Follow me as i braaaap and cook around the world!!!!

[crestedbutte-rtw]

DAY- 376-377
11/13-14/2012
I woke up and drank some coffee with some fresh milk and geared up. I said my goodbyes and headed off to ride through the country side of Uruguay!! I had an incredible time and experience with them at the farm, such an experience I never thought I would have…
It was a nice drive cutting through nothing but farm land and never seeing any cars except for farm vehicles. I pulled into Salto Uruguay on the border where there are a massive amount of hot spring baths pr Thermals as they call it. I rode it and it was like Disney World for hot springs, I found some camping for 6 bucks which is expensive but cheap for Uruguay; hostels start at 18 bucks…. Haha
Knowing I had a huge few days coming up I hung up for an extra day taking in the hot springs, going for a nice little hike, and catching a few sunrises and sunsets.

last nights sunset while sitting in the barn having a beer

GOOD OL' URUGUAY FARM LAND

SUNRISE ON THE BORDER

SOLID STRUCTURES DOWN HERE

WHATS FUNNY ABOUT THIS SIGN FOR HORSE RIDES?

WELL SUPPOSEDLY YOU GET TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DONKEY'S WHILE ON THE TOUR.. HAHAHA










GOODBYE URUGUAY

A FEW MORE UPDATES TO CATCH UP..I BE A SLACKING HAHA

[crestedbutte-rtw]

DAY378-380
11/15-17/2012
Won’t lie my mood has been a little off, with my bike not running right for over 4 months now; it slowly starts to get to you.. This is probably the most off I have felt since starting my trip, which is weirdly good; because without the low’s you do not get the great ultimate highs.
Woke up and packed up the bike around 7am and got on the road. Got to the border and again I have to say Argentina has the stupidest and dumbest borders ever haha. They get you to get stamped in, while checking all of your bike papers and writing it into the computer, tell me I am done. I ask for my permit they say “Oh you have to go over to the permit office, um okay so why did you need all of my bike paper work?? So I then go and get my paper work and they tell me I am done, so I get on my bike wait in line and go to leave immigration into Argentina.. No the army guy says I need another piece of paper so he sends me back into immigration. I show them my bike permit and she gives me a small piece of paper saying I am okay to go into Argentina finally.
I got to a gas station and needed another Argentina map do to the last one getting shredded and then flying out of my map holder haha. As I was getting back on the bike a guy rolled up on a bicycle, he was German and wanted to chat for a bit. We talked about his trip, which he had done a lot of bicycle trips all over the world as well as one or two trips on his bmw.
I got on the bike and headed for Cordoba about 650km’s away, it was pretty straight and not too much to see. Although crossing from Paraná to Santa Fe I got to go under the river in a two mile tunnel. Super cool!!!! I like tunnels!! I stopped for some back up oil and food; it is starting to burn oil a lot again. I was on my way again the ride was pretty straight for, what I mean is a freaking straight road not really many turns. I pulled into Cordoba around 6pm or so and found a hostel, that is the longest I have ridden in months and I defiantly felt it. I was planning on going to Mendoza tomorrow morning but I think I may let the bike and myself rest a day.
Walked around the city for the day taking it easy taking a few pictures nothing to crazy.

DAY-381
11/17/2012
Went to get the bike and met 4 other adv riders who were from Argentina and were doing a weekend loop. The first 200 km’s of the ride toward was radtastic!!!! Super twisty and had me wishing for the ol’ CBR the whole ride. I had to stop for some food and add oil. Weird haha.. As I was riding the next 60km’s or I passed a Versys and a small Honda riding together. We kind of stuck with each other until the next town where I needed to find the route 20. They stopped and pulled up when I was looking at my map and told me which way I needed to go. Awesome thanks!!
I raged for awhile and never found my road before I knew it I made it to a small town and realized they had taken me on the completely wrong road. I pulled into a town got gas and talked with a local trying to figure out if I should take this country road back up to the road I was original looking for but it was a 100km out of the way. Or do I take the highway… After talking to one more local I decided to rage the back roads and go for the route 20. The road was crazy twisty had to slow it down and stop raging so hard haha. Tons of potholes and gravel on the road. I finally popped out with one sketchy moment raging the twistiest just took a twisty to fast and kicked out a little too far but held it through strong. Just a little puckered haha...
The rest of the way was super straight and I was fighting to stay focus. I pulled into Mendoza and found a place with safe parking with in 10 minutes super stoked on that and not getting lost.

