PATAGONIA Tour on Motorcycle-25/26 January 2018 Days 4-5

SOUTH AMERICA / PATAGONIA TOUR with MOTORCYCLE
Riding to EL FIN DEL MUNDO between 21 January - 10 February 2018.

Day-4 (25 January 2018) :  El Bolson >>>>>Futaleufu (Chile)

After a very poor breakfast at the Hotel, we departed around 08:30. After 20 minutes/65 kms following a very nice road  we came to the Museum of Butch Cassidy. It is located on the right hand side of the Route 40. I took a coffee there. There are many old devices, hand tools etc. shown in the museum. There are also some information about the old time gangster Butch Cassidy.

Museum at the road side:- Butch Cassidy Museum.

 On the site of the Butch Cassidy we saw the old houses and facilities of the farm.

The old houses in Butch Cassidy 's farm.

We continued our ride in the south direction. After Epuyen we left the Route 40 to get to Cholila. We came to the Los Alerces National Park. The view is fantastic. There are beautiful lakes around us. 

There are very old and big trees in the Los Alerces National Park.

We stopped at the side of a big lake (most probably lake Futalaufquen) and we took a cool bath. It was around 28 deg C and the water helped us to refresh ourselves. After 1 hour we departed again to Trevelin.

Cool bath in the lake Futalaufquen:-Me and Daniel.

 We arrived at Trevelin. After having a lunch break in Trevelin we started to ride. I took a hamburger and Sadik took a green salad. It was around 14:00 o'clock.The road in the National Park was not paved. It is as well gravel road after Trevelin. We took the road through Los Cipreses. The whole road upto the Chilean border is unpaved. Very close to the border of Argentina there is a bridge where we stopped and waited for the others in the group.

Waiting on the bridge just before the Chilean Border.

As soon as the whole group came together we moved to the border authorities. After leaving the Argentinian border site we reached to The Chilean site. We waited  there more then one hour and then we departed to the town Futaleufu.

It is only a few kilometers from the border. The road conditions are very well. We came to the fuel station and we filled up our tanks for the next day. Then we moved to the guesthouse where we stayed for the night. It is a nice guest house called La Gringa Carioca. The lady owner is Adriana Radwanski from Brasil and operating this guesthouse perfectly. She speaks very good English. We sat there after settling into oıur rooms.
The weather is wonderful  in the garden.

Resting in the garden of the guesthouse La Gringa Carioca

Adriana, the owner of the guesthouse La Gringa Carioca

We were five people staying in the guesthouse La Gringa Carioca.

Our group came together for the dinner at the Hotel El Baranco.We sat around the table at 20:30 and we enjoyed the atmosphere at the dinner. We shared  Ceviche, Green Salad and Loma with Sadik. We enjoyed also the wine which Sadik has ordered.

In front of the Hotel El Baranco.

It was very surprising for us to see a Turkish young guy riding on his bike. We left immediately the table and came out to the street and talked with this Turkish guy whose name is Ersin. He was travelling on his bike for a long time in South America. After the dinner in the Hotel we walked back to our guesthouse for sleep.

Day-5 (26 January 2018) :  Futaleufu (Chile) >>>Puyuhuapi (210 km)

After having a good breakfast in our guesthouse La Gringa Carioca we prepared our staff and moved to the main Hotel where we had got dinner last night. All our group members came together there in front of the hotel. We departed after the briefing around 09:30. We took the road 235 in the south direction. The gravel pass road of Futaleufu brought us into a different world. Rock walls, waterfalls, rain forest type vegetation. There was also a few rain. 

We continued to ride in the Carretera Austral, the famous north-south connection of Southern Chile. The vegetation is looking fantastic. At 13:30 we stopped in a restaurant just before the town La Junta.

After the lunch break we continued to ride. As we came to the little town Puyuhuapi we first filled up our tanks and then moved to our Hotel "Hosteleria Alemana" which was founded by a German guy a couple of decades ago who wanted to start a new life here.
The hotel is located very close to the coast of the fjord. It is a two storey hotel within a big garden. We have been given a big room with four beds. We stayed in the same room with Sadik as we did all through our Patagonian trip.

