South America Motorcycle Photo Travel : Day 11 - 14

Riding Travel Log Day 11 till 14

The Nasca Lines

The long straight road

Inca Cola same taste as Sprite

My bike - Rojas taking a short break

Its always feeling lonely on any adventure ride on long stretch roads where there is no town or human being. You look around there is emptiness but see God creation around and you know why he creates this universe. Living on the road is like that...

South America Motorcycle Road Trip : Riding Travel Log : Day 10 | Lima to Ica

Day 10: Lima to Ica

Another long desert riding day with occasional gusty wind blowing fine sand all over. I recalled Peru is just like the Philippines; the horrible traffic, the mototaxis, the food, rural houses and the agriculture products. The people differ though.

I had a short break for Rajos too.Traffic is mainly dominates by heavy trucks and double-decker buses. They just zoom past me. On a brighter side, it is a free toll for motorbikes. There are signed of new construction over this stretch of the Pan American Highway.

Just after Lima city along the long stretch of the Pacific coast, there are lots of newly build apartments and condominiums. Yet another sign of foreign investments and property boom.

More pictures below :


Gusty wind bring sweeping fine sand across my path

Oh! What a sight! Sand castle?

Hard work for both man and animal. Any similarity with Mindanao?

It was all in all yet another riding day. I overnight at Ica Hostel by the road side and I am looking forward for the riding adventure tomorrow.

South America Motorcycle Road Trip : Riding Travel Log : Day 1 - 5 | Cali to Santa Rosa

Riding Travel Log : Day 1 - 5 | Cali to Santa Rosa

Day 1 (28/1/12) Cali to Pasto

* Riding duration 10 hr, RnR inclusive.
* After Popayan ride along ridge of the Andes
* The Andes - volcanic features with river flows in valley
* O/nite in Pasto

Day 2 Pasto to Otvalo

* Border crossing Colombia into Ecuador
* Before cross border visit Las Lajas Church. The church built between gorges.
* Border cross took 2 hrs. No charges. Colombian Custom (Aduana) helped me with a written statement to Ecuador Custom.
* Good, long winding road along ridge of the Andes
* Speedometer broke
* O/nite Otvalo

Day 3 Otvalo to Quito

* Visit Otvalo market. Many local stuff there.
* Another long winding road towards Quito.
* O/nite at Secret Garden hostel in Quito old town

Day 4 Quito to El Bamba

* Long winding road
* Rain and foggy; limited visibility
* Many heavy vehicles
* Average height 1000m above sea level
* Cold
* O/nite El Bamba

Day 5 El Bamba to Santa Rosa

* Long winding road
* Heavy fog and rain
* Gravel road
* Took 2 and half hour to cover 70km!
* Very taxing ride
* O/nite Santa Rosa

South America Motorcycle Road Trip : Riding Travel Log : Day 6 - 9 | Santa Rosa to Lima

Day 6 Santa Rosa to Zorritos

Border crossing Ecuador into Peru . At Huaquillas Ecuador, stamp passport out Ecuador at Huaquallis town. Their computer failed waited 2 hrs to clear immigration. Bus passengers dominated the long queue.Then back track some 3 km away from Huaquallis immigration office to hand over motor temporary import permit to Ecuador Custom. Just hand over, then you can go.

Ecuador immigration and custom new building not open yet. This is a big blue building. Ride between new Ecuador check point office (not open yet) into Peru where you will stop at the police road block. They will guide you to their temporary Immigration and Custom container type office.Their check point office like Ecuador is not open yet.

At the temporary office, stamp in passport at the immigration counter. They will ask you to fill up form. Use your common sense to fill the column. If wrong they will correct you. They gave me 30 days to stay. Then get the bike temp import permit. Get insurance SOAT from the make shift counter next door. One month insurance cost me USD 35. After all done, you free to enter Peru. All these took me 3 hour.

Ride into Zorritos and overnight in a hostal by the beach facing the Pacific Ocean. Good place to rest and do some maintenance works. Walk along the beach is very relaxing.

Day 7 Zorritos to Chiclayo

* Passing Sechura Desert
* 2 types of physical vegetation . First the mud type desert; very brown. Second the sand type very white and strong wind blow (approx 30 kph)
* Very long straight road makes you bored
* Just nothing but empty only some donkeys
* Traffic medium - trucks and express buses
* O/nite Chiclayo at Hostal Paraiso

Day 8 Chiclayo to Chao

* Still across the semi desert area to Trijillo.
* Visit Chan Chan - Historical site
* Visit the Mochae pyramids
* O/nite at small town called Chao.

Day 9 Chao to Lima

* Another long winding semi desert ride
* Still passing desert region along the West coast of Peru facing the Pacific Ocean.
* Strong gusty wind blowing fine sand across my path.
* Its bright sunny day but foggy along the high plateau and cool temperature.
* The long winding road, up and down is boring ride but stunning view!

The picture above shows the ruin of the Mochae pyramids (background under reconstruction) in Trujillo.

Just me and the empty desert and lonely signboard.

South America Motorcycle Road Trip | Kuala Lumpur - London

at the LCCT airport, Kuala Lumpur, before the flight


D-Day 10 Jan 2012

When the Airbus 300 jet engines roar and lifted the 400 tons plus wide body plane from KLIA's runaway, I told myself the adventure to South America has begin.

Follow my upcoming trip report. Adios!