Build DMC South America Expedition and ROTW write-up

[Grolar]

So there you are, in Chile!
The San Pedro de Atacama region is one of the most amazing places on earth. Don't miss Geiser del Tatio (follow the tourist bus departing before dawn if your GPS can't get you there, and careful with the sulphuric pools), Valle de la Luna and the small canyon east of Toconao, besides the salar, of course.
Lots of great restaurants in San Pedro, relaxed locals and cool hotels if your weakening dollars (vs. local currency) can afford a decent one for some nights.
And in Chile... watch your speed, especially on the Panamerican. Cops there arrest everybody driving even slightly over the speed limit, which is quite low even by US standards. They won't accept bribes, oddly enough.
Way down south, explore Valle del Elqui, another piece of land touched by heaven. Tesoro del Elqui is your hotel of choice. German ownership can't be wrong (it's hospital clean!)
In between, Antofagasta sucks but La Serena makes a decent stop. PM me if you need more specifics, as I told you already, I was there in '01 and one of my workmates is Chilean.
Envy, envy, envy...
Great storytelling on your blog by the way.
Cheers
Grolar

 

[dmc]

dmc,

What are your plans concerning Chavez's and Correa's recent display of stupidity? Might be hairy going through Ecuador and Colombia on your way back.

putting the truck on a boat and shipping it home actually that has been the plan all along. way too expensive to drive it home. i saw tonight that the ecuador situation has been resolved. but chavez is still egging on colombia. i am glad i'm in chile

 

[dmc]

tons of pics posted in the gallery...

Welcome to Expedition Americas

i found the cruiser mecca. Uyuni, Bolivia. 7 out of 10 vehicles is a cruiser and ALL you see on the roads is cruisers. i hope to get a write up done sunday on the last 5 days.
dmc

 

[robmir]

putting the truck on a boat and shipping it home actually that has been the plan all along. way too expensive to drive it home. i saw tonight that the ecuador situation has been resolved. but chavez is still egging on colombia. i am glad i'm in chile

Dave: Unfortunately this dispute is far of been resolved, Chavez have some dark and demented motives to keep it up and will add more of his personal diabolic touch to fuel it, just wait and see.

It's the best that you ship your cruiser from Chile to home as you planned.

Watching your latest pictures, is any place in your cruiser and your ass which has not been assaulted by dust, LOL

I guess you will need a tooth brush and a couple of months of hard, dusk to down, work to clean it up, right after you also work your ass off to pay for your unforgetable trip

 

[Romer]

Those are some cool pics Dave. Stay safe man. When are you heading back to the states?

 

[Ting]

Wow... love those pictures... Be safe, and thanks for sharing

 

[TEPUI]

Dave,

What's your current location? PM me when you make it to Santiago.

 

[Tapage]

Dave,

What's your current location? PM me when you make it to Santiago.

I saw in TA few pics ... San Pedro, or place close to Atacama ..

 

[TEPUI]

I saw in TA few pics ... San Pedro, or place close to Atacama ..

I think he may have already left San Pedro, he PM'd me this morning saying he'll be in Santiago soon, but did not tell me where he is exactly...

 

[Tapage]

I think he may have already left San Pedro, he PM'd me this morning saying he'll be in Santiago soon, but did not tell me where he is exactly...

Please .. take plenty of pics !

 

[ddorsch]

Dave great pictures!! Wish you the best. Thank you for sharing your trip.



Dave D

 

[Grolar]

Are you in Puerto Montt already? Looks like you've rushed your way through chile and its geografia loca!

 

[dmc]

Those are some cool pics Dave. Stay safe man. When are you heading back to the states?

just about in time to try and beg my way into Cruise Moab. i figure if you can't make it happen i can always bribe cheeseman.

Actually i'll be home by then but i think my truck will still be en route. we'll see.
dmc

 

[dmc]

Are you in Puerto Montt already? Looks like you've rushed your way through chile and its geografia loca!

I had a friend join me from the states. When that happens i am sort of at their pace because of flights and vacation time. so he wanted to see the north and the south so that's what we did. two long days in the middle made it happen. i've slowed due to delayed ferries in Quillon. Carratera Austral lies just ahead however.
dmc

 

[dmc]

I think he may have already left San Pedro, he PM'd me this morning saying he'll be in Santiago soon, but did not tell me where he is exactly...

Tepui,

I know you are in Cali right now but i'm sure you'll see this eventually. it's too bad things didn't work out with us hooking up. but chances are i'll be back before too long. i had lunch with Patricio Rios Garay and he invited me back for the Raid de Atacama and to watch the 08 Dakar. if finances allow i'll be back.
dmc

 

[robmir]

Tepui,

I know you are in Cali right now but i'm sure you'll see this eventually. it's too bad things didn't work out with us hooking up. but chances are i'll be back before too long. i had lunch with Patricio Rios Garay and he invited me back for the Raid de Atacama and to watch the 08 Dakar. if finances allow i'll be back.
dmc

You ARE a lucky S... B !!!!! Fulfilling your dream expedition AND be able to watch from the bench the 08 DAKAR I just started to envy your future grandsons !!!!!

 

[dmc]

Well dakar will depend a lot on the bank account by then. I will be starting from scratch when I get home and it will be a short turn around to come back if I make it. But I damn sure going to try

 

[womacje]

Hope you get to see Futa before it joins the ranks with Atlantis and other underwater cities. Eat lots of pan and avocado for me. Thanks for helping with the winter passing, wonderful writing and the photos as well.

 

[elmariachi]

Dave,

Been keeping up with your expedition for a couple months now. THIS PICTURE is without a doubt one of the coolest I have ever seen. I'd love a high-res for my desktop if you care to share.

Your blog and your journey kicks ass, I am envious.

Take care.

Jim

 

[Beowulf]

THIS PICTURE is without a doubt one of the coolest I have ever seen. I'd love a high-res for my desktop if you care to share.

Funny you mention this Jim. Not 2 minutes before I read your post I clicked on that image, got a bit larger version, and saved it as my desktop. A high-res version would be great but that version works OK 'stretched' to 1280x1024.
-B-