At 19:30 we came out and walked to the restaurant in the town. It is only a few hundred meters from the Hotel. I ate fish and green salad and we drank wine with Sadik. After having a nice walk at the coast of the town Puyuhuapi we came to our Hotel. I bought a few sachets of dried fruit at the market which is very close to our Hotel. Nuts are always good as pre-lunch snack.

Small and silent town Puyuhuapi

Northern end of the fjord in Puyuhuapi

A silent restaurant+hotel in Puyuhuapi

Monkey Tree in the garden of our Hotel

PATAGONIA Tour on Motorcycle-21/24 January 2018 Days 1-2-3

SOUTH AMERICA / PATAGONIA TOUR with MOTORCYCLE
Riding to EL FIN DEL MUNDO between 21 January - 10 February 2018.

We flew from Santiago to Osorno on Jan, 21st,2018. We had taken the LATAM flight at 09:00 o'clock in the morning. It took around 3h15 minutes. We stayed in the Sonesta Hotel Osorno. It is a 5 star Hotel with nice food. Most of the members of our group came together during the afternoon and we have had dinner at the restaurant of the Hotel.
In the market downstairs I bought 3 pairs of bamboo socks which are very comfortable in the riding boots. As planned and booked, together with Sadik we shared one double room. This is also for the rest of our trip.
Next day, on Monday, January,22nd, 2018 we have had a briefing in the hotel lobby and then we put all of our luggage and gear into the Van which took us to the Moto Aventura premises in Osorno. Thomas is our friend who is technically responsible for the motorcycles on behalf of Moto Aventura Chile (Argomedo 739 Osorno-Tel.+56.64 224 91 23/24/27).
In the yard of Moto Aventura we took our motorbikes as arranged. I have a BMW 700 GS
of 2016. The milage is 35042 km. The tyres (model scout) were brandnew and maker is Heidenau-Germany. We had been given waterproof 60 lt bags and I packed all my stuff in it.
I gave my big luggage for being transported to Punta Arenas where from we are flying back to Turkey at the end of our tour. I only took may daily needs together with me and put them into the two side-cases and tank bag of my motorcycle. 

Now we are ready to ride. The weather is clear and sunny. We took the route 5 to the North.
After 20 minutes we took the direction to the Lago Ranco. The road conditions are good. In some places we had to take gravel roads. Gravel roads are very common in Chile and in Argentina as well. Therefore it is always on the safer side to be equipped with off-road tyres on the motorcycycle. We passed the towns Panquipulli Conaripe and we came to Lican Ray. This one is a village at the Lago Calafquen. There are lots of people in the town because of holiday season. It is summer in South America and it is hot in this region.
After having lunch at the restaurant having a view over the lake we took some pictures and spent some time at the lake.

Restaurant/Motel in Lican Ray

Lunch Stop at Lican Ray

At the Lago Calafquen:- Lican Ray

After the lunch we continued in the direction of Villarrica and then we reached to Pucon where we stayed in the Pucon Green Park Hotel. It is a nice hotel in the green field with a swimming pool and nice surrounding. Our room is in the basement having an easy access to the yard. Together with Sadik we went to the pool and I swam and took sun bath.

Pucon Green Park Hotel

At the pool:-Pucon Green Park Hotel.

We ate at the restaurant of the Hotel. The group members introduced themselves around the table. After the dinner I went for sleep.

Approx 590.- Chilean Pesos are equal to 1 USD. In most of the shops and hotels credit card is acceptable  but it is worth to have some cash Chilean Peso in the pocket. This can minimize the time spent at the fuel stations. The roads and signs at the roads are good enough and there is no problem to follow the maps. Pisco sour is a national drink in Chile and it is always refreshing and cool after arriving at the target.

Day-2 (23 January 2018) : Pucon-San Martin de los Andes
We departed around 09:20 from the Pucon Green Park Hotel. This is the utmost northern point of our route. We will ride always in the south direction. At 12:00 o 'clock we passed the border from Chile to Argentina. The border pass is at the Volcano Lanin.

