Two Moto Kiwis Arctic To Antarctic May 2012...

Hi there guys your making good time on the KTM ! luving the pics with the whales etc , i noticed at the salt quarry the dump trucks were KTM orange lol , weathers been ok here this week around 30 deg so hope it settles now for the rest of the summer ! in the 11 years i have lived here in Wanaka i have never seen thunder and lightning like weve had in the last month absolutely amazing there are a few scorched trees about ! hope we can catch up for a skype soon ? take care talk soon !

Hey guys.
Glad to see you are back on the road. How do you find riding 2 up? Will it change your route any?

Keep on keepin on!

Heya Noah, yeap great to be turning tires again for sure, I even enjoyed the ride yesterday other than bein bloody tired from 1 hours sleep in 48 with the ferry crossing then 400 km south to Lo De Marcos.

Two up is ok, I don't have to watch my mirrors for Ellen anymore and overtaking is a breeze with the power, we really don't have a route to change but will be a little more cautious in the sandpits for sure.

What we will do now is swing the Jesses off at camp and do more day runs to the harder stuff so a change in style more than route.

Leaving La Paz we headed south to La Ventana to stay with some friends of friends, we were welcomed in which was very nice and nice to have a break while getting better, for the first time in a week we could say it was warm.



Our first day was to relax, go for a walk on the beach, we also took a local ride to Bahia de Los Muetros and out to the lighthouse at Punta Arena.

Us in front of a plant



A trip out to some hot springs



Turning Maya in a sandpit :eek1



Time to get out of the sand .... gotta love hp!.... just shift that sand behind me......



Down to the beach to watch kite boarding, some talented people riding them





Photo op .... does my bum make that boat look small?



Getting around here in the sand has its moments and once or twice I left a couple of small swerves and trenches



On the way to the lighthouse





The lighthouse



Some ruins ..... and a knackered concrete structure



More plants



I originally put my helmet and glove there out of the wind ... then I liked the picture



The old structure and old lighthouse base



Next on the plan was to do a ring circuit of the bottom of Baja for as look, total 390 km day return taking in all the sights and places, an uneventful trip was had along with a beautiful lunch from stall beside an industrial area.



No pics of this day tho .. bit slack really but nothing r e a l l y caught my eye.

Saturday night we went to an event called Burning Bush which was the 10th annual event, a small brother event to Burning Man in the Arizona Desert.

This was absolutely fantastic, never seen anything like it, what an effort these guys went too, fire displays lit up the sky with assistance from petrol, diesel and LPG ..... totally cool pyrotechnics with good music and atmosphere.

As it was a rising from the ashes theme the Phoenix was the feature of the night with huge wooden birds with wings able to be flapped with human power.

Here is a multitude of pics, got SO many but you get the story anyway.

Structures awaiting their fate





It started



Our crew from left to right, Jill, John, Brenda, Ellen and I



The burning sphere ..... my fave, this was totally cosmic lying on the sand looking up underneath it, best had with a dooby or whiskey to enhance its effects





Now shot darkening the structure ... check it out!!











The bubble man



Some burning plants



A close up looking into the burning plant



Some Phoenix birds that the wings operated and were fire breathing





The big Phoenix on the beach



The volcano erupts





Finally the hill that goes boom .... this was REALLY cool and let off quite the boom with a totally cool mushroom to go.



Apart from that it has been boring :huh .

Cool cool! Good to hear it has some positives. When I was planning I looked into a 950SE but couldn't justify the extra weight/power over the 690. Riding 2 up is a different story though. I hope it works out well for you.

How long in Central/South America?

Heya Noah, yeah want the weight of a 450 EXC and the grunt of the 950, 950 is big enough to move around on as well, smaller bike more compact means much tighter with two, all a compromise as you know, at least we have something that handles well so hoping it will see us through.

Wow, some party. Good burn. How was the boat ride?

L o n g .... started at 5.00 pm, we missed out on a cabin so saved $500 pesos .... WOHOHO more Gin!!

Boat docked at just after 11.00am, was 12.20pm before we got out of Mazhatlan.

Check your PMs.

...I don't wonu

You have one, see you at Jolandas? .... bring some red wine with you

you are great one of the best RR
I like your photos and your sense of humor .
I'm waiting impatiently to continue and updates

Good to see you're back on it guys. Cool pics!

Just been down south for the DB1K & to enjoy the scorching Otago summer (ie narrowly avoid being snowed on )

Cheers
Clint

Thanks man really appreciate the comments ... hope we can keep up the good work

Heya Clint, sounds like home has been hot ... we froze our arses off on the Baja .... wasn't in the game plan to wear my puffy/poofy jacket 3 days in a row there :eek1

Did Rosie go as well, must catch up with bro on it and check out KB for pics

Leaving La Ventana on Baja we headed up to La Paz to the boat, arriving is La Paz we did a drive by look around on the way out to the Ferry terminal.







