Radioman Rides the World.......

[Idahosam]

...and would have had to carry it for couple thousand miles. No Thanks!

Yea you been there and done that..





I would say after 15,000 + miles and not to mention the Salt flats, I'd change out that chain You still have the new one you stashed at the bottom of your Pannier?

[Radioman]

Originally Posted by Idahosam

I would say after 15,000 + miles and not to mention the Salt flats, I'd change out that chain You still have the new one you stashed at the bottom of your Pannier?

Yup and new front sprocket .... Probably get a rear Sprocket in Santiago and make it complete set change ......

[Idahosam]

Originally Posted by Radioman

Yup and new front sprocket .... Probably get a rear Sprocket in Santiago and make it complete set change ......

I think your set. ride on, I need my winter reading

Oh yea I been busy too

[levain]

Originally Posted by Radioman

Always funny to me the roads that they have sealed like this. Know that it is a cheaper fix than repave.... but wow.

Alright, and I'm not joking Mark, this is how they fix roads in Rhode Island. It's pathetic. Hit that stuff on a warm day when its soft in the rain and

[Timmer]

Radioman wrote: In Argentina, I love that the stop lights have yellow to let you know about when to go.

I found it that way in Europe also. I really liked it.

Great pics as always!!

Timmer

[paulotex]

Originally Posted by Radioman

Always funny to me the roads that they have sealed like this. Know that it is a cheaper fix than repave.... but wow.

Are you crazy? That is not manual sealing, that is just bad tarmac cracking due to large temperature differences. When it gets hot (over 30C), the lower tarmac spills over and covers the crack. However, because it wasn't properly sealed, it is different than the surface: darker, slippery and melts easier. If you do a curve over a road like that on a hot day, you feel the bike dancing around as the black tar gives under the wheels. Also, drive carefully when it is wet and cold, those black stripes are extremely slippery.

We get this all the time in Portugal, on poor central regions that can't afford better quality tarmac and endure large temperature differences (from -5C to 40C).

[Radioman]

Originally Posted by paulotex

If you do a curve over a road like that on a hot day, you feel the bike dancing around as the black tar gives under the wheels. Also, drive carefully when it is wet and cold, those black stripes are extremely slippery.
.

I know what they are like in the curves..... Squirrelly for sure. Thx for the info.

[GhostRiderFC]

Originally Posted by paulotex

Are you crazy? That is not manual sealing, that is just bad tarmac cracking due to large temperature differences.

That may be why the road cracked, but that is manual sealing. Here in New Mexico, they do it every spring. And it is a cheap and shitty fix. Repaving is obscenely expensive, so I get it. But I hate riding on it.

[TowPro]

Originally Posted by GhostRiderFC

That may be why the road cracked, but that is manual sealing. Here in New Mexico, they do it every spring. And it is a cheap and shitty fix. Repaving is obscenely expensive, so I get it. But I hate riding on it.

I thought everybody called them "tar snakes"

[petefromberkeley]

Originally Posted by Radioman

Yup and new front sprocket .... Probably get a rear Sprocket in Santiago and make it complete set change ......

Wow, last time I checked in here you were in Cuzco Guess I better catch up. If you are south of Santiago and headed north there is a couple in Osorno that run a tour company called Motoaventura. I have their number on a sticker on my bike but I don't have my bike here . Anyway, they have stacks of tires and are a wealth of knowledge. Super cool folks if you are in that area and need something moto-related. They are easy to find online.

Also, the HU community in Santiago is a good bunch as are the BMW motorcycle club there.

[rockymountainoyster]

Mark,

Hope you get/had a chance to visit the main plaza in Mendoza. It is a lively fun place with street performers, craftsmen, and some great restaurants with outdoor seating. Food and wine are excellent. $62 or so bucks a day is not bad. I think it has been costing me $80 or so on a trip from Colorado to California and back. That is not including the ga$ and eventual maintenance on the moto. The road life has its price but remains priceless.

[rockymountainoyster]

The road over the Andes from Mendoza to Santiago is incredible. I don't remember the name of the pass south of Aconcagua but I have never seen anything quite like it. Incredible switchbacks. The customs and immigration out of Argentina and into Chile were a major pain in the ass. It is a huge busy crossing and the Argys and Chileno's don't get along real well and are not very helpful, especially with the vehicle exportation/importation stuff. You can expect, as an American, to get hit with a $130 immigration fee when you enter Chile for the first time. Very important to carry that receipte as you head south. You will be crossing the border numerous times and you don't want to have to pay that fee again. Chile is not to be missed, especially Patagonia, but you could cut across to the Argentine Atlantic Coast to Comodoro Villa Darivia and then head south to Ushuaia from there and then come back up through Chile. Several ways to slice it. Enjoy!

[Radioman]

The hostel is on the right in the back and my bike is parked at the end of the walkway right near the front door!



Hidden basically from the street and the front desk guy, Martin was great to watch over my bike!!



Signed up for a Premium wine tour.... So I was sitting waiting for my bus to pick me up. Everyone was out sweeping the sidewalks and organizing the restaurants for business.





Was picked up with a mini van ..... This tour is a small group going to 4 wineries.



The Mendoza region produces lots of great wines that are exported all over the world. Since the late 90's outside investors were able to come to Mendoza and increase the wine exporting.





The first stop at a winery with the Andes in the background!! Beautiful Day!



We jump right in with a full tour in English, and then to the fancy tasting room.





Like most wineries they have cool buildings.



This is our first winery.



We learn more about the process of the Vinyard, the picking, crushing, fermenting and the aging of the various wines and the "characteristic" of the wines.



The owners private collection.







The one on the right was my Favorite!



Some nice roses around the vineyard. There is a reason for this.....

http://radioman.smugmug.com/Motorcyc...IMG_7261-M.jpg

Then onto the next winery. A new and modern one. only 6 years old. Argentinian and US owned.



Their wines on display.



Comparing color and smells of the different wines.....





This one was really good.



As we went to the 3rd Winery. It was also lunch time. Here is the happy winetasting group. We had a great time together.
Let me introduce to you the group. Simon and Claudia from Stuttgart Germany in the front. Radioman in the middle left, Andrea our fantastic guide from (Trout and Wine tours), and in the last seats Steven and Helen from Switzerland (but Holland and UK before!)



An excellent 4 course meal, and more wine tasting



Started with an apple soup and then salad



Then an amazing cut of grilled Steak





Dessert.... OOOPs ate it before I remembered to take a photo!



This was their Premium wine. Yummy!





Then off to the last winery of the day. It is a family run winery....







Their wine ages in sections of the old cement tanks as the climate is just right.



Many of the old buildings are made of Adobe bricks like so many building through out SA. They have framed a section so you can see it, but then retrofitted all the building due to earthquake possibilities here in Mendoza

Oh yea, taking time to smell the flowers!!



and check out the wines.



Lots of wine aging....



And their Award winner!



Once again a group shot!! Really had a great time meeting this group of people!! with them Safe travels!!

Andrea our guide was great and we had a lot of fun together for the whole day. Was worth spending a bit more for a small group and the Gourmet Lunch!! Wine and Trout is the tour name....

[LadyDraco]

More Great photos Mark !!!!

[RedRocket]

Looks like you're having a great time .

Nice monkey shot!