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The Grand Adventure

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Day 291
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 3,660 m
Bolivia Uyuni -20.32066, -67.01425220°19’14” S 67°0’51” W
Salar de Uyuni
April 16, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Finally take our leave of Uyuni and head north into the wind. Short ride to the entrance of the Salar. Check into our salt hostel and then set out on bikes onto the Salar. Edge is pretty swamped so opt to rent Welly boots. Plod across the water and mush until we hit the drier salt surface. The salt flat is huge! Crunch along amongst the tour jeeps. Stop for a picnic and take the required naked photos with bikes. Ride out to a hotel and then back as the sun sets. The mirror effect on the water is incredible. Great night sleep on our salt bed.Read more
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Day 290
Monday, April 15, 2024 at 8:08 PM
🌬 7 °C
Altitude: 3,669 m
Bolivia Uyuni -20.463017, -66.82340320°27’47” S 66°49’24” W
Rest
April 15, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ 🌬 7 °C
Stomach issues caught up with me after plaguing Doug yesterday. Slept for a good part of the day. Ventured out for a bit in the blustery sunshine. Nice vegetarian dinner at Llama Cafe.
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Day 289
Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 7:53 PM
🌬 10 °C
Altitude: 3,670 m
Bolivia Uyuni -20.462838, -66.82348420°27’46” S 66°49’25” W
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Uyani
April 14, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ 🌬 10 °C
Wander through marketplace and dusty roads on the way to train cemetery.
Hannah Boe Ah the potato piles!!
4/16/24Reply
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Day 288
Saturday, April 13, 2024
🌬 18 °C
Altitude: 3,666 m
Bolivia Uyuni -20.465183, -66.82518820°27’55” S 66°49’31” W
A wild jeep ride
April 13, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
Knowing our limits, we opted to catch a ride to jump passed the sandy, rocky ripio. Our gear went inside the jeep and our bikes on top and off we went. And unexpectedly, we went along the lagunas - a route we never would have taken. Beautiful scenery - snow covered volcanoes on both sides, beautiful lakes with flamingos, herds of vicuñas and llamas. And the “road” went straight through the desert. (Sadly no pictures). Quite the ride and we made it safely to Uyani.Read more
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Day 287
Friday, April 12, 2024 at 8:44 PM
⛅ 1 °C
Altitude: 4,346 m
Bolivia Provincia Sud Lípez -22.26414, -67.81588622°15’51” S 67°48’57” W
Rest and flamingos
April 12, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C
After the last few brutal days, opt to stay put. Do ride a rough road down to the laguna to see the flamingoes. And of course the herds of alpacas. Beautiful place, damn hard to get to.
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Day 287
Friday, April 12, 2024 at 6:11 PM
☀️ 4 °C
Altitude: 4,346 m
Bolivia Provincia Sud Lípez -22.264153, -67.8159122°15’51” S 67°48’57” W
The roads deteriorates
April 12, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C
Wake up nice and cozy but head out to watch sunrise over the geysers. Beautiful sight - even with the early morning tourists. Slowly pack up and head out of the geyser basin. Mechanical issues slow us down and the road turns to washboard and sand. Very difficult riding - and so we push. Slowly cover the 25k back down to 14.5k and a tiny town by Laguna Colorado. Check into the hostel and have a blazing hot shower and nice pasta dinner.Read more
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Day 285
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
🌬 9 °C
Altitude: 4,825 m
Bolivia Sol de Mañana -22.435809, -67.75520922°26’9” S 67°45’19” W
Onto the “geezers”
April 10, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ 🌬 9 °C
Morning sunrise over the laguna as the tour jeeps pour in. Decide to go the harder route so that we can sleep in the geysers (or geezers as our Brit friends call them). Relatively easy start and then we climb - heading to 16k feet. Winds kick up and it gets chilly. Fun factor drops significantly. Make it, barely, to geysers. Set up and collapse. Warm floor of the tent keeps us inside as the temperature drops. Wind dies down and listen to geysers blowing and mud pots bubbling.Read more
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Day 284
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
☀️ 13 °C
Altitude: 4,389 m
Bolivia Provincia Sud Lípez -22.517256, -67.64674422°31’2” S 67°38’48” W
To the thermal springs
April 9, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Wake to find out water bottles frozen solid. Manage to thaw in the sun. Spy two cyclists- first in quite awhile. Meet Sam and Kate - a Brit couple heading our way. Pack up and find our way back to main “road”. Very dusty but relatively easy dirt road. Her passed by many jeeps porting tourists along the lagunas and volcanos. Reach 15.6k and cruise down again to Laguna Chalviri. Check into hostel and head for thermal bath. Kate and Sam have beaten us there.Read more
