Mar 21, 2013 - Drive to Antofagasta

Final walk around San Pedro. From desert to sea...from no vegetation and dust to ocean. What a spectacular contrast and the road was magnificent ...all tar! On arrival in Antafogasta we were given an upgrade to the Presidential Suite much to G & A's annoyance, although they were also upgraded to a Superior Suite. Enormous rooms with balcony overlooking the ocean. Haven't seen so many birds for ages. We were only there for 1 night! Met an older Queensland couple who had been driving around for the last 3 mths in the car that they had brought...

Mar 20, 2013 - Excursions

Anita and I took the easier option although it involved a 5.30am rise. We went to El Tatio Geisers (4,300m) by mini bus. We had breakfast at sunrise beside the geysers. These are the highest geisers in the world and as such need to be viewed before the day warms up as the vapour is very impressive at -9 deg C! . Drank Cacao Tea in the hope that it would clear the head! Returned for lunch and to await the arrival of the intrepid hikers who are attempting to climb from 5,110m to the top of Toco volcano at 5,600m. My reaction to altitudes, so...

Mar 19, 2013 - Tierratacama Hotel

Excursion 1 Together with a delightful couple ( he Swiss,she Mexican) we went Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) . It was truly a Martian landscape geological formations containing salt and much of the ground was salt encrusted. Dark brown sand dunes (volcanic ash) created a striking contrast. pm Graham, Anita and I walked 2km along dusty road to the village of San Pedro where we visited the archeological museum. Fascinating artefacts from ancient (pre Inca /Pre Spanish ) times. Evening Excursion : Atacama Salt Flat We went to Toconao village...

Mar 18, 2013 - Drive to San Pedro de Atacama,

Back to Chile over high mountain range. Reached over 4,800m and very fuzzy headed! No effect on Paul but the rest of us really noticed the high altitude. Of course brilliant scenery, in fact phenomenal scenes of mountains, salt lakes and finally sand dunes.....Bolivia off in the distance. Arrived at a very dusty little mud brick town but our Hotel is like an oasis in the desert. 3 days of luxurious living coming up with the odd bike ride and excursions to geysers,volcanos and lakes. Hope my stomach improves so that I can enjoy the excellent...

Mar 16, 2013 - San Pedro de Atacama #2

Hola. As memory serves me, we last journalized just before we went to Rainbow Valley. Wow is all I can say! Another highlight! We made our way west--almoist 1/2 way to Calama and turned of the nicely paved road on to a fairly smooth compacted dirt road. When we came to a fork in the road, there was a national park gate on one so of course we went in. we discovered that the many rock formations--actually piles of rock--had pictographs mostly of llamas. As we had not taken a tour, details are a little sketchy as to when they were done....

Mar 1, 2013 - San Pedro de Atacama

Hola.When last I journalized we were in Antofagasta, Chili. To-day we are in San Pedro de Atacama far too close to the end of our 'Spooky' part of our journey. (finally found out our Wicked Camper's name) We left Antofagasta by driving through the modern part of the city. It is big. We decided to go north along the coast. Our first stop was La Portada on the outskirts of the city. It is a beautiful arch of rock in a bay surounded by rocky cliffs. Next we drove to Mejillones which our book said was a beautiful little coastal town. It is a...

Jan 2, 2013 - Week 14 - Navimag, Puerto Montt, San Pedro (Chile)

I lost track of days and so this weeks entry covers 9 days and is abit longer than usual… Christmas morning we were woken at 7am by the tannoy as the captain called us to deck to enjoy the scenery as the ferry passed through the narrowest part of our journey. It was a great way to start the day, the channel was only 60m wide at the thinnest point and the craggy snow-capped mountains loomed over the boat. After an hour or so the dining room opened for breakfast, the standard cheese, ham, rolls, yoghurts and cornflake buffet. We had a...

Dec 9, 2012 - San Pedro de Attacama

San pedro de attacama 11 streets of dust.  Ouch! How much!! After everything in Bolivia costing less than a wham bar it was a real shock to have to pay little chef prices again. No wonder all the cash machines are empty by 12am  Still the luxury stakes have been upped tenfold also. Hot water. Gourmet food .  Our hostel was somewhat of a menagerie including a short sighted dog who ran hell for leather at the hammock I was lying in Only to be dazed and confused when it head butted my bum dangling in its path and a cat that took great offence...

Dec 7, 2012 - Ein unfreiwilliger, aber umso schöner Aufenthalt in San Pedro de Atacama

Bericht folgt. Status: Seit dem 6.Oktober bin ich in San Pedro de Atacama und damit in Chile. Nach 6 Tagen auf der Lipez Traverse habe ich mich wohleweislich dazu entschlossen für die Strecke bis Hito Cajon (Bolivanischer Zoll nahe der chilenischen Grenze) einen 4x4 zu nehmen da ich schmerzen im Linken Unterarm hatte vom vielen Bremsen auf den steilen Abfahrten auf den miesen Pisten plus noch etwas Durchfall in Quetena Chico. Der Durchfall war rasch weg ohne gross was zu machen, geblieben ist einfach der Gips bis halbe Höhe Bizeps. Den...

Nov 13, 2012 - Rest Day in San Pedro

Beakfast Walk in spectacular volcanic scenery Lunch Update Blog on very slow internet connection Change 'needles' on Aston Walk to San Pedro - Church with cactus wood roof. Dinner in Hotel, barbequeued lamb Visit to Hotel Observatory. Magnificent clear skies & excellent explanations. Jupiter & moons, Nebula in Orion and other celestial bodies

Nov 12, 2012 - Driest desert in the world

The distance for the day was 699km, but actually the road was fast as we headed inland behind the coastal mountain range and then parallel to the shore. Thi part of Chile used to belong to Bolivia in its hey day, when it had valuable access to the Pacific, but a dispute led to it and part of Peru being won by Chile. There was dew on the cars when we set off from the hotel, but within 300km it was already very very hot in the sunshine. We had a couple of stops to look at ancient petroglyphs - the best ones being of llama on a hillside, then...

Nov 8, 2012 - Harte Tage von Tupiza nach Quetena Chico und eine Transfer mit dem Jeep nach San Pedro de Atacama

Acht Tage nach dem ersten, missglückten Versuch die bis anhin härteste Etappe auf meiner Radreise in Angriff zu nehmen verliess ich mit meinem gut beladenen Rad die Stadt gegen Norden. Noch an dem Morgen hatte ich die letzte Tablette der Ciprofloxacinkur eingenommen. Ich hatte einfach keine Geduld mehr länger zu warten. Zumindest war ich nicht bereits vorher aufgebrochen, was mir aber auch nie in den Sinn gekommen wäre. Es gibt aber Radreisende, welche viel ungeduldiger gewesen sin wie ich, so zum Beispiel die Französin, welche mit ihrem...