Oregon to Ushuaia on an XR650L

Day 167 (April 1, 2013)
La Paloma, Uruguay
Day's Ride: 141 Miles

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<SMALL>I spent the past two days doing absolutely nothing productive. I sat in a hammock and read books, went to the beach and sat in the sand, watched some tv shows on my laptop, and generally just bummed around.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>I woke up this morning totally refreshed and ready to ride! I got on the road again and was blessed with an amazing tailwind. I sailed west towards Montevideo with the music pumping and the engine humming at 70.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>The little that I've seen of Uruguay seems to be all farmland. The roads are nice though, and the people are super chill. They seem a little more relaxed in general than the Argentinos. Also, toll roads are free for motos! Uruguay is winning in my book!</SMALL>
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<SMALL>I made it back into Montevideo around 2:00 PM and spent the next 30 minutes on the phone with my bank trying to get money out of my checking account. I think the lesson that I've learned from all of this is that before embarking on a trip like this, you should open up a second checking account and bring an extra debit card with you that you keep locked up in a box in case something happens to your primary account. Or get a pin for your credit card so you can get a cash advance.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>After taking care of some financial business, I walked around in search of a Mercado. Montevideo seems like a very cool place. I'm a little disappointed that I won't have time to really explore it.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>Tomorrow I head over to Sacramento de Colonia to camp out for one final night in Uruguay. On the 3rd I take the ferry back to BA and head over to Dakar Motos to link up with Corey and get ready to head to the airport. I can't believe that the end is so close.</SMALL>

Doesn't seem like it has been that long since you left. Time flies!

Hope you have a safe/uneventful trip home, and let me know if you are near Corvallis so we can grab some grub!

I think I saw you yesterday on campus. But every time I see anyone on a XRL on campus I think I am seeing you.

It seems that they have a lot in common with the Argentinos in Entre Rios, those folks are super friendly and very chill, just like in Uruguay.

Yeah man, La Paloma is a great place to chill out and relax.

If it was black and white with a white rally fairing, it was me.

Mine has a black tank now. Only black XRL in the area that I know of.

So glad you enjoyed Uruguay, Bryce. I had a feeling you would. All good things on earth come to an end, but there are other good things to supplant them. You'll find it is quite an adventure keeping a household, especially when raising children. It will be an adventure to go through your ride report with your kids once they're old enough to comprehend, not to mention taking them places. Enjoy the moment and thanks again for taking us along.

Have you read the news? looks like BA is flooded

Yep! Good thing I brought my water wings!

Day 167 (April 2, 2013)
Montevideo, Uruguay to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
Day's Ride: 111 Miles

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<SMALL>For some reason, it decided to rain today. Luckily, I didn't have far to ride. Still, it was a tad annoying. I had thought that I left all of the rain back in Chile. </SMALL>
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<SMALL>After about an hour and a half of riding on a fairly boring, wet four lane highway, I pulled into Colonia del Sacramento. I had planned on camping to save a little money; however, the rain put a damper on that and I hunted down a hostel.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>After I got situated I struck up a conversation with a group of Argentinian guys who had ridden their bicycles up to Brazil and back from Buenos Aires. They were really digging the bike and were asking for advice about doing a motorcycle trip of their own on Ruta 40. I told them to buy XR250 Tornados (or maybe even a Super Sherpa like John) and just go for it. We had a good talk, and, in typical Argentino/Uruguayo fashion, we shared the Matte gourd:</SMALL>
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<SMALL>Note the Matte gourd in my hand and the guy in blue holding the thermos. Got to love matte culture!</SMALL>
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<SMALL>The rain continued unabated so I went and found a Parilla so that I could spend the last of my Uruguayan pesos on some asado. After lunch, the rain was still going full tilt, so I went to the Hostel and hung out for a while. Surfed the internet, saw <SMALL>that both of the most recent female marines to volunteer for the Infantry Officers Course failed on the first day. Can't say that I'm surprised. Still, I imagine that there are a few out there who can make it. I also saw that Buenos Aires is underwater. I hope that doesn't interfere with the bike shipping. I finally </SMALL>got bored of sitting around, grabbed my rain jacket, and went for a quick walk around the old city.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>Colonia del Sacramento was founded by the Portuguese back at the end of the 17th century as a base to smuggle goods into Buenos Aires. It changed hands about six or seven times between the Spanish and Portuguese for the next hundred years until it was finally in Spanish control for good.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>The old part of town is really cool. The old walls are still up in some spots and the streets are all paved in cobble stones.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>Tomorrow I catch the ferry back to Buenos Aires. I hope it doesn't get canceled due to weather. RexBuck of "South America by Geezer" fame is in town and Corey should be getting in as well; maybe we'll have a crating party!</SMALL>

