More Rambling...

Things to talk about

1/8 Regalo de hotel.

                Understood we had a long day ahead, asked If we needed agua.  Yes , we’d get it when we get gas.  He walked away and came back with 12 bottles of water.  I tried to pay. No, regalo de hotel.  Make a big positive plug for Hotel Atacama in Vallenar

1/8  Road north from Taltal!

                Needs pics and video.

                Oops, Gerry makes a wrong turn, has a nice ride.  Gets to eat dust in penitence and because he has the camera and the video would be better with a bike in it.  Could have camped, I was afraid of locals.  Neither afraid of riding in dark at own pace on gravel.  Terribly afraid of trucks on highway.  FNearly full moon made it very nice.  Jim biffed it in some sand…

Jim’s posterior is bruised.

1/9 Rode out to finish of stage 8.  Passed oncoming winner Coma at just south of where we met main road night before.  Saw Despres with support truck covered in mud.  He had been stuck at 10km.  Photos of lots of bikes, probably in helo  video of first quad in and of Robby Gordon.  Bikes might be easier to see, opposite side of track from helo and very near finish.  We were crouched down making photos on the near side of the track with the helo.  Jim is in his grey motogear and I am to the left in my blue Agent P Shirt.

On the return to Antofagasta we came up on Al-Attiyah (Car 300) who is leading but got passed by Robby Gordon and Johnny Campbell who took the stage win…so we passed him too.  I have video of that pass.  Note that the videos on the road are often shaky because bucking side winds.  Running speed is determined by tolerance for headwinds. 

Riding through Antofagasta treated like royalty.  Some clearly mistook us for Dakar Riders, but we weren’t going to be rude.  I gave a signature to a guy who I told I was just following the Dakar.  He wanted it for his niece Francesca.  I wrote the blog address on it too.

Staying in a Hostel in Mejillones (mussels).  Jim had Albcore for dinner I had Paila Marina, oysters, mussels, shrimp, carrots and spuds.  Both of us enjoyed it immensely.  Hostels don’t have towels.

Don't fear border crossings, they are full of friendly helpful people.

On a liaison of Stage 11 Jim and I got to ride with Ned Suesse.  He was overtly friendly, clearly feeling good, rode wheelies for us and tore up the twisties!  I got it all on film!  News at 11!

I'll try to flesh out this stream soon...