu.be/xlvKLVwRgbs
::018::
Trevor, I'm glad you are still alive, well, and having a blast! Thanks for the update. I did not know you scheduled out two years for this trip, that is amazing!
nga
Active Member
Great adventure! I've loved the pics.
The end is nigh! At last made it to the end of the world, Ushuaia, Argentina. I arrived here late on the 2st, after a long day from Punta Arenas, Chile. Great weather until the pass just before Ushuaia, where sleet, rain and cold made things a bit interesting.
Yesterday I tried to go to the end of the most southern road in the world, which requires going through the national park. This is where the traditional "I'm in Ushuaia" shot is taken, at the sign at the end of the road. I paid my $12 entry fee but thought about turning around after riding a few km's on the wet, slick clay road. In motorcycling part of your brain is always occupied doing risk/benefit analyses, and in this case I didn't care enough about getting to the end of the road to risk sliding off on the slimy clay surface. No worries I thought, just go back and get a refund, and try again another time.
I told the guy at the ticket office that the road was dangerous for motorcycles and could he please give me a refund? "No refunds". He knows I have only been in the park 15 minutes... and has the nerve to say "we have many motorcycles go through here no problem" implying that I don't know how to ride a bike. "Today?" I say. "No, not today" My blood is rising... I ask for the jeffe (chief) and am directed to another guy. I'm not sure if he's the chief or not, but he tells me to wait 5 minutes. I assume this is because he is going to call somebody and talk to them about my request, but he continues selling tickets and ignores me. Five minutes goes by and he's still ignoring me, so finally I get his attention and ask what's going on. "No refund". Where's the jeffe? "I am the jeffe". I'm starting to lose my cool, for the first time on this trip. Why the hell did you ask me to wait then!! Ok if you can't give me a refund, how about a ticket for another day? "No". I really need to brush up on my spanish swear words... I lost it then and screwed up the ticket and threw it at his feet.
I got back on the bike and had second thoughts - maybe if the sun shines the road will dry out and I can use the ticket later that day (it's valid only for the date of issue), or maybe I can complain to HIS jeffe. So went back to the office and asked for my crunched-up ticket back. That wasn't embarrassing at all
It rained on and off the rest of the day, and the head office of the Argentine National Park Service was closed because it was Sunday.
But I had my revenge... rather than having my photo taken at their fancy-pants sign at the end of the road, I choose to highlight the good work of the Municipality of Ushuaia, by having my photo taken with one of their flower pots. Ha ha screw you national park service!
Yesterday I tried to go to the end of the most southern road in the world, which requires going through the national park. This is where the traditional "I'm in Ushuaia" shot is taken, at the sign at the end of the road. I paid my $12 entry fee but thought about turning around after riding a few km's on the wet, slick clay road. In motorcycling part of your brain is always occupied doing risk/benefit analyses, and in this case I didn't care enough about getting to the end of the road to risk sliding off on the slimy clay surface. No worries I thought, just go back and get a refund, and try again another time.
I told the guy at the ticket office that the road was dangerous for motorcycles and could he please give me a refund? "No refunds". He knows I have only been in the park 15 minutes... and has the nerve to say "we have many motorcycles go through here no problem" implying that I don't know how to ride a bike. "Today?" I say. "No, not today" My blood is rising... I ask for the jeffe (chief) and am directed to another guy. I'm not sure if he's the chief or not, but he tells me to wait 5 minutes. I assume this is because he is going to call somebody and talk to them about my request, but he continues selling tickets and ignores me. Five minutes goes by and he's still ignoring me, so finally I get his attention and ask what's going on. "No refund". Where's the jeffe? "I am the jeffe". I'm starting to lose my cool, for the first time on this trip. Why the hell did you ask me to wait then!! Ok if you can't give me a refund, how about a ticket for another day? "No". I really need to brush up on my spanish swear words... I lost it then and screwed up the ticket and threw it at his feet.
