Hola from Bolivia

[Shewolf]

Man I'm jealous. Is this an organised tour or a bunch of mates....?

hey there, this is an organised tour with Britton Adventures / Bolivia Bound.

[Usarka]

hey there, this is an organised tour with Britton Adventures / Bolivia Bound.

Nice cheers. I'mm a seasoned traveller but more with a backpack than a bike so have been thinking about doing a tour for something different. I look forward to a review/conclusion when you're done!

And I'm still well jealous!

[Shewolf]

1. Settling in at El Consulado - previously the Panamanian Consulates residence. Angela and Giff.
2. Off to market! Found some hideous things to festoon the bikes with
3. Market in La Paz
4. Lots of political demonstrations, graffiti and murals around the place
5. Found something even more hideous to festoon the bike with.
I've great plans for Barbie at the Salt Plains tomorrow
6. Delicious fried trout. Not so delicious several hours later

[Shewolf]

We were stopped in our tracks, literally, by a parade in a small town.

[Shewolf]

Lake Titicaca, Andes in the background and catching the ferry from San Pablo to San Pedro

[Shewolf]

Yep, nothing to do but sleep, eat and shop. Hey, someones gotta do it

[Shewolf]

When riding back from Copacabana we had to cross through El Alto, a region or neighbourhood next to La Paz. Petrol was nowhere to be found north of the city so we continued on through El Alto stopping at each Gasolina along the way.

We discovered the problem when we came across a blockade on the main drag through El Alto to La Paz stretching several kilometres. People, rocks and bonfire remains littered the main thoroughfare and bands of people and barricades were blocking the way.

Trusting in John (renamed Hone as we have two Johns) who is fluent in spanish - we left the truck to find it's own way and crossed the barricade cautiously and drove along the side of the road for about 3km. There was no overt aggression - but things were tense nontheless.

Hone queried some locals and the blockade was due to the entire neighbourhood having no water. Fair reason to block the main thoroughfare if you ask me. Hone decided to leave the main route and divert around some dusty roads as he felt we were pushing our luck. A few 4WDs also had the same idea, and eventually we came across a couple of small groups that did look a bit more agitated than we'd previously encountered.

A taxi thought better of taking them on and hightailed it back the way it came - chased by a few guys!. I was right behind Hone and he was continuing on so there was nothing for it but to twist throttle and not stop. One of the guys tried to grab my bike but I ignored him. They did manage to stop another bike and were holding onto the bars - while a few of us that got through waved the others to go around this group Hone read them their pedigree (foreign touristas that need to get to their plane....[riding dirt bikes????]) heh, well it seemed to work as we were able to move on.

But not far along another group had a digger they were digging up more of the road to prevent thoroughfare. Hone and Bryan went around one side of it and the rest of us around the other side. Bryan had a rock thrown at him and wants to get a t-shirt 'I got stoned in Bolivia'.

We eventually wound our way back to the main highway and found several kilometres of trucks lined up. Wonder how long it will go on for.

And the caption? I'm sure if I sent the video footage of 'Bikers encounter blockade' to CNN it would be twisted somehow to us running them down!

Something to tell the grandchild anyway.

[Shewolf]

Stunning ride through extreme landscapes today, feels like we're riding through a Western movie. We had a picnic in the desert where I found a snake in a hole, but everyone was so eager to have a look I think it burrowed further in.

Everyone has had a touch of bad tummy or heatstroke so far, Ian seen prone on the ground? This ones a hangover

[DR Girl]

Fab fotos Ronda, can wait for the vids when you get back.
A few scary moments here and there & quick decisions make for a great adventure and awesome memories.
Only complaint . . . . we would like to see more pics of you girl. What do you say fellow bikers ?

[Shewolf]

heh Robin will see what I can scrounge up - we're all swapping photos at the end of the trip. I'm glad of that as my DRZ has been steadily ailing and only starts with a bump now so I've been unable to stop willy nilly and take photos other than at rest stops.

Yesterday riding from Uyuni to Tupiza was the best scenery so far, and I couldn't stop anywhere to take photos but could only ride through dumbfounded (with my vid camera going though!).

It's a desert of rainbow colours and moonscapes - hopefully the footage portrays how incredible it is.

Here's a few pics from the Salt Plains...

[ajturbo]

Woo hoo..!!!!

[Shewolf]

Me, Bryan, Ian and Giff went for a 3 hour trek up into the canyons, it was hot and we expected varmits to descend the hills at any moment.

We'd hoped to have a day trip to San Vicente where Butch and Sundance apparently met their demise, but for a 3 hour trip to get there to visit a dusty shack we decided on watching the movie tonight instead.

When I got back from the ride a nice surprise in the form of a Honda pony awaited me. Yay no more bump starts and it goes like a pocket rocket

[Night Falcon]

way cool trip

[DR Girl]

Thanks, Barbie & Action Man pics a hoot. Great write ups

Maybe when you are back, recovered & ready to put your leg over a bike again you could head down to the Bay for a long weekend & join us HB Riders for a ride. Love to have you & hear more about your travels.
Accommodation with me.. Extended an invite on the MMMMM to Nic also to come ride with us

[Shewolf]

Maybe when you are back, recovered & ready to put your leg over a bike again you could head down to the Bay for a long weekend & join us HB Riders for a ride. Love to have you & hear more about your travels.
Accommodation with me.. Extended an invite on the MMMMM to Nic also to come ride with us

Cool! Havent done a load of gravel riding down there and overdue for a visit to my bro. Yep I'm sure I can pick up Nic on the way through and theres another lady coming to India with us who'd love a weekend down there