All around South America

[tknj99]

That bike looks just like the Bashan Brozz

[madarumoto]

Originally Posted by moresnow

Interesting vid/story. What on earth is all packed on that bike? I pack to travel indefinitely totaling 35lbs!

A lot of stuff I never ended up using! Like sleeping bag, tent, roll mat (thats in the big orange cylinder-like bag. The roll mat was very voluminous but didnt weigh much). In 8 years, I only camped a handful of times, but, I figured, carry a tent and sleeping bag & roll mat just in case I get caught somewhere. I also carried a laptop, a DSLR, several lenses, a tripod, three GPS units (because I LOVE playing with GPS), two pocket cameras and several external hard discs which I triple wrapped in padded stuff to save it from damage. The topbox only had a Gigapan unit which weighs only about 1.6 kgs, but it takes 6 AA batteries so I carried a couple of dozen of them because my GPS also used AAs. I did weigh all my stuff at one point and it came within specs, about the same as a pillion passenger. But, in hindsight, I carried way too much, and later you will see overloading caused the first serious breakdown that nearly killed me, halfway down the desert coast of Chile.

[madarumoto]

Originally Posted by tknj99

That bike looks just like the Bashan Brozz

The 2011 Ronco Demolition 250 used a generic Shineray engine. I saw virtually identical bikes sold under various names in several South American countries. You can zoom in and see more detail in this zoomable hi res gigapan. https://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/95964 and here is how she looked after 13,000 kms https://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/120401 (in the end I did 86,000kms)

[madarumoto]

Episode 13, eleven minutes long, descent from Arequipa to Moquegua, via the desolate Chala region.

[madarumoto]

Ep 14: bombs and murderers (sort of!) 17 minutes

[madarumoto]

New 80 minute episode, about the family that lives in an abandoned railway carriage

[madarumoto]

new episode, 18 minutes long

[madarumoto]

Episode 17, 28 minutes long

[GlennR]

madarumoto,

I really want to explore South America. Looks like you've had a wonderful time of it.

[madarumoto]

Originally Posted by GlennR

madarumoto,

I really want to explore South America. Looks like you've had a wonderful time of it.

yes the trip took 8 years. Actually, 10 years and still counting, as Im still in Peru trying to edit all the hours of video while also waiting for airfares to drop. I was fortunate to finish the trip just a few weeks before Covid arrived.

[madarumoto]

Originally Posted by GlennR

madarumoto,

I really want to explore South America. Looks like you've had a wonderful time of it.

Here is a new channel trailer that condenses 8 years into 33 minutes. It also gives a preview of what future episodes will contain:

[madarumoto]

Episode 18, 12 minutes long:

[madarumoto]

Latest video, 24 minutes long:

[madarumoto]

New 10 minute episode: After spending my first night camping in an abandoned saltpetre plant, I pack up and continue to head south on the PanAmerican Highway in northern Chile, covering over 500kms in the absolute desolation of the Atacama Desert, passing the 3000kms mark, a hotel called "Las Bombas", a weird rock formation called tafoni, a shrine to an unofficial saint, the foggy coastal town of Chañaral, and then spend some time looking for, and finally exploring, the fascinating archaeological site of Viña del Cerro, where Inca-Diaguita coppersmiths reduced copper ore using an ingenious device called a huayrachina, and an Inca ushnu platform exists, in this case integral to the other buildings for use as a solar horizon calendar, and possibly human sacrifices.

[madarumoto]

Episode 21, 11 minutes long: Leaving Tierra Amarilla I rejoin the Pan American Highway seeing along the way huge mining machinery transport convoys, wind turbines, and cactus with red protuberances which indicates I am finally leaving the Atacama Desert. I cross Puente Juan Soldado and recount how he saved the town from pirate attacks, and how a later pirate, William Dampier, left his mark on the next town I visit, La Serena, where I explore on foot some interesting buildings before returning to the hostel to receive a distressing email.