Author: Mike
Cafayate to San Pedro De Atacama: Wine, Rarefied Air and Birthday Cake
Fortified on Torrientes the fruity vino blanco that makes Cafayate and the surrounding Valle CalchaquÃes famous throughout Argentina, Cass and I begin our journey in to the high mountains. Stood high above the area’s vineyards the snow capped Andes stand as sentinels seperating the neighbouring countries of Argentina and Chile. Leaving the vineyards behind we […]
Mendoza to Cafayate: Sun, Sand and Shivers
Leaving Mendoza, Cass my new riding partner and I set out on another long arid, and dusty stretch of riding taking us to Argentina’s northern province of Salta. Two days in to our cycling courtship we find ourselves and our bikes in the back of a 4×4 pickup as we bounce down a 3,000m Andean […]
Valparaiso: Grit, Grime and more Street Art
Travelling two hours east of Santiago, the capital’s affluence is almost tangible in comparision to Valparaiso. Chile’s third largest city and one of the country’s poorest. Valparaiso stands as the crest fallen and downbeat member of the family, fallen upon hard times. The early half of the 19th century saw Valparaiso act as a major […]
Santiago: City Life, Street Art and Truth
Stood high in the Andes I thumb through the pages of my passport whilst waiting in line at the border. I count 8 pages of entry and exit stamps as I continue to play hop scotch between Argentina and Chile. As a long line snakes out in front, all patiently wait for their own entry […]
To Mendoza: Pushin’ On
Sat next to the roaring log fire, the sound of rain drums on the roof and patters on the window pane. The weather forecast for the next 10 days looks equally dismal and depressing. It seems that Chile and my native Calderdale arent that dissimlar when it comes to winter weather. I spend a further […]
The Lake District: Autumn Leaves, Asphalt and a Volcano
As the days grow gradually cooler Autumn leaves gather on the ground. A daily reminder that winter slowly approaches. It is a slow spin out of Trevelin in to strong head winds and squalls of rain in Los Alerces National Park. Feeling unwell I slow things down and ride some shorter days, seeking sanctuary and […]
Back to Argentina: Eating Kurt’s Dirt
Stood at the road junction in La Junta another car whizzes past enveloping me in the dust cloud left in its wake. I stand looking blankly at my map trying trying to make a decision. 4 days of bad weather, increasing daily traffic and the promise of further road improvements north of La Junta make […]
Surly Ogre: Bikepacking & Dirt Road Tourer Review
Having been away from home for almost 7 months, its nice to get the occasional email from people back home. Shona’s email tells me of Keep Pedalling’s birthday party and celebrations. Over a year ago I had bitten the bullet and bought the frame and forks for my bike build whilst Rich, Shona and I […]
Carretera Austral: A Ripio Odyssey
The construction of the Carretera Austral under General Pinochet aimed to connect remote communities in Chilean Patagonia as tensions escalated during the Beagle Channel conflict in the 1970s. Today it remains a grand feat of engineering linking the remote and isolated communities of Puerto Montt in the north with Villa O’Higgins in the south. Perhaps a […]
Lago Del Desierto: Border Crossings and Fond Farewells
As each day passes Autumn slowly draws nearer, the ever telling chill in the air and shortening of days as evenings draw in. As the tail end of the season approaches the Villa O’Higgins ferry, an integrale part of the jigsaw which links the dead end of El Chalten to Villa O’Higgins and the start […]
El Chalten: Fickle Weather and Enchanting Granite
Riding in to El Chalten there before me stood the Fitzroy massif bathed in sunlight. Monte Fitzroy, Cerro Torre, Poincenot, Inominata and many more I was to learn the name of. Like many other tourists, climbers and mountaineers before me I had come to marvel at the imposing granite spires in Los Glacieres National Park. […]
Patagonia: The Windy Bit. Punta Arenas to El Chalten
Last minute purchases in Punta Arenas enable me to carry extra food and water after my struggle through Tierra Del Fuego. The Carradice saddle bag proving a trusty capacious companion adeptly allowing me to burden it with yet more stuff. As the worst of the winds subside, Anita an Austrialian cyclist and I roll out […]