Arriving at the terminal we paid for our tickets, all went well until we left the ticket office, then they wanted $300 Pesos to park the bike ... port fees..WTF? we just paid our tickets!!!!

So some arguing and phone calls then f i n a l l y an English speaking lady said there is a port fee and it was $70.00 Pesos.

Back over to the $300.00 Peso people and yes that right it is $70 Pesos for motos ... here we go again.

$70.00 Pesos paid and we were good to go again but waiting for someone else to jump out with their hand out.

Getting onto the boat with time up our sleeve I went to tie Maya down, the shipping crew asked me where are my tie downs .... WTF this is your ship which I just paid to use?, so the guys comes up with a rope about 40 mm round..... nup that won’t work, then they bought truck size snig chains and I said very very polity like fuck!!.

So they found some rope and started to tie Maya down sensibly, they acted like they had never seen a bike before????



I had to do this all by myself including locking and tying as passengers are not allowed so they go on a separate bus.

After tying and securing Maya I went upstairs, by this time I was dripping wet and hot as, I found our seats and as luck would have my was and auto recliner or in English terms it was fncked.

Anyway leaving the gear there on our seats I went outside, set the socks out in the sun to dry etc ... nice.

Ellen soon appeared and we were reunited so I guess I will have to take her.

Soon as the boat set sail we commandeered some cool window seats that didn’t auto recline, we missed out on a cabin so we saved $500.00 Pesos ... always a bonus.





The sailing was smooth, not much sleep for me tho, maybe an hour over 48 hours so I was a bit dozy ... no one noticed any difference anyway. :huh

Disembarking at 11.30 am we had to the aim of getting back to Lo De Marcos to see our Canadian family of friends, it was 12.40 pm when we exited Mazatlan with a 400 km ride ahead of us.





The traffic was thick with trucks and overloaded utes which slowed us down, luckily with the power of Maya this helped to get ahead.

Arriving at Lo De Marcos just on dusk we were greeted like family which was really really nice, riding through the entry gate I felt I was home again.

Hugs, kisses and smiles from George, Carol, Alexandro and Mabel were had so everything that makes a trip worthwhile, again the next morning catching up with Isy and Rod who were there to help when Ellen was struggling with her feet.

With an invitation to tea we had a quick shower, warmed up and turned into humans and were fed and watered like Kings and Queens.

Next day was a relaxer and reenergizer which was well overdue and needed, a walk along the beach and a bottle Red that night all was good.

Hey, it's good to see you on the road again.
So guys, how much they charged you for the boat trip? how many time it takes to reach Mazatlán?
Keep going, we are really happy to read you.
(sorry about my english)

Weather here is great , high 20s every day, had the Mad German stay last night . We went up to Mikes for drinks and the geman kept us entertained as usual, biggest laugh was when he told us you couldnt get into Singapore with long hair in the 1980s so he had a white Arab robe which he changed into on the plane , he said the immigration man looked at him funny , a german with kiwi passport dressed as an Arab. Mike an me are riding thru to Walter Peak today then Earnslaw to Queenstown and the long way home . Ride Safe Cheers Toddy

Hi Andi and Ellen.
I just got caught up on your report. Its been a great read. You guys have really had some struggles along the way, but here's to a smooth ride for the rest of your journey and lots of great experiences to come!
Thanks for sharing your adventure!

Ok, details are $1078 Pesos for Ellen, $1963 Pesos for Maya and me.

There is also a $70 peso port fee which they don't tell you about, first off they wanted $300 Pesos until they re m e m b e r e d :huh that motos are $70

Ship left La Paz at 5.00pm, arrived Mazahtlan 11.30 am following morning, was 12.20 pm by the time we got out of Mazahtlan and on our way.

Hope this helps

Heya Toddy sounds great mate, sounds like fun in the camp and say hi to Mike.

All is wel here, couple more things to get sorted on Maya and hopefully plain sailing from there on in.

Heya Sgio, thanks for your kind words, hopefully now things will be a little smoother.

Nutha report in a coupla days, nothing too much yet tho, went for a great ride today with Spencer

Ride to Walter Peak was great as usual Andi . Called in at Malc and Cags on way home , there good , they r buzy putting solar panels on roof of there house . Had my 1st ride on 950 ADV and would sooner have a SE. Riding position and bars suited me better on SE . SE is lighter to ride and more responsive , better susp. Didnt like wind turbulance from screen , Mike couldnt beleive how quite and smooth the DR runs . 11 sleeps and im away on stress leave again . Ride safe guys .

Saweet .... the boys gettin full are they mate

Have to say I and really starting to enjoy the SE now , Adventures are great bikes and having ridden Scotts 990 Adv back to back with his SE my heart still says SE