The stunning part of Ruta 40 - a dream shattered and reborn

Enjoy these beautiful landscapes with me. A good time of the year to ride across and the coldness is almost forgotten. I tell also what happened to my starter motor.

Welcome to Argentina and border crossing from Chile to Argentina with a motorcycle/sidecar and a dog (Cardenal Samore)

We crossed the border on Wednesday 20April2016 at Cardenal Samore). The crossing was really easy. At the entry check point I got a piece of paper stating my license plate and how many persons. Then to immigration and customs which both stamped this paper. At the exit check point I gave the stamped paper. Since there were no cues it took about 10minutes including all the photo shootings of the officials and by standers. Nobody cared about Peto.

After some 22km there is the international border and after some additional 18km there was the Argentina checkpoint.

The same procedure. At the entry check point I got a piece of paper stating my license plate and how many persons. Then to immigration and customs which both stamped this paper. The border official (who took some pics of Peto and the sidecar) then told me to go to Senasa office. I gave the SAG papers from Chile, had to pay 65ARS (she accepted also payment in CLP - 3000CLP) as a one-time entrance fee for Peto into Argentina and I was done. They kept the white copy of the SAG paper (BTW: The official SAG paper only stated the rabies vaccination details not the parasites. A clear indication that at the Bolivia/Chile border it was pure harassment because with the same paper I can return to Chile). At the exit check point I gave the paper with all three stamps. Since there were no cues it took about 20minutes including all the photo shootings of the officials and by standers.

No copies needed, no other payments required. Nobody asked for vehicle insurance.

The SAG paper from Chile is valid for 10days to leave Chile and enter Argentina. The re-entry from Argentina to Chile is possible with the same paper within 21days (so no need to go to Senasa in Argentina if you move within this time window).

A multiple entry/re-entry is also possible according to the SAG officer. However it might be that you need more official copies. If you plan to do this then ask for more copies or clarify this upfront with the official (The SAG officer in Osorno did not say anything about more copies even though I told her about my intentions).

Based on other travelers info, the time window is more relaxed in the south and is 30days for in both directions also with the note that you might need an official for each entry to the other country (so get several). However, I could not verify this in person.

SAG office in Osorno: S40.57420° W73.13925, Mackenna 674, Osorno, (64) 2232415, http://www.sag.cl/content/oficina-osorno
There was at least one person who spoke fluent German.

ALWAYS triple check ALL data on the paper (they screwed up my passport number and then Peto's vaccination date!)

Teaser - what to expect in Argentina ...

Teaser - what to expect in Argentina ...

Osorno- Peto got new toys - Wolfi got new toys - Shattered dreams

The fixing the starter motor on the R1150GSA continued. Peto got new toys and likes them very much. Shattered dreams and life continues. Look what the campground caretaker did to us...

Skippy's stories about her domestic violence and how she survived...

Skippy decided a while ago to tell her domestic violence story and how she survived. This is pretty heavy stuff, it's all real - no fake!

Check out her Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvYsDRQ_SATFh2JIhe0PG5Q/videos

And the first video of the series...

Limache to Osorno (Chile) and then came the starter motor problem

Yep - another problem and this time with the starter motor. It had made trouble for a while and I thought it would be a good idea to open, check and fix it now (quickly!) so I won't have any more trouble down the road (hopefully)...

Happy Birthday to me and I got a present guess from whom...

Now there is a bit of Chile in FFWD mode and I got one year older but did I get any wiser?

Wildlife at the campground and the bike repair continues...

Dogs, cats, birds, lizards and mice and news on the ball joint bearing, oil filter and more...

Bolivia - pet and bike friendly accommodations, tracks and waypoints

Track 2600km

Track and waypoints in GDB and GPX format.

List of bike & pet friendly accommodation (100BOB ≈ 13.5 EUR ≈ 15USD)

Copacabana - Luz Yhobimar

Type: Room (twin, single occupancy), private bathroom
Costs: 70BOB
Dogs: free
Bike parking: secured parking lot one block away (included)
Contact:
GPS: S16.16630° W69.08779°
Comment: hot shower, Wifi, TV, no drinking water

La Paz - Apartamento en La Paz

Type: Room (twin, single occupancy), shared bathroom
Costs: 12USD
Dogs: 6USD
Bike parking: Garage in house (4USD)
Contact: booking.com,
GPS: S16.50648° W68.14240°
Comment: electric shower head, Wifi, TV, drinking water, common kitchen, fridge, terrace with a view, easy to find. silent and big room. kitchen. Garage in-house. cheap. Hosts speaks English. Clean shower/toilet. had to wait for a while before I got hold of the owner but some other house guests helped. Parking costed 4USD, my dog 6USD per night which made the room a bit expensive for Bolivia but maybe not for La Paz. My room door had glass tiles and I could see when the light went on in the corridor.
Slow to unusable internet. On the last night there was no toilet paper (even though toilets were cleaned) and I could not find the owner.

Oruro - Hotel City Virginia

Type: Room (single occupancy), private bathroom
Costs: 130BOB
Dogs: free
Bike parking: Garage in house besides hotel (mostly for the night not during day)
Contact: 72313391, Av. 6 de Agosto entre Aroma y Villarroel
GPS: S17.96093° W67.10574°
Comment: hot shower, slow Wifi, TV, drinking water,

Potosi - Casa de huespedes La Vicuna

Type: Room (king size bed, single occupancy), shared bathroom
Costs: 120BOB
Dogs: free
Bike parking: in inner yard
Contact: Calle Ingavi No. 184, esq Quijarro
GPS: S19.58640° W65.75365°
Comment: hot shower (after I complained that there was no hot shower), Wifi, TV, room was a closet without window, breakfast included

Uyuni - Hotel Inti

Type: Room (queen size bed, single occupancy), shared bathroom
Costs: 85BOB
Dogs: free
Bike parking: garage 15Bob
Contact:
GPS: S20.46126° W66.82089°
Comment: hot shower, Wifi, no towel, no toilet paper

Alto - Hospedaje Fatima

Type: Room (single bed in three bed room, single occupancy), shared bathroom
Costs: 30BOB
Dogs: free
Bike parking: in inner yard
Contact:
GPS: S21.40105° W67.59720°
Comment: very basic, hot shower (10BOB), no Wifi, no towel, no toilet paper

San Christobal - Hotel

Type: Room (twin room, single occupancy), private bathroom
Costs: 140BOB
Dogs: free
Bike parking: in inner yard
Contact:
GPS: S21.15403° W67.16700°
Comment: hot shower, no Wifi, comfortable, carpet, heating, breakfast included

Kulpina K - Hostal Maluqui

Type: Room (twin room, single occupancy), private bathroom
Costs: 50BOB
Dogs: free (after some clarification)
Bike parking: backyard
Contact:
GPS: S21.25848° W67.22283°
Comment: hot shower, no Wifi, carpet

Pena Barroza - Hostal

Type: Room (twin room, single occupancy), private bathroom
Costs: 100BOB
Dogs: free
Bike parking: in inner yard
Contact:
GPS: S22.19119° W67.33943°
Comment: hot shower, no Wifi

One tiny mistake and 2 days more work - gearbox repair on a BMW R1150GSA - part II

Puppy love and sorrow. Murphy's law hit me hard this time but see for yourself...

Waiting for spare parts - great opportunity for gearbox repair on a BMW R1150GSA - part I

It became obvious that I would be here for some time to get my spare part for the front fork. What a great opportunity to figure out whether my gearbox had some issues as well.