Magnetic South

[MagneticSouth]

2009 - 11months backpacking from Argentina to Colombia can change you.

Living the beach life in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney Australia was never gonna be the same.

This is the start of my trip 3years later.

Im finally back in Latin America.

[MagneticSouth]

This is a photo of my headlight... it happened the very first night we arrived when i hit a ditch riding in the dark up a dusty dirt road.

We ended up crossing the border a bit late after it took a few hours trying to find out information to where i could get an exit stamp for the USA - (you can't)
We spotted a coupla other riders with bikes at a taco stand as we stopped in Ensenada 2hrs south of the border.
They had ridden from Alaska and were also running late after being sent on a wild goose chase to find the immigration office in TJ.
Our original plan was to stay in Ensenada for a night and head for the coastal beaches further south the following day,
they were going to the same place and seem to know where they were going how to get there, so we ended up following them..

Me and and my buddy Daniel had no idea how far it was we just followed and i think we all over estimated how long it would take to get there, and what time the sun would stop shining so we ended up riding in the dark through the windy valley from the hwy down to the dirt roads of the small fishing village of Erendira.


As we started to climb the steep hill in the black of the night i recall seeing the imperfection in the road in my headlights but it was already too late to slow down or try to avoid it.
The front tyre hit and swerved to the left and right before coming down hard with my knee and right shoulder impacting first, i saw the dust in the headlights and felt the side of my head slap into the rocky dirt track as the engine cut out and i lay for a moment in the still of the night..

I remember thinking , woahh .... thats how it feels, my first 'proper' fall at last...
I lift myself up from under the bike and brush off the dust.
It was like in the movies where your favourite super hero will get up out of the rubble after crashing through a brick walll ...
I felt fine. It was kinda cool.


Welcome to Mexico.

[EmilianoXR650L]

[QUOTE
It was like in the movies where your favourite super hero will get up out of the rubble after crashing through a brick walll ...
i felt fine . it was kinda cool.

[/QUOTE]

[GISdood]

Noooooo! Not that gorgeous headlight!!!

[going south]

Ok, I'm in, waiting for more...

Glad your ok from the super hero brick wall thing...

[Parcero]

Helluva start!

[GSequoia]

Did you break the lamp itself or just add character to the housing and mess up the custom speedo?

[MagneticSouth]

Originally Posted by GISdood

Noooooo! Not that gorgeous headlight!!!

Originally Posted by GSequoia

Did you break the lamp itself or just add character to the housing and mess up the custom speedo?

The the lamp is fine, now its just like tecate (headlight con carácter) i just cracked the the speedo glass and broke the dial off.

[GSequoia]

Originally Posted by MagneticSouth

The the lamp is fine, now its just like tecate (headlight con carácter) i just cracked the the speedo glass and broke the dial off.

No worries then, you needed one in kilos anyway!

[EmilianoXR650L]

Ready for the next update !!!!!!!!!!

[MagneticSouth]

Originally Posted by EmilianoXR650L

Ready for the next update !!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I'm preety hopless at keeping up...

If your interested in reading the background info and Prep for this trip its on this thread..

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=791120

The next day i awoke feeling a little sore, but i was more anxious to find out what damage i had done to the bike..

It wasn't too bad, i got away with a cracked speedo glass, crooked handlebars, broken brake lever, and a bent stand.
I was just happy we were able to sort everything out with a hammer and a bit of tape.

We headed out for a ride later that afternoon..





coyote tracks

[Watercat]

Off to a gnarly start . . . . . . can only get . . . . . . better ?

[MagneticSouth]

Originally Posted by Watercat

Off to a gnarly start . . . . . . can only get . . . . . . better ?

More sand makes things better right ?




tell that to Daniel






learning to kickstart with my left leg.


The beach seemed so close but thats a steep cliff separating us.


thats me dropping it.. not as painful but sure is hard work.






Daniel's rear didn't have as much tread so it was pretty hard on him.
I was lucky i had my new shinko's on otherwise i think i would still be out there.
This was really only the 4th day i had ever been off road.






Feeling contento i made it back in one piece.

[GSequoia]

Originally Posted by MagneticSouth

More sand makes things better right ?

So the racks held up to the first get off, right?

[MagneticSouth]

Originally Posted by GSequoia

So the racks held up to the first get off, right?

They survived but actually the racks are gonna need some work. I only really realised when i left LA that with my load and an extra gallon of water and a gallon of extra fuel, It made the bike preety unbalanced and rear heavy, i dont think it did me any favours when i hit the ditch in the middle of the night. I think it needs to move a little forward on top of the wheel axle.

Thank you again for your help with them, it got me past the border at the least