LOTS OF SHOTS WHILE RIDING






THATS AFTER I POOPED OUT OF MY 150KM DETOUR.. THANKS DUDE ON VERSYS.. HAHAHA NO BIGGIE

NOT STOKED AT THE MOMENT

BUT THEN I REMEMBERED I GET TO RIDE MY MOTORCYCLE EVERY DAY!!!! STOKED AGAIN HAHA


LONG STRAIGHT ROAD



ROADKILL!!! YES I AM BORED ON THIS ROAD.. WHAT CAN I SAY I AM ADHHHHHHHHD


MENDOZA AFTER I DROPPED MY GEAR OFF

THIS MADE ME LAUGH THE FISH LOOKS LIKE HE IS GETTING A SURPRISE BY HIS PASSENGER HAHAHA

DOPE BMWER SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK...

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ALONG, HOPE EVERYONE WHO IS ENJOYING THANKSGIVING HAS A BADASS MEAL AND TIME!!!! SOMEBODY HAVE A DEEP FRIED TURKEY AND SOME PBR FOR ME HAHAHA

[WhorehayTheBarbarian]

Great adventure!!!

the lamb scene was rough but its something I have allways wondered if I could do. Hard to eat meat our whole lives without having to do the dirty work...

Thanks for showing us the world.

[crestedbutte-rtw]

Originally Posted by WhorehayTheBarbarian

Great adventure!!!

the lamb scene was rough but its something I have allways wondered if I could do. Hard to eat meat our whole lives without having to do the dirty work...

Thanks for showing us the world.

Yeah Defiantly the first time I have ever been that Hands on from grass to table... Very interesting and very intense haha..

Thanks for following me around the world.. much more to come over the next ....years.

Fletch

[Manolito]

Fletch, when do you think you'll be aproaching to Ushuaia ?

I live 375 miles north from Ushuaia, and would be nice to invite you a beer

[crestedbutte-rtw]

Originally Posted by Manolito

Fletch, when do you think you'll be aproaching to Ushuaia ?

I live 375 miles north from Ushuaia, and would be nice to invite you a beer

Would love to grab a beer and maybe a ride!!
Not sure when I will get down that way, will PM you when I get closer, guessing around Christmas or so; I am in Santiago working on the bike again at the moment.

Fletch

[crestedbutte-rtw]

DAY 382-385
11/18-21/2012
MENDOZA

Mendoza was nice, not my all time favorite but still very nice place. I stayed for 5 nights, I walked around a lot just taking in all of the nice parks, plaza’s, and markets. But I was ready to get back into the mountains and to go to Chile. Met some nice people had a few beers, I did decide not to do a wine tour, one very expensive but also I have done them before so not a lot of interest.
I did a lot of catching up this week on my writing and picture editing. Cooked up a few good meals and had some good whiskey. Planned out my route down to Patagonia taking the Chilean side as far as possible, and then cutting over to Route 40.

DAY-386
11/22/2012
THANKSGIVING!!!
Let’s shred for Chile!!
The bike all day was dogging with no power on the climb up toward the border, but was not using any coolant do to how cold it was but still burning oil. As well as the suspension going which I will have to get rebuilt again in Chile before I make my run for Patagonia, my Clutch may need to be changed out do to kept skipping, super not to stoked on the bike or all of the work and money I just spent for nothing in BA.. But that’s traveling and letting random mechanics work on the bike, but that’s what I get for not knowing enough about my bike. Although I have learned a lot but still have oh so much to learn ahahaha
Okay enough griping today’s riding even with the bike not running awesome still had me smiling and the heart screaming “fuck yeah!!!” So nice to be back in the mountains oh how much I have missed them!! I started riding in and they were small but I was stopping for pictures and the higher I went the larger they got. I stopped at the base for gas and talked with a couple if nice Argentinean BMW and Harley guys before heading on. I passed an old Sled (Snowmobile) and had to turn around for a picture then decided to stop for some food and to take a break. The road was awesome super twisty with incredible views and massive tunnels some over 2 miles.