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Day 283
Monday, April 8, 2024
🌬 10 °C
Altitude: 4,357 m
Bolivia Provincia Sud Lípez -22.776653, -67.80867422°46’36” S 67°48’31” W
BOLIVIA
April 8, 2024 in Bolivia ⋅ 🌬 10 °C
Beautiful but cold morning. Steep start means we warm up by walking. Altitude is a real thing. Slowly make it to 15.1k, our 2nd drop and the border. Very chilly eventhough very sunny. Breeze through Chilean side and bump down 5 km to Bolivian border. Have to buy our visas which take quite q bit of time. Enter Bolivia and head around lake toward our camping destination. Flat tire slows us down and we finish the ride in the dark. Set up inside an abandoned building. Sleep back down to 14.4k feet.Read more
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Day 282
Sunday, April 7, 2024
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 3,400 m
Chile Provincia de El Loa -22.907748, -67.95495522°54’28” S 67°57’18” W
The climb begins
April 7, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Pack up and leave the lovely town of San Pedro behind as we head into a wall - the Andes. Our route looms ahead as we have an easy flat start. Climb and climb and climb - reaching 12,800 feet. Find our 1st food and water drop. Watch sunset and crawl into tent. Late night fight with a zorro/desert fox.Read more
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Day 281
Saturday, April 6, 2024
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 2,439 m
Chile San Pedro de Atacama -22.909135, -68.2010822°54’33” S 68°12’4” W
More canyons
April 6, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Though the day didn’t quite go as planned managed to set ourselves up for our climb and enjoy a walkabout. Doug took a taxi to leave 2 water and food drops for our 7500 ft ascent. We then wandered around narrow canyons and sandstone dunes. Nice dinner outRead more
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Day 280
Friday, April 5, 2024 at 10:18 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 2,437 m
Chile San Pedro de Atacama -22.909308, -68.20128222°54’34” S 68°12’5” W
Rio SPA canyon
April 5, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Slept in as hadn’t returned from stargazing until after 2:00. Switched rooms and then ventured out along tiny little river. Stopped and hiked up devil’s throat. Beautiful sandstone canyons. As day progressed, light on the hills became redder.Read more
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Day 279
Thursday, April 4, 2024
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 2,440 m
Chile San Pedro de Atacama -22.909323, -68.20123222°54’34” S 68°12’4” W
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A very salty swim
April 4, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Biked across the desert to get to Laguna Cejar. Lucked out and got to lake between tour groups. Quite fun bobbing in the water. So salty. Fortunately could rinse off before riding back. Made dinner and then off tonight a 11:00 pm star tour. Pretty impressive!Read more
Hannah Boe Goodness! So salty!
4/8/24Reply
Hannah Boe YUM
4/8/24Reply
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Day 278
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 2,439 m
Chile San Pedro de Atacama -22.909296, -68.20114222°54’33” S 68°12’4” W
Ruins and crevasses
April 3, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Spend some time exploring the cute, but touristy, town. Sky is amazingly clear and mountains seem to be in every which way. Walk along tiny Rio Grande to pukara de Quitor. Climb amongst ruins and monuments and crazy views. Bodies seem to be adapting to altitude.Read more
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Day 277
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 2,439 m
Chile San Pedro de Atacama -22.909298, -68.20101822°54’33” S 68°12’4” W
San Pedro de Atacama
April 2, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Plans for an early start disolver with a flat tire. With the daunting task of 60 miles, 4400 ft climbing to an elevation of 11,200 - I opted to get started. The gradual climb did keep any impact of altitude to a minimum. The more barren landscape did give way to more close ups of mountains and sandy crevices. Waited at 45km for Doug and lunch and finished the climb. Amazing views as we plummeted back down into the valley. As the sun went down the colors became amazing. Barely managed to get to town before dark - exhausted. Found a hostel, drank a beer, had a shower, ate some food and crashed.Read more
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Day 276
Monday, April 1, 2024 at 10:37 PM
🌙 15 °C
Altitude: 2,265 m
Chile Calama -22.467427, -68.92152722°28’3” S 68°55’17” W
Re-emergence of the Andes
April 1, 2024 in Chile ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