For sure man! We'll have to go for a ride. I probably be heading straight to Corvallis to get my truck from my brother. If we do ride, Allvincullumyork and I will have to fight for who has to ride pillion on the XR!

Nice! What an awesome idea, meeting up with RexBuck. I hope it works out. I've been following his posts as well. Don't know who Corey is.

Too bad about the gals dropping out. My nephew is graduating from Parris Island next Friday.

Stay dry.

As we used to say, Errr! Congrats! What's his MOS? Are you going to the graduation? I was one very happy Lance Corporal when I graduated boot camp; I'm sure he's going to be excited to get off that god-forsaken Island.

Neither one of you will be riding pillion on mine! Your beard would tickle my neck too much...

Hi Bryce.

We are thinking to ride a couple of DR650 or KLR650, these are our main options for our RTW, we are planning to ride Brasil Br 319, russian Bam and a lot of off-road at África...

Day 168 (April 3, 2013)
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay to Buenos Aires, Argentina
Day's Ride: 13 Miles

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<SMALL>There are multiple options for ferries between Colonia and Buenos Aires; unfortunately, due to a long holiday week for Semana Santa in Argentina, nearly everything was booked. When I logged on to reserve my ticket, there was only one slot left and it was on the most expensive boat! So, I ended up paying $150 to sail back to BA. </SMALL>
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<SMALL>Fortunately, I was on the fast boat. So, instead of taking four hours to cross the river back to BA, it only took one. I was also sitting in first class drinking free champagne during that hour, so things weren't that bad. Sure beats riding 300 miles of flat, straight, four lane highway.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>I got some strange looks walking into the first class section like some lost storm trooper in my smelly riding gear. Fortunately, after the first glass of champagne, I didn't really care.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>After disembarking and getting my paperwork from the Aduana, I set out for Dakar Motos. </SMALL>
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<SMALL>I'm staying at Dakar Motos tonight. There are several other riders here as well, including the two Canadians that I met in El Calafate and rode with out to the Perrito Moreno Glacier. Three of us are taking our bikes to the airport in the morning.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>Dylan just showed up a few minutes ago as well and Corey and RexBuck are in town somewhere too. Tomorrow I get to disassemble my bike and crate it up. Should be fun! </SMALL>

Man, that is so cool! I bet Daniel is super excited! I think you should go for the DR650's. Everyone does this kind of stuff on KLR's.

Just saw this... Decent brown but not like the ones in TDF!


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I am sorry for the delay.

(edited) Alright, here's what I found out. He's ranked 2nd in his platoon and 4th in his company. 241/250 on the range. His mom doesn't remember the MOS but it has something to do with tanks and electronics and/or diesel mechanics. We'll be seeing him back home in the next couple of weeks so I'll find out more then. He can't wait to come home and of course mom and dad can't wait to see him.

We were planning to go to the graduation but something came up with my wife at work and she can't take off. We went for her brother's graduation there several years ago, toured the facility, and heard the kudos from his commanding officers. I remember the place looked spiffy. I really wanted to walk across the parade deck. My bro-in-law was glad to be done then, also. The graduation visit was a very pleasant experience, but unless something changes we won't make it this time. It's also eight hours of interstate driving time one way - and that, I don't regret missing.

Meanwhile, I hope your crating is going well.

Sounds like a great trip man! Hope that you are enjoying the hell out of the last few days you have down there!

Lem

I am feeling a pending sense of loss as you approach the end of your journey. The pending dismemberment and coffining of the bike, the loss of your ride and a long flight home feel much more personal to me then I would have ever expected.

I think it is a result of your ability to convey in words your emotions. Great job and thank you for allowing me to ride virtual pillion.

I look forward to meeting up in CO for a ride.

Safe travels. :dllama