I pull up to the border and there was a massive lineup of cars waiting, so of course I rode passed all of them toward the front of the line. I jumped off the bike and walked up to the police asking where I can park and where to go to get the show on the road. The police were actually really helpful and awesome, they told me to skip through and go and park in the back area. So I walked back to my bike and the guy who I had just passed gave me a thumbs up and waved; but as I got back to the bike there was a guy standing there checking it out. I smiled and said hi… You always run into people wanting to chat and find out your story... yeah not in this case......... (This is the first time this happened to me)..
“Do you think your special” –Old Man
“Ugh what”
“What gives you the right to skip in front of everyone, just because you’re on the bike?”
“Yes and I just got waved through by the cops, So obviously it is not a big deal”
“Oh so you’re just going to go and skip more people?”
“Yes yes I am, have a good one, great talk”- haha
“Figures so common of you guys”
So then I headed in and a police gave me a walking escort to a safe parking area for me to leave the bike and do my paper work. I walked in and was standing in a massive line; a guy who had helped me outside walked up grabbed me and told me to follow him. We skipped the line; he gave me some papers to fill out, and then walked me into the auto area where there were no lines. As I was standing there filling out the paper the old man was back!!!
“You think you can just skip everyone!” Old man
I was over him at this point...
“Whatever you say”
“You think your special”
“The cop gave me permission, go yell at someone else”
“You guys think you can drive however you want just because you’re in Latin America, would you drive like this in Colorado?
“Yes”
And then he turned to the immigration officer and told him I had skipped the line out side
“The police waved me through go yelled at them”
He then walked and whispered something else into his ear and walked away... Just in time to walk outside and watch 5 other bikers skip the line and park their bikes and walk inside, he walked away pissed... hahaha

I filled out my paper work and smashed through quickly, walked outside to get checked out. (I had been warned they x-ray all of your bags and so on) I was a little worried since I have my full Knife kit, Bear spray bottles, and a bunch of muscle relaxers from y friends Sister who is a doctor (due to an old injury flaring up.
The first lady walked up asked me to open all my bags and show her everything. You serious all of them? Then we opened my tank bag, she moved my hat and then pointed at my duffle, I opened that she saw my dirty boxers on top and said I was good to go… hahaha
The next guy came up and shook my hand looked over the bike asked a few questions, and then asked about my stuffed animal. Animal from the Muppets that is Zip tied to the front crash bar. He said I was all done, but then caught his eyes on my other crash bar that has Rabbit ears zip tied on that Pablo gave me for good luck. He asked if I had the rest of the Rabbit in my bag?? I thought he was joking, he was not. I told him they were good luck; oh cool I need you to take those off. I cut them off and went to hand them to him... ugh no thanks he pointed at the lady who had done the first search, she put out her hand with her head turn.. hahah not stoked I put them in her hand and she walked to the trash barely holding them..

I was off again and was so stoked pulled off at the first ski area took a few pics and then headed down. There was this one section of 30 switch backs broken off in two stages dropping over 1000meters or so. 3,000ft or so. So much fun and smooth, the views were incredible. I love the mountains it is just where I belong I think. The rest of the ride was smooth, until I pulled into a toll booth with no Chilean money. They would not take Argentinean peso, they would take a US dollar I didn’t have one. So I just sat there arguing with the lady, the guy behind was nice of enough to offer and pay my toll. I pulled off at the next stop to find an ATM. As I pulled into Santiago my direction I got off line were wrong, I also asked a cop and after a long time of explaining they realized I had no idea, so they told me to follow. They kicked their lights on and we headed off, got me on the right road and waved me through. I stopped after awhile after I had passed through Santiago. Finally after a phone call and a lot of driving in circles I was (A) wishing I wasn’t such a bad ass/ idiot and used a GPS hahahah (B) new better Spanish I finally found it with a quick riding down a sidewalk and going the wrong way on a street I made it to an awesome Hostel with safe huge amount of parking for bikes called Ventana Sur Hostel, also one of the cheapest one’s in Santiago. On a top note also just got voted tope three hostel in South America by hostel bookers.
I had been lost in Santiago for almost two hours haha.. Pulled in met great people and walked to the grocery store to find something Thanksgivingish. I bought a chicken, can of corn, beer, and M&M’S haha
Happy TURKEYDAY EVERYONE!!!!




HEADING INTO THE ANDES

THROWING DOWN A SIDEHILL ON NEXT YEARS POLARIS RMK PRO FOR MY CB HOMIES



RAD CLOUDS


START OF THE ANDES

INCREDIBLE VIEWS ON THIS SMOOTH ROAD


CHILE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS 2+MILE TUNNEL


ON THE OTHER SIDE

AVALANCHE TUNNEL



WELCOME TO COUNTRY 14 WITH ME.. THANKS FOR RIDING ALONG!!





