Quicky #3

Back to where I started... Puerto Montt.

Didn´t feel like checking a bunch of the smaller hotels here in town, so I just headed straight to the best looking one. Pretty nice, and www-access is free.

Resting up here tomorrow, and jump on the boat to Chaiten on the 2nd day of 2008.

Need a bunch of things fixed up, in addition to the bike rack (yesterdays temp fix still works fine), the front wheel starts to make squeaky noises. So I think the last 4 days were pretty successfull in terms of checking equipment before heading back on the more remote part of the Carratera Austral.

Quicky #2

Changed my plans... rather than spending the days until 2nd of Jan in and around Hornopiren, I decided to head back towards Puerto Montt, but take a right turn after about 30 miles towards Puelo.

The road goes along this endless Fjord, so the scenery is supposed to be great. Went to check it out, but got hit by Chiles finest downpour... Finally, riding for 2 hours in heavy rain made me look for the next best shelter. Turned out to be this amazing fishing lodge (www.andesloge.com). Funny thing is that I´m the only guest. Might be my chance to finally pull a fish out of the water...

Had a little mechanical incident with the frame mounts of the bike rack, which made the rack drop behind the bike (OK, so the incident was fatal). Shock. And all this happened in the rain. But nothing that couldn´t be fixed with some extra straps. Rather than riding around the whole Fjord now for the next 2 days I´ll turn around tomorrow and head on the most direct route to Puerto Montt (should be around 50 miles). Maybe I can find a hardware store with the necessary tools to fix the rack for the next 500 miles...

Quicky #1

Scenery already blows my mind...

I´m in Hornopieren, about 100 km into the ride. Looks like I might stay here for a couple of days, since I need a ferry to get me to Caleta Gonzalo. Note quite Caribous, but this place has access to the internet machine (I´m sitting inside, you can´t see me)!

And the keybaord has lots of funny characters....¿ Ç Ñ ª

Chile: Carretera Austral

Yes, that's where I'm going. What is it? Basically a 770 mile gravel road winding through Patagonia.



Schedule:
12/27/07:
--> depart Detroit 3 PM
12/28/07:
--> arrive in Puerto Montt (start of the route)
next 14 days:
--> pedal pedal pedal
1/14/08:
--> fly out of Balmaceda 2 PM
1/15/08:
--> arrive Detroit 2:20 PM

This means I basically have 14 days to cover 2/3 of the route. If I have time left I'm planning on riding beyond Balmaceda, and then take a bus back to that town. Just don't know what to expect in terms of conditions, so that is the plan for now.

I'll stay in contact through Tim, he'll be guest posting here the next couple of days.

Pontiac Lake reloaded

Decided to head to Pontiac today for a loop. What took me 38:30 in August took 1:20:00 today... possible reasons:

1) trail covered in thick layer of ice
2) 15 psi tire pressure
3) studded tires front and rear
4) first time riding a trail on a SS (ratio 32:15)
5) riding/walking up the ice hills not possible
6) all of the above

Departure 12/27/07 - 3 PM

Big big trip coming up. The bike is in shape for it, but I don't know if I'll be...

Added rear disc, you never know what conditions to expect:


No more skinny tire action, let's meet dirt this time:

My December

Pretty low mileage for this month. Too busy taking care of other things...

But I headed out for a 3+ hours ride today with the typical gang. That ride pretty much doubled my Dec ride time. Headache today, probably de-hydrated. Hardly drank at all during the ride, but the waterbottle just had too much of a salty taste from all the spraying of the wet roads. Post ride bottle...


Trying to make up for tha lack of drinking here...

Now: Winter is here

Not sleeping so good lately, but at least I could keep myself busy last night every time I woke up by walking over to the window to make sure the snow is still coming down. And it did. And still does.

Getting up all excited this morning to go for a walk in the snow. And I officially hate walks. But you can't beat putting first traks on the sidewalk...

Winter starts: now

Last weekend I skied in 30 cm of fresh powder in Austria - I wonder what I should do with that amount of snow tomorrow here in MI where it is still flat?



On a sad note: I think posts about the weather is like talking about weather in real life. That's what you do when you don't know what else to say, or if there is stuff you don't want to say...

Greetings from Germany

Not riding lately, but practicing other essential skilzz. You never know when you need them...

Finally - Pontiac Lake

Skipped another hammerfestgroupridedeathloopaction today for a couple of final 2007 trail miles. Wanted to ride Pontiac for a long time, and I finally made it out there today. Only could do three laps, then my waterbottles were frozen, and I was too thursty (ok, tired as well) to continue...

Ran into a couple of friends, always good to know you're not the only one who likes to ride a partly iced over and snow covered trail at 24F.

I can't tell you how happy I was today that I could ride my bike.

Heading out to Germany tomorrow... and I'll eat Sauerkraut again.

I like the winter - I really do




Those guys make it look colder than it actually was


Pete Favata, just done robbing a bank




Proof that I was there