Deane's Motorcycle Trip In SOUTH AMERICA
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Deane's Motorcycle Trip In SOUTH AMERICA |
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April 9, 10 - Salta, Argentina 250 miles, Ruinas de Quilmes to Salta |
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April 9 was spent riding to the city of Salta, and April 10 was a "Rest Day", as we needed a rest after 5 days of riding, and a day to do laundry, repair or re-fit motorcycles, and just be tourists, looking around a large Argentinean city. Before riding out from the ruins at Quilmes, ("Ruinas"), we took a tour of the 1,000 year-old ruins with an Argentinean park ranger. It was amazing how many rock walls defined the homes, plazas, and fields. This society was attacked and conquered by the Spanish conquistadors, as they scoured South America for treasure. Here is the assembled group of motorcyclists, looking like tourists, surrounded by the rock walls, with the local park ranger.
The ride was all on pavement, and very pleasant. The early part was again along the very large desert valley, with mountain ranges on either side. As we were riding though vineyard and winery areas, our guide Henry stopped at the front gate to a beautiful winery and asked if we could be given a tour of the winery. Surprisingly, the answer was yes, come right in. A young man was the wine master and was happy to show us around. It was a very modern and very beautiful winery, with all of the stainless equipment from France.
After a little bit of tasting, we went on, quite happy with the beauty of the winery and fields. Then we crossed over one of the mountain ranges, and the type of scenery changed dramatically. First, the scenery turned to red rock canyons, like the southwestern U.S. (Did I really have to come to Argentina to see this?)
However, then everything was so green and lush it came to the point of being overgrown. The eastern side of the mountains quite evidently gets a LOT of rain, and . On we came to Salta, where one group after another got lost, as is usually the case with the Spanish cities, with their disdain for street signs. As mentioned before, today was a day for rest, and to repair and re-fit the motorcycles. My Suzuki V-Strom had held up very well. But I had to find a bolt to hold a plate that is the base for my trunk bag. Then with chain cleaning and tightness checks, I was good to go for the next day. Each motorcycle required some aid, and we spent the morning doing that. Willy, the tour guide driving the support van, had tools and a selection of spare bolts and nuts along, as well as each rider had his own selection, so whatever was needed was accomplished. I added a "rock screen" to the front of the bike to protect the engine oil cooler and radiator, similar to the one that Norm and I fashioned in northern Canada and Alaska. I had brought the screen along in a motorcycle bag, with duct tape, plastic ties, and tools. With a little spit, it all went together - not pretty, but functional. Tomorrow is to be the first all-day ride on gravel roads. I guess this is to continue toughening us up for the roads in Bolivia, which Willy says are "complicated". (I think that means they will be quite tough - we'll see..) |
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