Sunday, March 2, 2014

Final Thought

  It has been a pleasure to work on this blog for everyone that has been following along.  We can't really put into words the feelings we have for the opportunity to go on this road trip.   I would call it "once in a lifetime" but I think there will be future adventures.  We have been trying to adjust to the "normal?" life since we have been off the road and personally I'm finding it difficult. We have also been reminiscing and decided we should make a list of all of the subjects/skills that we have learned or used while on the road.  In no particular order we started popping them off the top of our head.   

        International border crossings
        International phone calls
        International shipping procedures- into and out of countries
        International ambassadorship
        US Embassy/Passport replacement
        Cultural studies/ Ancient civilizations
        Religion
        Politics 
        Stone work and other construction methods
        Reed island building
        Tourism/Hospitality
        Diplomatic relations
        Law enforcement
        Navigation/ without maps or directional signs
        Map reading.  Finally got a map in Chile
        Lakes, rivers, oceans
        Deserts, jungles, mountains, swamps, savannahs, forests
        Geology
        Volcanology
         Biology
         Zoology
         Spanish and other communication skills
         Photography
         Computer skills
         Bartering
         Pharmacy/medical needs
         Shoe repair
         Laundry service
         Looming and weaving
         Astronomy
         Motorcycle mechanics
         River crossings and off road motorcycle riding
         Trip planning
         Sailing
         Snorkeling
         Hiking
         Sea kayaking
         Canoeing
         Karate
         Farming methods
         Coffee production
         Animal husbandry
         Cooking
         Cave exploration
         Mineralogy
         Transportation 
                   Motorcycle, sail boat, motor boat, motorized canoe, moto taxi, car taxi, trains, planes,                        subway, ferry boats, trucks, sea kayak, buses and on foot


     So as you can see we were not on a vacation.  We were travelling on a two wheeled learning adventure with all the ups and downs,  including sickness an breakdowns with AAA nowhere to be found.  No maps, no cell phone, no GPS,  no chase truck and very little Spanish ability.  Just the two of us against the odds.   

    Of course we weren't totally alone.  We had lots of people offering support along the way from friendly, helpful people everywhere we went.  We met many other people also "on the road" including other adventure riders and lots of backpackers.  We also had ground support back in the US and lots of prayers from friends an family.

    A few things I would recommend for a trip like this,  LEARN SPANISH,  this was one thing that really handicapped us.   Also it was a reflection on our education system, because most if not all of the non South Americans that we met, spoke multiple languages that they were mandatory in school.  Next, a GPS unit would have made navigating a whole lot easier.  If it wasn't for another rider with a GPS, it would have been impossible to get through the Salar de Uyuni and the Laguna Route in Bolivia.  Next take the lightest motorcycle you can comfortably ride for 150-200 miles a day.  Take the least amount of gear you possibly can.  If you do happen to need something,  you will be able to find just about everything you could possibly want, no need to drag it around until then.  Let me repeat that:  take the least amount of gear you possibly can.   I am a true blue Harley rider and would never consider a Jap bike....until I went on this ride.  My next ride will probably be on a Honda 650 or smaller.  Number one reason is because they have the largest worldwide network of dealerships and parts availability.  For any questions pertaining to this paragraph, feel free to contact me.

    Naturally I would like to say thanks to everyone that has followed along as well as thanks for all of the comments. Thanks to mom and dad for the ground support and for taking care of my personal business while I was away,  I love you.   Thanks to all friends and family that wished us well and encouraged us to go on this trip.  Thanks to my buddy Dennis for all of the gear he supplied, even if I didn't need it or bring it.  Thanks to Gary at Harley Charlies for motorcycle parts when needed.  Thanks to Heather and Tracy for being family, I love you both.   Thanks to God for keeping us safe and watching over us, showing us the way "through the dark" and for returning us safely to home.  Finally,  thanks to Judy for helping with the photography duties and mostly for going along and for being there through the hard times and encouragement when the going got tough or in some cases when we weren't going at all.  I love you more than when we left,  may we live and ride together forever.  I love you. I love you, I love you.


Contact information     st8907 at gmail.com.    Thank You..............


                                                

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Friday, February 28, 2014

Buenos Aires, Argentina Part 2

We have been busy getting our affairs back in order since our return to the US, I've been dealing with the deadbeats squatting in my house.  Finally got them out and am in the process of getting my house cleaned up and repaired.  Had taxes to take care of as well as PENNDOT business with license and registrations.  Had to get postal situation straightene out also.  Judy has been working on her house and trying to stay warm this winter.  It was 87 degrees when we left so this has been an adjustment.  As it turns out I finally made time for this post.  Our last few days in Buenos Aires were all about getting the bike shipped but we managed to see some sights as well.


                The main drag through Buenos Aires-  12 lanes wide/ one way

           We took this picture because Judy heats with firewood,  these are huge locust trees

We found these ant trails 




     There are a lot of these rubber trees in Buenos Aires


                                                   Rose Park





           Bronze statue called the Flower of Youth





We found fountains everywhere we went unfortunately, very few of them were working




           Reminded us of the movie Back to the Future

      Another magnificent doorway with detail below




This next series of photos are taken in Recoleta Cemetary,  claimed to be one of the most beautiful in the world.  Some of the most expensive real estate in the city.  Rich and famous Argentines are buried here with the beloved Eva Peron being the main attraction.  Google her name.



The crypts weren't exactly maintained so I took pictures inside these two to see what's up.  The caskets are stacked five or six  deep on three sides of the crypt.





                            












This is the Duarte family plot,  Eva Perons' family.










The biggest rubber tree. 150 foot span


The branches are so massive they are held up with steel pillars

         Part of the giant root system



            Volkswagen Love Bus




   More trees found on our walk around.




                             Rock and Roll is alive and well in Argentina





Some scrap metal art outside of the railroad museum




This museum was mostly artifacts from trains or stations,  no locomotives or train cars other than the small one below



                  I've got an idea. Move the ladders and present the locomotive better

                A gigantic set of billows for the coal fired steam engines


             Five foot tall railroad jack

Rectifier-  I'm pretty clueless on what this does but I thought it looked pretty wild

Old Time ticket box

I guess this phone extended out to the engineer at the station

Good old fashioned security system


Some elaborate thrones from days gone bye








                                                   These two are subway art



                        A pregnant tree
and a mail box outside the customs office

We took a tour of CASA ROSADA,, the President of Argentinas House.  Just walk right in, no metal detectors, no pat down, no being treated like a terrorist.  The free tour was pretty cool.  The only place we weren't allowed to take pictures was in the presidents personal office.  (think Oval Office). Google Casa Rosada for further information on  how it got the name




There was mostly art work to look at in the building,  more of an art museum.  This particular picture is two things.  An indigenous mans head and face and a condor head.



              courtyard               Obviously

                   View from the balcony Eva Peron used to sing to the masses











                            Buenos Aires is known a the Pari of South America





Old reflecting off of the new/ close up below


And SADLY the adventure has come to an end.  Here the bike is at the airport , palleted, strapped down and ready for shrink wrapping before the flight to Baltimore