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South America 360 Expedition – Welcome to Bolivia!

Welcome to Bolivia!

In this instalment of the South America 360 blog, we cross the border from Peru into Bolivia and head towards La Paz.

La Paz to Uyuni,  a long day, with a lot of kilometers. We left very early because of a predicted protest. They locals had just finished 3 days of celebrations and drinking and then decide to put together a 2 day protest and block the roads. It was good though, because it got us into Uyuni nice and early. Great road, with only a couple of off road diversions from the main highway.

We took a group excursion out on the Salar, it was a perfect day for it, 4×4 tour, some folks decided to ride their bikes. A beautiful day!

Uyuni to Potosi was an outstanding, twisty, new paved road. We stopped at a school to visit the kids, bring some school supplies and give rides on the Triumph Tiger. A short and sweet day.

In Potosi we visited the Silver mine, guided by Freddy Silver, not to be confused with Freddy Mercury…his joke, not “mine”, that one was though.

Potosi, Wednesday, June 14th, marks 2 weeks left to the end of this epic 360 South America tour.

Potosi to Tupiza was an outstanding road and scenery, blue skies, not a cloud anywhere, a short day but twists and turns galore, just a handful of short straights. Tons of time to use the sides of the tires!

Tupiza, over the border to Humahuaca, back into Argentina. Our second last border crossing.

More to come…

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Welcome to Bolivia!
Do you like twisty mountain roads? Check out the amazing blue sky.
Do you like twisty mountain roads? Check out the amazing blue sky.
...and more twisty mountain roads...
…and more twisty mountain roads…
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…and more of the same, constant twisties, you gotta ride Bolivia! Picture yourself on this amazing pavement, and spectacular environment.
Rachel and Clara taking a lunch break soon after crossing the border into Bolivia.
Rachel and Clara taking a lunch break soon after crossing the border into Bolivia.
And again, another fantastic group shot, compliments of Rachel.
And again, another fantastic group shot, compliments of Rachel.
We visit a school in Chaquilla, Bolivia. Felix passes on some school supplies to the children. It's a wonderful place for the kids to learn and grow up. Most are from single family homes and live at the school 5 days a week. The teacher is full time, and collects all the students from the surrounding areas and returns them on the weekends. Kind of like an orphanage of sorts.
We visit a school in Chaquilla, Bolivia. Felix passes on some school supplies to the children. It’s a wonderful place for the kids to learn and grow up. Most are from single family homes and live at the school 5 days a week. The teacher is full time, and collects all the students from the surrounding areas and returns them on the weekends. Kind of like an orphanage of sorts.
The kids love to see our bikes and are very excited to sit on them or even go for a ride. Here a lone student stands wondering were Raymond is to give him a ride on the DR...
The kids love to see our bikes and are very excited to sit on them or even go for a ride. Here a lone student stands wondering were Raymond is to give him a ride on the DR…
...Justin to the rescue, to do it the real Bolivian way, and pile the kids on the Tiger.
…Justin to the rescue, to do it the real Bolivian way, and pile the kids on the Tiger.
We go on an excursion to visit the Silver mine in Potosi, we cave, explore, and blow stuff up. It was a great, dark and dusty afternoon for all of us.
We go on an excursion to visit the Silver mine in Potosi, we cave, explore, and blow stuff up. It was a great, dark and dusty afternoon for all of us.
A view from inside the mine entrance in Potosi, Bolivia. I asked Raymond about the safety standards in the silver mine, seeing he's a retired, life long miner professional back in Australia, said, “You wouldn’t have gotten away with this a hundred years ago.” And yet, day after day, it seems to work just fine in this silver mine, high in the Bolivian mountains.
A view from inside the mine entrance in Potosi, Bolivia. I asked Raymond about the safety standards in the silver mine, seeing as he’s a retired, life long mining professional back in Australia. He said, “You wouldn’t have gotten away with this a hundred years ago.” And yet, day after day, it seems to work just fine in this silver mine, high in the Bolivian mountains.
On a day off in La Paz, we organize a ride on the Most Dangerous Road in the World, the Death Road, but not on motorcycles, but downhill mountain bikes. Fantastic scenery and a great day on two wheels without motors.
On a day off in La Paz, we organize a ride on the Most Dangerous Road in the World, the Death Road, but not on motorcycles, but downhill mountain bikes. Fantastic scenery and a great day on two wheels without motors.
The mighty Death Road. Outstanding on both motorcycle and mountain bike.
The mighty Death Road. Outstanding on both motorcycle and mountain bike.
We hit the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flats in the world, covering 10582 sq Km.
We hit the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flats in the world, covering 10582 sq Km.
The Triumph Tiger is a spec on the alien lunar surface of the salt flat landscape. The bikes sure needed a good cleaning after the salt bath.
The Triumph Tiger is a spec on the alien lunar surface of the salt flat landscape. The bikes sure needed a good cleaning after the salt bath.
The Bolivians are very proud of the fact that the Dakar runs through their neighborhood.
The Bolivians are very proud of the fact that the Dakar runs through their neighborhood.
Ray, Felix and Clara, (DR, Tiger, KLR) take the bikes out on the Salar.
Ray, Felix and Clara, (DR, Tiger, KLR) take the bikes out on the Salar.
Group shot at flag point.
Group shot at flag point.
Another group shot, this time in suspended motion.
Another group shot, this time in suspended motion.
Awe, how sweet, Bob and Donna share a kiss.
Awe, how sweet, Bob and Donna share a kiss.
Justin and Felix.....doing what they do best....entertaining the group...
Justin and Felix…..doing what they do best….entertaining the group…
...but wait, Donna steps it up a notch and does her Egyptian girl on two mounds of salt.
…but wait, Donna steps it up a notch and does her Egyptian girl on two mounds of salt.
The graffiti on the train, in the train graveyard, says it all, “Nothing is Impossible”. (Bolivia)
The graffiti on the train, in the train graveyard, says it all, “Nothing is Impossible”. (Bolivia)

 

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