WELCOME TO CHILE MY FRIENDS

FOR SET OF THIRTY SWITCHBACKS DROPPING DOWN 1000 METERS

SECOND SET OF SWITCHBACKS

YUP, IT OFFICIAL I AM JUST HAPPIER IN THE MOUNTIANS!!

ANIMAL ON THE OTHER HAND NOT SO STOKED TO BE BACK IN THE ALTITUDE

ONE LAST SHOT OF THE ANDES FOR NOW

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

[rawdog]

Stunning pics!!

[Shibby!]

Sweet dude! Keep it up!

I'd tend to the bike before it becomes a bigger issue though!

[crestedbutte-rtw]

Originally Posted by Shibby!

Sweet dude! Keep it up!

I'd tend to the bike before it becomes a bigger issue though!

Thanks Quinn, no no I agree just needed to make it to Santiago, have a hook up here. Looks like I blew the head gasket, getting the valves checked again, found a offroad guy to rebuild the front and back suspension.. oh yeah both smashed hahaha.. but he is doing it for pretty cheap hook up.. Will be headed to meet up with Nick in TDF for Christmas.. here in a week or so.. Found an awesome hostel for cheap in Santiago where they have good place to work on the bike..
Talk with you soon brother

Originally Posted by rawdog

Stunning pics!!

Thanks man, I have been trying to take it more serious with the pictures lately and am very happy how it is turning out!!
Thanks again!!

[crestedbutte-rtw]

RODEO!!!
Quick jump back to the farm Days:
On Sunday we jumped into Pablo’s VW truck and headed to the school which is also the rodeo grounds. We arrived and there was a lot of people standing around a massive field with three poles near the crowd and al the horses at the other end in a coral.
We were right next to the gate and watched as they brought three horses down, two guys and their horses to each wild, angry, pissed off horse.. They would literally drag it down the field and then pull it to the post tying it up and quickly through a blind fold over the eyes to keep it semi calm. Half the time thought they would just go crazy rolling on the ground and pulling, if they did lay on the ground and would not get up. All of the cowboys would start to kick or whip it until it would stand up kind of sad to see.
It was awesome to witness and experience, the rider would jump up on the horse and try to stay on while started to kick and get ready. One guy would pull the rope and horse was free; as he was leaving the post another guy holding the blind fold would pull it off as it the horse started it’s run. Then the horse would sprint as fast as it could kicking and bucking his way down the field. Two horsemen would chase after him on either side of him and try and grab him off of it. This was a very funny part of it, the guys would grab the riders off sometimes pulling them onto their horse; but most of the time the rider ended up on the ground. Sometimes they would pull the rider off, but not being able to hold him dropping him at high speeds to face plant onto the ground. Other times the riders would just crash to the floor, the horse would land on them, they would drag down the field, and other times just bucked off. There were three really good carnage wrecks, first one the guy was close to the fence (which is just a three wired fence) and he came smashing into it and all of the spectators went running and screaming, but he stayed on the horse and nobody was hit… Next was a guy who stayed on the horse as it straight lined it back toward the coral, The horse never stopped and blasted through the wood fence as the rider came crashing off..
The last was one of the last rides of the day, a young man was riding awesome as he headed down the field when the horse took a hard left and was T-Boned by one of the other horseman there to help. But instead he ran over the rider and his horse then body slammed the rodeo rider. He got carried/dragged off but was okay at the end of it.

NICE RAINY RODEO

GOING TO GET THE HORSES AND GET THE RODEO STARTED

TIED AND BLIND FOLDED WAITING FOR A BRAVE RIDER

NOT STOKED AT ALL

AND IT HAS BEGUN

YEEEHAW

MAN DOWN




GIT N' SOME

ASADO.. AGAIN AND AGAIN..

THIS IS WHAT GETS THE HORSES KCIKING

THIS IS WHAT SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE KICKING HORSES IN....

WERE BACK AT IT

IN UR FACE



HOLDING TIGHT
URUGUAY RODEO!!!

[Manolito]

Originally Posted by crestedbutte-rtw

Would love to grab a beer and maybe a ride!!
Not sure when I will get down that way, will PM you when I get closer, guessing around Christmas or so; I am in Santiago working on the bike again at the moment.

