Wanderlust Unlimited

Surprise! ... Home at last!

2009-05-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

Decided the gig was up... or the money was anyway so I flew back home while I could still afford the airfare. Didn't tell anyone I was coming home and timed it just right so that I came back on my dad’s birthday! I got in to Perth airport just after lunch, assembled the bike and rode to my brother’s house, surprised him and then laid in wait for my parents to come over for a birthday dinner. The looks on their faces, priceless!
(My brother Harry had the camera at the ready!)

Cute n deadly... well his older siblings were anyway

2009-05-10T00:51:00.000-07:00

Bungy!

2009-04-28T00:45:00.000-07:00

Took a leap off Bloukrans bridge, the worlds highest bungy jump... hard to beleive I actually did it as it was over so fast, have to do it again just to make sure...

Western Cape

2009-04-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

Capetown & new 2010 Football stadium.

Stellenbosch: Heart of SA's winery region and vibrent student town.

Roadside color

Cape Agulhas: southernmost point in Africa and the meeting of the oceans

SA Coastline

The little Karoo

A night at...

2009-04-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

The day started as normal... warfare, yes the sun rose and an intense mental battle was fought to get me out of the tent and into the cold morning air... it was 6:22am when I finally emerged from my cocoon a fully fledged cyclist, complete with Lycra and a sunhat that, according to one observer makes me look "like a cross between Laurence of Arabia, and a complete twit".

I was headed over Tradouw pass and into the Little Karroo a beautiful semi desert region and the day promised to be a scorcher. Not quite 'Joan of Arc was just a wuss' hot, but enough to get me moving early. I slowly trundeled up the pass with waves of encouragement and looks of bewilderment from local drivers. Eventually I reached the town of Barrydale where I sampled the local gelato and waited out the worst of the heat. The proprietor of the gelateria Wendy told me that I simply must stop at Ronnies Sex Shop a local landmark just a few km shy of my destination for the night.

Twenty five kilometers down the road I came across a little building with Ronnies Sex Shop scrawled in big red letters across the side. This must be the place I said to myself as I went in and asked the barmaid for sex... she said they were out.. but they did have something better! it makes women look better and men look pregnant, and if the waistlines around the room were anything to go by, a spate of twins were expected soon. I made do with the cold shoulder and an icy beer.

Ronnies was quite an industry with over 1000 unsatisfied customers every day during the holiday period, and its certainly the only sex shop I've heard of selling souvenir aprons. Inside Ronnies the decor consisted of hundreds of autographed pairs of women's panties, bras and men's baseball caps suspended from the ceiling... which struck me as rather odd, and could only lead me to the conclusion that there are a lot of d**kheads in South Africa (although to be fair most of them were probably European tourists).

Anyway I had to get moving, 4km uphill along a gravel road lay my destination for the night, the Warmwatersberg campsite and hot springs. When I got there I was informed that the price for camping on the long weekend holiday was an astronomical R235 or $23.5USD. The receptionist kindly suggested I go back to Ronnies and ask about camping there, she was also kind enough to offer me a free swim in the hot springs... I refrained from pointing out the salient point, that it was over 32 degrees Celsius (about 90F) why on earth would I want to sit in a dirty* pool of tepid water in this heat?!

Back to Ronnies, I asked to spend the night; "Not a problem" they said "Camp on the lawn, it's not every night you get to sleep as a sex shop is it?!", which got me thinking... in truth half the hotels and motels in... no half the hotels and all of the motels in Latin America were used for little else, some with decor to match and filth on the tele**. It's usually a clue when they try to charge for the room by the hour, and while most were impeccably clean, others made you wonder if it wasn't safer sleeping outside on the streets. Often they only had double beds and either Matt or I would 'camp' on the floor.

In this case I was very comfortable camping out on the lawn behind Ronnies and spent a quiet night watching the new series of Topgear with the bar staff. Topgear is very popular here in South Africa... and it shows as South African drivers just love to take their reasonably priced cars around at 200kmph on the race course that is the South African highway system, predictably the country has a road toll to match.

*it would be dirty by the time i got in it.
**Yes 'The Bill' is especially popular among horny Latinos.

Graduation day!

2009-03-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

For those of you who wander what I've been doing with myself for the last year: I've just finished an intensive 10 month course in American studies with professor Matt Baumeister from the University of Lincon Nebraska.

The course covered a broad range of topics including:

Quality hamburgers and the American dream... A hands-on practical class looking at the proliferation of the American dream (quality fast food) throughout the Americas. Professor B explains that this dream has been guiding American foreign policy in the region for decades.

