Dispatches on the road
From my mother’s doorstep in February 2014, we said our farewells to England and scooted through France and Belgium, where we rolled onto a container ship for a month before being deposited in Uruguay. Scooted down to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, spent nine months in Argentina criss-crossing into Chile, a day in Brazil, a 147-hour bus ride broken up in the middle by a 12-day sailing to Antarctica, back in the saddle where we reluctantly left friends in Argentina and wove our way north proper again.
Explored South America a little further in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, hopped onto the ferry over to Panama and wended into pastures new through Central America. Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Belize. Into Mexico, our first taste of North America.
The USA saw us experiencing reverse culture shock in its first world after almost two years in Latin America. Sampled some highlights of California, Arizona, Utah and Colorado before flying home to England for Christmas 2015. Back to the Baja Peninsula and Arizona, dipped into Nevada, California again, got a taster of Oregon, took a whirlwind week off with friends in Washington and into Canada. Having rode hell bent up British Columbia and the Yukon, we spent a good portion of time exploring Alaska, which blew our minds. Presently, we’re back in Canada, enjoying the rich autumnal offerings and onset of winter in and around Alberta.
Adventure Rider Radio: Interviewed us in September 2014 and again in September 2016.
No more going south astride our bikes: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego. (March 2014.)
The farthest northern point on the trip: Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. (23 June 2016.)
Months on a container ship: 1
Miles: 50,000+
On the road: 2 years, 8 months
Continents: 3.5
Countries: 21
Lisa’s motorcycles: Formerly Pearl (2001 BMW F650GS clocking 49,585 miles in Lisa’s care) and currently Mr Jangles (Suzuki DR650)
Miles on Lisa’s original front tyre: 31,000 (A Heidenau K60 Scout)
Oil changes: 12
New tyres: 12
Clutch cables: 1
Chain & sprockets: 4
Fuel pumps: 1
Water pumps: 4
Batteries: 2
Wheel rims: 2
Set of wheel bearings: 2
Rear shocks: 3
Stators rewound / replaced: 3
Brake pads: 6
Fans: 1
Fork seals leaked: Too darn many!
Bikes conked out: 13
Marriage proposals: 1
Met for a moment at the const. site on the Steese hwy. Eric and I wish we had time with you both to hear stories of your journeys. We did decide to do the Dalton and passed you just before the musk ox on the side of the road south of Deadhorse. If you ever pass thru Boulder CO please look us up for a cold micro brew and a place to crash.
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Thanks Pete and Eric, wished we could’ve chatted with you guys longer. And thank you so much for the invite, we will surely look you up when we’re next down in your neck of the woods. Happy riding, L&J
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