Fletch

I'll be here for Christmas, then i will be going north.
if there is something I can help you with, just PM me.

[crestedbutte-rtw]

Originally Posted by Manolito

I'll be here for Christmas, then i will be going north.
if there is something I can help you with, just PM me.

Awesome, would love to know of a few good camping spots and to grab a beer with ya. Will be down there around the 20th of December I am guessing..
Fletch

[Polaris01]

Originally Posted by crestedbutte-rtw

Anyone got doctor friends or really smart friends?
So here is my deal I went to the doctor 3 days ago got my blood drawn and now the doctor has not been there for the past 2 days to tell me what to do. I have to leave Panama City to go to the Atlantic to catch a Boat to Colombia.

Here is my problem; It started with sensitive shins a little swelling, then to my feet where... they started to ache in the morning, then they swelled up big. They have only swelled up huge once. But they ache everytime I wake up or sit for a long time with out moving them, like really bad arthritice. My blood test came back as cholesterol 131 and my uric acid 6.5. Since on the trip I eat very cheap unhealthy street food, do not exscercise (sit on moto for past 3 months) and drink way to much.
I know the obvious, change your diet and start running, but was hoping for some type of diagnosis..
I will wait until I get to Colombia to go to another doctor..

Any help would be great
Fletch

Hey Fletch

I'm posting this from way back on day 90 which is as far as I've read into your RR so disregard if you have it sorted out ..

I dunno, I googled your levels too and they look OK to me..
One thing tho..as a firefighter I spent days/weeks/months on end wearing heavy protective hot turnout boots that are not dissimilar to my current dualsport AlpineStars (not sure what you're wearing for boots)
I developed bad plantar fasciitis from the steel soles and general stiffness of the lower boots.
Could hardly get down the stairs first thing in the morning and my feet and shins would swell.
The pain would radiate from the bottom of my feet in front of the heel bone.

Oh yea, and walking on a sandy beach barefoot REALLY made it worse :/

Got a promotion to a white helmet, got out of my bunker boots and my feet eventually cleared up.
Hot weather plus boots all day, some anti-fungal powder wouldn't hurt either.
Some non-prescription anti-inflammatory ie ibuoprofin can't hurt to try.

You never know, but changing footwear could be worth a shot.
Takes more than a couple of weeks to clear up with different footwear, that's why mine was chronic as long as I wore my boots.

Really enjoying the report, thanks for doing this for all of us!!
Cheers

[Shibby!]

Originally Posted by Polaris01

Hey Fletch

I'm posting this from way back on day 90 which is as far as I've read into your RR so disregard if you have it sorted out ..

I dunno, I googled your levels too and they look OK to me..
One thing tho..as a firefighter I spent days/weeks/months on end wearing heavy protective hot turnout boots that are not dissimilar to my current dualsport AlpineStars (not sure what you're wearing for boots)
I developed bad plantar fasciitis from the steel soles and general stiffness of the lower boots.
Could hardly get down the stairs first thing in the morning and my feet and shins would swell.
The pain would radiate from the bottom of my feet in front of the heel bone.

Oh yea, and walking on a sandy beach barefoot REALLY made it worse :/

Got a promotion to a white helmet, got out of my bunker boots and my feet eventually cleared up.
Hot weather plus boots all day, some anti-fungal powder wouldn't hurt either.
Some non-prescription anti-inflammatory ie ibuoprofin can't hurt to try.

You never know, but changing footwear could be worth a shot.
Takes more than a couple of weeks to clear up with different footwear, that's why mine was chronic as long as I wore my boots.

Really enjoying the report, thanks for doing this for all of us!!
Cheers

This reminds me of my boots during my trip.... Worse yet on the CDT ride where we rode 6 hours in the rain with soaked feet AFTER many very hot days. Those boots could kill!!

Also reminds me to throw them outside this winter. I heard long durations of ultra cold (freezer/CDN winter) will kill the bacteria...

I slept sound at night knowing nobody would come within a 100 ft radius of my bike and tent with the stench coming off me after 2+ hot days of riding with no shower and clothes washing...

Talked with Nic via e-mail a bit Fletch. He sounds like he's having a good time. Still totally jealous of you guys! Ironically enough I spent last X-mas with Nic in Belize, New Years with both Nic and David! So much can happen in a year as I'm sure you're aware!