Coke, the hard drug of choice. (Although blind taste testing confirms that Professor B prefers Pepsi... made with cane sugar not corn syrup and out of a glass bottle not plastic or aluminum... a connoisseur can tell these things...)

Manipulating media moguls: a discourse on the American media. (for discourse read rant)

Faith based politics, (because no one has faith in politics).

Law & Order: The death penalty and tipping your server.

Associate professor Jason Alexander joined us for 2 months and lead an enlightening discussion series on modern Christianity and the benefits of 'diet' soda.

Professor Baumeister was careful to be both fair and balanced in his topic coverage, and I would thoroughly recommend the course for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of the American psyche.

Dean of the school John Burden flew in all the way from a corn field for the graduation ceremony and presented me with the much coveted star spangled bandanna. I felt as American as apple pie... with a side order of freedom fries. The bandanna he said would make me look like a real biker. I think dean Burden was under the impression we had been doing the tour on Harleys.

Much to the dismay of my fellow Americans I proceeded to proudly don the bandanna and head out into town, down the beach, restaurants, and even the cinema (which was a disaster as they only served popcorn and soda in sizes small, smaller and extra small; we filed a lawsuit against management and didn't let it spoil our Hollywood magic.) Apart from the anti Americanism in the cinema we were surprised to receive a very warm response to the bandanna with cries of 'Hey Obama' and 'Yeah Obama'. A far cry I'm told from the response we may have received just a few short weeks ago... which reminds me, check out this Robin Williams stand up performance:

For more information about the course including course date and fees contact professor Baumeister at www.panambikeride.com

(photos coming soon)

Table Mountain

2009-03-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'm under the yellow arrow...

David's friend Oliver took us up a less traveled route up the mountain... it took 9 hours!

Up close and penguinal...

2009-02-28T05:48:00.000-08:00

Everythings ship shaped...

2009-02-26T05:37:00.000-08:00

Nice ice & birds on the rocks...

2009-02-23T09:51:00.000-08:00

Antarctica!

2009-02-18T09:33:00.000-08:00

End of the road as we know it...

2009-02-11T10:35:00.000-08:00

Over to the land of fire,

and...

On to Antarctica!!!

Too many damm cyclists!?!

2009-02-02T09:35:00.000-08:00

16 Cyclists at one small campground - Puerto Natales

Views inside Torres del Paine

2009-01-29T08:55:00.000-08:00

Cycling into Torres del Paine

2009-01-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

Portrait Perito Moreno

2009-01-25T08:16:00.000-08:00

That road again - Patagonia

2009-01-22T16:30:00.000-08:00

Land of ice, snow & cloud blankets

2009-01-18T16:41:00.000-08:00

Both Fitzroy & Cerro Torre were covered in cloud... but you can't have everything

Over the Border - Bike, Boat & Boots

2009-01-14T15:28:00.000-08:00

Along the Carretera Austral

2008-12-29T14:57:00.000-08:00

Patagonia by bike - Random photos

2008-12-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

Chile (but warm) so far...

2008-12-14T14:55:00.000-08:00

Beautiful scenery
Nice camping
Great Roads

Talking turkey

2008-12-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

Artsy Valparaiso, the San Fran of South America

2008-11-20T16:44:00.000-08:00

Good Advice - Turn off the Tele and live your life!

Typical tourist!

2008-11-19T17:04:00.000-08:00

Looking down on the locals

and then trying to leg it with the babes?!

Locals and passers-by alike agree to pose for us

2008-11-16T05:46:00.000-08:00

I'd follow that jackass to the end of the earth...

2008-11-16T05:43:00.000-08:00

Circlebow

2008-11-15T05:42:00.000-08:00

View from the top at 5600m - Nevado Mismi

2008-11-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

That road again - Flat... almost Nebraska flat

2008-11-05T08:44:00.000-08:00

Machu Picchu

2008-10-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

We got up at 3:30 to walk up to the park entrance and avoid paying $8 for a bus, just so we could be among the 400 people they let climb Huayna Picchu each day... it was worth it.

Pictured Picchu People

2008-10-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

Matt and his own personal temple of doom...

Jenny and Ali

Alex and David, Motorcycle tourist - David started with Matt on bicyle back in Alaska, but being intellegent he switched to a motorbike and he's been running into us ever since.

A friendly local

and the elusive me...

First sightings of Machu Picchu

2008-10-28T05:55:00.000-07:00

Now thats steep!

But not as steep as that! ... crazy dog climbed up a 30 meter vertical ladder with us to get a view of Machu Picchu but had trouble getting down...

