Almost as high as we were
LA PAZ
Having connected with the jungle, we pushed west towards the mountains once again. The riding was tough, it brought its fair share of difficulty but came with some of the greatest hospitality we’ve experienced.
Read More
Tipnis
PART 2
We were invited to enter the Isiboro Secure Indigenous Territory and National Park (otherwise known as the TIPNIS) by an Indigenous leader. There are no roads into the park, the only form of transport is on small motorised canoes. This is one of the last remaining wild parts of the Amazon rainforest but its integrity and the lives of the Indigenous people are being threatened by development plans proposed by the government. It was a real privilege to be invited into place so rarely visited by westerners. This is the second part of our 10 day trip into the TIPNIS.
Read More
TIPNIS
PART 1
We were invited to enter the Isiboro Secure Indigenous Territory and National Park (otherwise known as the TIPNIS) by an Indigenous leader. There are no roads into the park, the only form of transport is on small motorised canoes. This is one of the last remaining wild parts of the Amazon rainforest but its integrity and the lives of the Indigenous people are being threatened by development plans proposed by the government. It was a real privilege to be invited into place so rarely visited by westerners. This is the first part of our 10 day trip into the TIPNIS.
Read More
City-itis
A DISEASE CURED BY NATURE
After a serious case of city-itis contracted from 3 weeks in Sucre the doctor prescribed a large dose of the outdoors. Not normally ones to seek the advice of medical professionals this was rare advice we actually followed. Over the course of two weeks we rode from the highlands of Sucre to the lowlands of Santa Cruz.
Read More
The dumbest thing
SALAR DE UYUNI TO SUCRE
We had good intentions for Sucre, we really did. We were going to lay low and rest after a few months on the road while Lachie healed and we got some much needed Spanish lessons. The reality was somewhat different. Scott and I DJ’ed at the local party hostel and subsequently snagged ourselves volunteering jobs running their parties. We also found ourselves in the role of translators for hikes run by the hostel and got a gig photographing a proposal.
Read More
The 'road'
TO BOLIVIA
With corrugations rivalling outback Australia and deep sand comprising the majority of the route into Bolivia it certainly wasn’t easy. But we made it and what a spectacular journey it was.
Read More
'The bad bitches'
SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Having formed an international motorbike gang we were ready to take on the famous San Pedro de Atacama.
Read More
The long highway
Ruta 40
Ruta 40 is one of two major highways that run the entire length of Argentina. But for us, Ruta 40 was the road where we spent most nights just in our sleeping bags under the stars, frequently ditched the pavement for more exciting closed dirt roads, and met several people who would form our little biker gang
Read More
ROAD CLOSED
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T LEARN THE FIRST TIME
With our spirit of adventure still alive and strong, and our intelligence little improved, we headed off on a closed road through deserts and over mountains for the second time in two weeks. Only this time we sought some local advice first – “Don't do it. It's very difficult. It's very dangerous. There are lots of somethings.” Well, it was very difficult. And dangerous. We found out what the somethings were. It ended with Lachie in hospital.
Read More
The Longest Shortcut
With 8 litres of water, half a kilo of rice and three carrots, we weren't exactly prepared for two days riding across a desert. But in our defence, we had no idea that's what we were getting ourselves into.
Read More
Our secret cave
Argentina provides
After being stuck in a cold rinse cycle for three days at Pichilemu it was time to put ourselves out to dry in the Argentinian desert. The only catch was that we had no guarantee Scott and Pat would be able to leave the country with their motorbikes.
Read More
THE WASHING MACHINE
PICHILEMU
After getting the motos sorted along with fixing Scott's eagerness to listen to literally anything other than reggaetón, we hit the road from Santiago to Pichilemu to suss out a rumoured 1km wave.
Read More
TATTOOS AND TECHNO
SANTIAGO
To be honest, until now we don’t think we’ve really lived up to our name ‘dumbthings’. But don’t worry, this week in Santiago we had a red hot crack at rectifying this problem. We had to have our motorbikes fixed twice, were woken up by the police at 2am, Scott kindly donated his wallet to a stranger, and Pat finished up a nice family dinner by getting a homemade tattoo. But you know, all’s well that ends well.
Read More
Sayonara HitchHiking
THE ROAD TO SANTIAGO
At a petrol station just out of Auckland, we asked a truck driver if we could hitch a ride with him. His response, “Just take a bus, it’s quicker, it’s safer and it’s not going to cost you much.”
Three months and a few thousand miles later, we've learnt a new language, made friends we'll remember when our hair has turned grey, and been reminded of the generosity that exists in the world if only you’re open to it.
Cinco Lagunas
Just when we thought we’d seen all that Patagonia could throw at us, this incredible hike came our way. Spending 8 incredible days hiking through this remote and isolated wilderness was an incredible experience and a great note to leave Patagonia on.
Read More
SORRY MUM
We bought motorbikes
The last two times that Scott had briefly disappeared, he had returned with an immediate call to action, hiking. So when we awoke to find him missing the morning after our five glorious days on the Huemel Circuit we knew something was coming. With our Dutch friends working away on an incredible stack of post-hike pancakes, Scott returned to Mariano’s house with the news that not only had he found three motorbikes online, but they were as good as sold….. to us.
Read More
Patagonia's Hidden Gem
THE HUEMUL CIRCUIT
With three Dutchies we'd met 12 hours previously we set off on what was to be five days of ‘the unprepared in the unknown’. We took on 100+ km/h winds over mountain passes, zip lined over rapids, took shelter for 36 hours in a little mountain Refugio and had our minds blown by the indescribable beauty and solitude of the Patagonian Icefield
Read More
DESOLATE ROADS TO ICONIC PEAKS
MT. FITZ ROY
After getting another glimpse of Southern Patagonia on the Cabo Froward trek, it was time to start the jaunt up North in search of higher peaks and wider valleys. What we got was desert roads, a lost passport and three days of hiking bliss.
Read More
CABO FROWARD
With three days to complete the six-day hike, we fought again time, tides and Pacha Mama (Mother Nature) herself. Read on to hear the story of this gruelling 72km hike to the southernmost point of continental South America.
Read More
Dientes De Navarino
The excitement in our bellies roared as we watched an epic sunrise over the Andes from our plane to Punta Arenas in southern Patagonia. Our excitement was dampened only slightly as the wheels of the plane screeched on the runaway when we realised we had no place to stay, not a single Chilean peso and Spanish literacy comparable to a goat.
Read More