Lovely sunrise over the desert. Scenery remains boring until we crest a hill and see snow capped peaks in the distance. Manage to find a tiny spot of shade to rest. A kind truck driver pulled over and gave us 2 big bottles of water. Finished the ride to Calama. Opted to stay the night in town. Nice burger to fuel my iron levels. Currently at 7500 feet.Read more
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Day 275
Sunday, March 31, 2024 at 9:39 PM
🌙 20 °C
Altitude: 1,614 m
Chile Sierra Gorda -22.896327, -69.32414422°53’47” S 69°19’27” W
Big sky. Straight road
March 31, 2024 in Chile ⋅ 🌙 20 °C
Hit the road after filling up with water at the rest area. The Columbia’s woman who worked there was quite taken with us. Fairly boring scenery. Eventually distant mountains emerged. Stopped by old town for lunch. With favorable wind, quickly covered last miles to Sierra Gordo. Found our quiet oasis to pitch our tent.Read more
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Day 274
Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 9:48 PM
🌙 21 °C
Altitude: 1,013 m
Chile Baquedano -23.336295, -69.85403423°20’11” S 69°51’15” W
UP and into the desert
March 30, 2024 in Chile ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
Left out nice oceanfront apartment and headed into the dunes. Long up with quite a few trucks racing by. Cruised down to Ruta 5 and ride alongside alot of industrial sites. Wind became favorable as we headed more eastward. Cruise along until Bequedona. Set up by soccer fieldRead more
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Day 273
Friday, March 29, 2024 at 9:22 PM
🌙 18 °C
Altitude: 17 m
Chile Quebrada del Buey -23.740162, -70.44256423°44’25” S 70°26’33” W
Into the desert
March 29, 2024 in Chile ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
Take a short ride up and into the desert. Check out short path amongst the rock and a pet cemetery. Afternoon spent sitting in the beach!
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Day 272
Thursday, March 28, 2024
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 17 m
Chile Quebrada del Buey -23.74034, -70.44246723°44’25” S 70°26’33” W
Antofagasta
March 28, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Relatively lazy day. Eventually caught a bus back into town. Checked out hectic fish market, buying albacore and some ceviche. Load up on groceries and bus it back. Beach walk and nice dinner
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Day 271
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 9:12 PM
🌙 19 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Chile Quebrada del Buey -23.740137, -70.44269823°44’24” S 70°26’34” W
Migrating north
March 27, 2024 in Chile ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
And after 2 short flights we land in Antofogasta. Put ourselves together and head south. Path varies between lovely cycle path and uneven sidewalk. Get groceries and finish the ride to our oceanfront apartment. Hand out on the beach, enjoying the waves and catching up on sleepRead more
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Day 270
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 7:51 PM
🌬 10 °C
Altitude: 29 m
Chile Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport -53.004962, -70.84277653°0’18” S 70°50’34” W
Walking in circles
March 26, 2024 in Chile ⋅ 🌬 10 °C
With everything packed and a late night flight - ventured through Punta Arenas with a minimal agenda. Ate brunch, did some last minute shopping and sat in the sun. Caught a ride from our host to the airport and quickly checked in.Read more
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Day 269
Monday, March 25, 2024
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Chile Punta Arenas -53.163093, -70.92035953°9’47” S 70°55’13” W
Packing day
March 25, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Almost like magic, 2 big bike boxes showed up at our hostel. Afternoon spent preparing the bikes and packing them up. Out for a pizza dinner - not bad for Chile.
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Day 268
Sunday, March 24, 2024
☁️ 13 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Chile Punta Arenas -53.162981, -70.92014753°9’47” S 70°55’13” W
Sunday bike ride
March 24, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Sunny and relatively warm day calls for a bike ride. Enjoy the ease of riding without packs. Head down the coastline, watching pods of dolphins play in the distance.
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Day 267
Saturday, March 23, 2024
☁️ 11 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Chile Punta Arenas -53.163001, -70.92031353°9’47” S 70°55’13” W
Retracing our steps
March 23, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Clear and cold as we make our way to the bus stop. Take our departure pictures (too tired and cold to do this when we came in). Manage to wedge our bikes in without having g to do too much. Settle in for 8 hours, covering what we had done in 6 days on bikes. Arrive in Punta Arenas without breaking a sweat. Manage to quickly secure bike boxes and find our hostel.Read more
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