I got back on the bike and had second thoughts - maybe if the sun shines the road will dry out and I can use the ticket later that day (it's valid only for the date of issue), or maybe I can complain to HIS jeffe. So went back to the office and asked for my crunched-up ticket back. That wasn't embarrassing at all
It rained on and off the rest of the day, and the head office of the Argentine National Park Service was closed because it was Sunday.
But I had my revenge... rather than having my photo taken at their fancy-pants sign at the end of the road, I choose to highlight the good work of the Municipality of Ushuaia, by having my photo taken with one of their flower pots. Ha ha screw you national park service!
Trevor, Congrats!!! on making it to the southern tip of the dirt. Best of luck on your next venture, whether job, another continent or getting closer to your kid in Australia!!! Anyway, Happy Holidays to you!!! Relish the thought of all of us whom are with you each and every day in your journeys'. Peace to you Trevor!!!
Jeff
Jeff
Ok here's the OFFICIAL "I made it to Ushuaia" shot. The sign at the entrance to town is good enough!
I added a photo of me with the Tenere on pickup day at Romney Cycles, a bit over two years ago. We were so young and innocent back then! Now we are older and gnarly-looking, but I would prefer to think that we have gained some character!
That was the same day Dirt_Dad picked up his Tenere Number One as I recall...
This trip has been a fantastic experience... I never imagined things would go as smoothly has they have. The bike has been just about perfect, but have to thank you guys for your help and support at time when things have been a little less than perfect (i.e. when the frame cracked). People I've met along the way, most with much more challenging missions or life situations than mine, have been an inspiration. Terrain and roads have been nothing less than awesome most of the time.
Some numbers since leaving Washington DC;
It's hard to express how lucky I feel to be able to do a trip like this... so I'll leave it at that
Will be here for Christmas before heading north to Buenos Aires and Rosario for the start of the Dakar Rally. That should be something completely different!
Here's what 42,000 miles looks like...
Flash-based map
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2147530
Non-Flash
http://www.everytrail.com/iframe2.php?trip_id=2147530
Have a great Christmas all!
I added a photo of me with the Tenere on pickup day at Romney Cycles, a bit over two years ago. We were so young and innocent back then! Now we are older and gnarly-looking, but I would prefer to think that we have gained some character!
That was the same day Dirt_Dad picked up his Tenere Number One as I recall...
This trip has been a fantastic experience... I never imagined things would go as smoothly has they have. The bike has been just about perfect, but have to thank you guys for your help and support at time when things have been a little less than perfect (i.e. when the frame cracked). People I've met along the way, most with much more challenging missions or life situations than mine, have been an inspiration. Terrain and roads have been nothing less than awesome most of the time.
Some numbers since leaving Washington DC;
- 478 days
- 67,200 km/41,780 miles
- 5 sets of tires, mix of brands @ say $300 a set (I was lucky to score a couple of part-worn tires free or nearly free), so say $1500
- 9 oil changes, coming up to number 10, at an average of about $60 per change for semi-synth or full-synth. Oil is expensive down here. $300
- About 1000 US gallons of fuel (3800l), at 42mpg, costing on average $4/gal, with a low of $1.42 in Ecuador to $7 in Chile. About $4000 worth of gas.
- One injury - a dislocated shoulder from a bad landing after silly walking-pace getoff in Peru. $30 for treatment at the hospital (not even worth making a claim on travel insurance!)
It's hard to express how lucky I feel to be able to do a trip like this... so I'll leave it at that
Will be here for Christmas before heading north to Buenos Aires and Rosario for the start of the Dakar Rally. That should be something completely different!
Here's what 42,000 miles looks like...
Flash-based map
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2147530
Non-Flash
http://www.everytrail.com/iframe2.php?trip_id=2147530
Have a great Christmas all!
Congratulations Trevor! You've bagged a destination that everybody is curious to see and few will.
Sporting that beard, you look like Sean Connery's kid brother.
::008::
Sporting that beard, you look like Sean Connery's kid brother.
::008::