First sighting of Machu Picchu! (steepest of all is the entry cost at 60 bucks! bring a student card and get in at half price)

Descent into Cuzco

2008-10-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

Jennys last day of cycling with us, she sold the bike and is going off surfing and volunteering somewhere in South America. Jennys blog is bicyclingbiologist.blogspot.com (though it may change it's name soon...)

The Plaza de Armas (town center)

A local shopkeeper...

Really drunk? - seeing triple!

2008-10-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

Up and down again - A cycilists tale

2008-10-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

Went up up up

Met some locals

Appreciated the views

Got to the top (4600m)

Came down again

Nasca Line - An upside down tree

2008-10-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

Unfortunatly my camera ran out of batteries and this is all I have of the nasca lines, decided we couldn't afford the $60 plane flight...
It was Aliens... who now sell rocks by the roadside

Just Desert

2008-10-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

That road again - Peruvian desert

2008-10-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

Snakes & Ladders to 4800m

2008-10-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

That Road Again - A Beauty with a Beastial climb

2008-10-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

No, wait... it's all about the pants...

2008-10-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

For Mum

It's all about the bike!

2008-10-01T07:01:00.000-07:00

Can't get to Rome - no roads out of Iquitos.

2008-09-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

Iquitos land of moto taxisThe 5 day journey up the Amazon from Iquitos to Pucallpa took 8 as we were hoodwinked into bording on a boat that 'Leaves Today 5pm Without Fail!' and then just sat there for 3 days.
The boat stopped at countless little communities along the way

Rios Napo & Amazon - On The Destructor II

2008-09-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

This is the first boat someone tried to sell for $275... the Sinkor I

The Destructor II is a working cargo barge we managed to hitch a lift on... we camped on the deck.

Ecuador to Peru - Napo to Amazon

2008-09-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

Ecuador - Stunning!

2008-09-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

A line in the sand...

2008-09-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

Santuario de las Lajas

2008-08-29T10:24:00.000-07:00

The site where an image of Mary was found on a rock; now has a beautiful chuch, bridge, and a huge line of pilgrims.

The writings all over the wall.

That road again - Colombia

2008-08-28T15:43:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Colombia

2008-08-26T14:52:00.000-07:00

Colombian Scenery

2008-08-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

The scenery has been spectacular and the people among the most friendly of the trip!

The city of Pereira

La feria de las Flores Medellín

2008-08-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

Decided to esape the heat and start the South American ride in alittle further south in the cooler mountain air at Medellín, just happened to turn up for their major festival of the year; the feria de las Flores, or flower festival.

The float to Columbia - see me sea sick

2008-07-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

Bikes got alittle rusty... i got alittle sick

Spent 2 days snorkeling in the San Blas Islands

Puerto Belo

2008-07-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

Sky!

2008-07-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

Casco Viejo - Old town charm

2008-07-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

The Panama Canal - milestone ripples

2008-07-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

That road again - Panama

2008-07-11T16:59:00.000-07:00

Apparentaly these are the best roads of the trip

Up, down, turn around, plant your ass on the beach...

2008-07-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

Up to 3350 meters and down to the coast!

Basilica de Cartago

2008-07-04T16:56:00.000-07:00

read about on wiki...

Costa Rica's Chirripo National Park

2008-06-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Gum leaves growing out the ground!?

Costa Rican highlands

2008-06-22T16:41:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica! - where pineapples com from...

2008-06-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

Now I know!

Isla de Ometepe - on lake Nicaragua

2008-06-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

The roads - best cycling in Nicaragua... worst roads

Swimming hole

Local residents

Nicaragua... it was hot!

2008-06-15T16:01:00.000-07:00

Leon

Granada

3 Countries in 3 days

2008-06-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

El Salvador

El Salvador - Honduras Border

Honduras - Nicaragua Border

That road again - the climb out of the puddle.

2008-05-26T23:02:00.000-07:00

Hell of a puddle - Lago de Atitlan

2008-05-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

Old skyscrapers in Tikal

2008-05-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

Self Portrait #3 - Indie

2008-05-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

Tikal - before and after restoration.

2008-05-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

When Tikal was 'discovered' the buildings all looked abit like this... a pile of rocks with a few plants stuck on top...

but with alittle bit of restoration a ruin in revealed.

Vacations from a vacation with Mis Padres!

2008-05-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

Boy did I need a vacation... mum & dad pay me a 3 week vist, check out their blog at http://sandtravels.blogspot.com/

Semuc Champey

2008-05-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

Mordor?

2008-05-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

Vulcan Santa Maria - Sunrise a bed of clouds

2008-04-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

What a relief!