Volcano Lanin at the border crossing

Leaving from Chile is not a big deal. The papers of the motorcycle should be checked and stamped and the passport as well. The customs/police control of both countries are not close to each other. Someone should drive/ride maybe 2-3 kms. 
We arrived around 13:15 at Junin de los Andes where we have had our lunch. The Argentinian Restaurant Nueva Ruca Huaney is in the down town at the corner looking to the park. Together with Sadik we paid 1,020.-Argentinian Pesos (approx. 19.-APs=1 USD)
This restaurant is willingly changing money. Good for having Argentinian Pesos !!

Junin de los Andes(Argentina).

Junin de los Andes(Argentina).

In front of the Handcrafts' Association, Junin de los Andes.

It is a small village. We made a short tour in the village and then we departed at 15:15 for San Martin de los Andes. It is a short distance on the Route 40. 
The Argentinian "Ruta 40" which is running 5000 kms in the North-South direction is very famous.

Christmas tree made out of PET bottles:- Good Idea from San Martin de los Andes.

We arrived around 16:30 at our "Le Village Hotel" in San Martin de los Andes. It was 28-29 deg C and the sky was clear and sunny. After having a rest about 1 hour we went out to see the town. The town is located at the Lake Lago Lacar within the mountains very similar to Alpine Villages or towns in Europe. The lake side is good for having sun bath. There are lots of people having fun at the beach of the lake. 

Beach of San Martin de los Andes

There are three main streets going in the sense of lake. Two of them are with restaurants, cafes,  shops etc. From one end to the lake it takes about 10 minutes to walk. We fixed some restaurants for having dinner. There is also small brewery shop called Fassbier.
We went there and we took IPA beer. They also served a small cup with peanuts. It was joyful to rest outside and to drink beer.

Fassbier :- Home made beers

We bought some audio CD. For the dinner we went to a restaurant with pink siding. It is an authentic restaurant with nice food and Malbec wine. We paid 880.-APs (approx. 45.-USD) for two. Then we came back to our Hotel.

Day-3 (24 January 2018) : San Martin de los Andes >>> El Bolson

We departed from our Hotel around 09:00.  We took the coastal road at the Lago Lacar. After riding 15-20 km on the asphalt road (Route 40) we took the gravel road in the direction of Va. Meliquina. The road took us through a beautiful kind of canyon the view is awesome. 

At the Lago Meliquina

Then we took the curved gravel road to Casa de Piedra and Caleufu. In a point where we can see the mountains left behind we stopped and took pictures.

At the junction with the Route 40 the place is called Confluencia we stopped at a fuel station. After having 1/2 an hour break there we departed on a wonderful road on the eastern side of Andes. A very beautiful section took us to Bariloche.Just before the city Bariloche we stopped at 13:00 for the lunch at the El Boliche Viejo. 

Lunch break at the El Boliche Viejo

We ate a variety of meat (Hey ! We are in Argentina !!) and sausages. 

The weather today is very nice and the sky is clear. It is around 24-26 degrees C.

The cook of the El Boliche Viejo

The city Bariloche has a population about 130,000 and is located in the middle of the National Park of the same name. This lake district is well famous for the summer and winter activities. The building are made mostly out of wood.
After more then 1 hour after the lunch we continued to ride on the Route 40 in the direction of El Bolson. We enjoyed the asphalt road and the view around us. There was some wind though.

In some place on the mountains we stopped for a coffee break. It is a café house on the top at the left hand side of the road. The name is something like Café Montana. We enjoyed the nice weather and coffee.

At the Café Montana 

At the Café Montana Philippe and Sadik

We arrived at El Bolson at 18:00. We had today 280 kms behind us. We stayed at the Hotel Cumbres in El Bolson. It is right in the city  on the main road which goes through the down town. We parked our motorcycles in the safe yard of the Hotel.

After changing and resting a little bit in our room we went out for seeing the town and for having dinner. It is a small city. We sat in a open beer pub and took some beer together with Sadik. The girls who served the beers in the beer garden were very friendly. Chatting with them was funny. They mentioned a good restaurant and we moved to the Agusto. It is a restaurant on a street close to our Hotel. We sat in the front yard just at the edge to the street and I drank two frozen Margarita. Then we enjoyed our meal. We paid 930.-AP for it.




