This Friday I surpassed my personal best for distance covered on Day 4 of TransAmericas by a staggering 120 kms. The only chance I ever have of bettering this could be on Saturday as we are still 1110 kms from our next goal; Santiago.
Before leaving Norway I had been looking forward to riding through the Atacama Desert but nothing could've prepared us for just how large this place is. It seems to go on forever and we have subsequently discovered a gap in the market for young persons looking for a career break: sporadically positioned gas stations on the Pan Americana in Northern Chile. 
They are few and far between. Today we rode 346 kms between fills as there was nothing in between save a very dry, hot and sandy environment. Staying awake in the heat of the desert is not easy, especially as the Pan Am is almost entirely straight. Ironically the hundreds of ornately designed makeshift graves that adorn the verges of the highway made to people that have died on the road are keeping us focused.
They are few and far between. Today we rode 346 kms between fills as there was nothing in between save a very dry, hot and sandy environment. Staying awake in the heat of the desert is not easy, especially as the Pan Am is almost entirely straight. Ironically the hundreds of ornately designed makeshift graves that adorn the verges of the highway made to people that have died on the road are keeping us focused.We also passed through the Tropic of Capricorn that means little to me 
other than another photo oppurtunity. And, as the sun set, we found ourselves in a quaint little Chilean beach town where we have discovered western style characteristics in people back on the menu: snotty little kids with attitude! Oh how we already miss the barren plains of Bolivia.
other than another photo oppurtunity. And, as the sun set, we found ourselves in a quaint little Chilean beach town where we have discovered western style characteristics in people back on the menu: snotty little kids with attitude! Oh how we already miss the barren plains of Bolivia.
3 comments:
just so's you know guys, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn now means that you will be able to use your Rolex wristwatch as a compass because the sun will be traversing the sky to your North - you know - big hand on the sun and halfway between it and 12 is North. You will now never get lost.
But beware when you return to the Northern hemisphere, it doesn't work. Even with my D of E award I usually finish up going in totally the opposite direction to the one I want.
Compliments of Graeme
Nice to see the David Hasselhoff poses coming through thick and fast. I have to say though that the pictures in the Atacama Desert are very good indeed. You must be paying a very good photographer to track you en route.I've always wanted to go to those vast salt flats. I take it there were no crazy Americans there trying to reach insane speeds. Hang on, that's the Bonneville Salt Flats in the States isn't it. Forget that last comment then...
Great stuff.
Are you picking on the local school children? How rude!!
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