Distant Emanations - active volcanos all around us, also there has been quite a few earthquakes/tremors.

Scenic Guatemala

2008-04-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

This little piggy - Guatemalen Markets

2008-04-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

Market scenes in San Francisco Guatemala

This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy had roast beef. This little piggy... oh stuff it they're all going to market.

Me other bikes a horse...

2008-04-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Wooden saddles are even more uncomfortable then leather ones.

Views from the road - Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido

2008-04-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

Puerto Escondido - Tubes & Dumpers

2008-04-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

The holidays ruined - Monte Alban

2008-03-31T16:22:00.000-07:00

Oaxaca, City of Churches... and Chocolate

2008-03-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

I ate the chocolate before i got a chance to take a picture... but here are some pretty dominican churches

Coastal Camping

2008-03-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

Camping under a Palapa

Hammocking by the side of the road

Big Sur a la Mexicana

2008-03-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

The coast line here is just like the coast around Big Sur Calafornia, except the hills are bigger and steeper and well everyones mexican...

Mexican Maddness - Fireworks

2008-03-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

So a guy with a flaming horse goes into a crowd and starts spinning around shooting off streams of flaming rockets... the kids scream with delight and everybody runs... loco

Towering inferno mexican style, pity it's not lit up in the photo... but you get the idea.

New Camera!

2008-03-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

Q: What have i been up too for the last few weeks?
A: Not much... lazing around at the beach, staying with a local couchsurfer in Puerto Vallarta (www.couchsurfing.com it's the thing to do when travelling...)
- The couch

Fredo, Abi & Alex (I have been cycling with Alex for a while now but we split in PV)

What the camera missed...

2008-02-22T06:26:00.000-08:00

Cameras can´t see everything, can´t see what mexico smells or sounds like... interested... no!? well I´ll tell you, it smells just like anywhere else and sounds at least 83db louder.

The people are among the friendliest and most accomodating you´ll find anywhere, the food is absolutely delicious so long as you like meat beans and tortillas, and along the coast the seafood has been wonderful too.

The roads are frightening in places and cycling in the midday heat is only to be attempted by mad dogs, most of whom in my experience end up as roadkill.

More updates to come...

Just Imagine...

2008-02-20T06:17:00.000-08:00

Just imagine what Mexico looks like... you´ll have to because my camera has broken.

Crazy Carnival Floats

2008-02-04T09:41:00.000-08:00

Carnival in Mazatlan, apparently the 3rd biggest celebration of Carnival in the world, started officially way back in 1898 and is a great excuse to party every night for a week...

Views from the road...

2008-01-28T09:23:00.000-08:00

Cycling along the toll highway hasn't been that scenic, (Never ending corn fields) but 2 lanes a shoulder and only moderate traffic was wonderful after the horrors of Baja California.

Possibly a cemetery in the corn field?? More birds then you can poke a stick at
Civilization and beach in Mazatlan

Camping in Mexican

2008-01-25T09:03:00.000-08:00

In a Police station
In a Pemex Petrol stationand in a hammock

Copper Canyon - more snow

2008-01-18T15:17:00.000-08:00

We took the train over from La Paz to Los Mochis, and then tried and failed to take our bikes on the train to Creel in the Copper Canyon, so we decided to go without the bikes. It would have been cold and the riding exceedingly steep, I'll have to come back someday. Though we did end up hiring a bike for the day when we got there.

More Baja.

2008-01-12T15:41:00.000-08:00

A Blizzard of Buzzards - (Turkey Vultures) probably due to the great abundance of road kill Topiary - their mad on it.

The Loreto Mission - The first mission in California, founded by the Jesuits in 1697.

That road again - Baja Sur

2008-01-08T09:26:00.000-08:00

Yes Sur

2008-01-02T08:54:00.000-08:00

The scenery has begun to improve dramatically as cross over to south (sur) Baja

Christmas 2007

2007-12-25T10:06:00.000-08:00

I spent Christmas at Coyote Cal's Hostel (near the town of Erendira, Baja California)

That road again - Baja Norte

2007-12-23T09:57:00.000-08:00

Mexican scenery

2007-12-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

Over the border, down Mexico way

2007-12-13T08:19:00.000-08:00

Crossed the border en mass with the Pleasant Revolution (http://www.pleasantrevolution.net/) Spent our first night in Tijuana at an amazing little school out in the sticks of Tijuana, the revolution gave a lunchtime concert for the kids. Tijuana competes with San Francisco in the hilly department, and loaded up with up to 200 pounds of gear (PA system, cello, drum kit, etc there was alot of pushing going on. but well worth it in the end.
School Buildings