 

NORTH ITALY on Motorcycle:-Day 5 25.08.2017

NORTH ITALY on Motorcycle:-Day 5 : 25.08.2017 Friday
           235 km

Today is the last day of my tour "North Italy". I am going to ride to Segrate-Milan for giving back my rental BMW 1200 GS. After having the breakfast at the Hotel Garni San Giorgio I walked to the down town. I need to buy some gifts and to take some pictures. At 09.00 o'clock I visited the Tomasi shop. Then I bought a few books in italian language (I hope easy to read) from the bookstore adjacent to Forst Brewery. Then ı bought 4 pcs of small porcellan bowls which I had seen the day before. After having a break for an American Coffee I returned to the Hotel by walking. The weather is nice but little bit warmer today.

At 10:45 I was at the Hotel and packed all my stuff and made my bike ready for departure.
I paid the hotel bill (56.-Euro altogether with the wine which I had last night in the front yard).

I departed from the Hotel around 11:00 in the direction to Verona. I did not take the highway but there is a country road #12 which runs parallel to the highway. The weather is warm and humid. The view is fine but the mountains are not clear under the foggy warm air. I took
the route to Riva del Garda when I came to Rovereto. The route is running through some small towns. Getting closer to the Lake Garda the traffic was heavier. On the most northest 
coast of Garda there are a lot of camping and summer accommodations. The people are around enjoying the hot weather at the coast. My idea was to take the coastal road down to Brecia. Because of the traffic which I thought that will continue as well on the west coast of the Garda, I took  the route up to the mountains. I rode to Storo where the Valley Giudicarie starts. 

Then I took the direction of Brecia. This road is very nice with mountains view and green valleys. I tried to find restaurant for lunch but a few of my trials did not find the right places.
I took the right direction at the town Barghe. The road starting from Storo to Brecia is not crowded. I made a very easy and funny ride with my motorcycle. I stopped in a restaurant
after Odolo just before Caino. It is a nice place on the top of a hill and called "Ristaurante Colle S. Eusebio". I took tagliatelle con funghi and a media size beer. After the coffee I paid 20.-Euro and departed again.

In order to reach to Segrate, HP Moto Rental Company, I followed completely the instructions of my Garmin navigator. It does not uses the highways because of preset restrictions. I remember that my route was Chiari>>Calcio (which means football in Italian),
>>Isso>>Mozzanica>>Rivolta>>Liscate>>.

The route from Brecia to Milan is not attractive and I felt that it is lost of time. The awesome roads had been left behind me in the North Italy. Nevertheless, all good things have an end.
I came to the HP Motor Rental 's yard at 16:10 o'clock.
I packed all my stuff out and made my own luggage. I am going to stay one more night in Milan and tomorrow I have my flight to Istanbul from the Bergamo Airport. I wanted to rest
one night in Milan. I put all my motorcycle gear into my big luggage. My clothing, boots, helmet, scarf, gloves and some of the dirty stuff went all into this big luggage.

Meanwhile, the check-out desk was free and they prepared my calculation. I had made
1,192 kms in 5 days. Multiplied by 0.25 Euro/km I paid 298.-Euro. If I would rent with UNLIMITED mileage I should have paid 700.-Euro. So, there is 2.-Euro :) saving now.

HP Motorrad S.r.l. is a well experienced company for rentals of motor bikes.
I would suggest to all of my friends to hire from HP Motorrad. Guys are also nice.
I asked them to call a taxi for me. The taxi came in 15 minutes and drove me to my 
Hotel Star on the Via dei Bossi. Right in the city of Milan. It costs me 25.-Euro.

As soon as I am in the Hotel Star I decided for a walking tour in Milan. I moved out and started to walk in the city. First I walked to the Piazza Scala and then on the Manzoni Street. Because of the holiday season the streets are empty and there are few people around. Milanese people are on holiday. Near to Piazza Cavour I turned right to Spiga Street. There are a lot of brand shops on this street. This street ends up at Corso Venezia. Then I walked to San Babila. Through Via Francesco Sforza I came to the the Restıarant "Love It" which is located on the street Via Rugabella #1 (at the corner). I sat there at the bar table. I ordered melanzana (eggplant stuffed with tomato etc.) and a beef as per Milanese style. I drank two glass of wine (calice vino). I paid 50.-Euro. 

Then I left the restaurant and continued my walking around Duomo. I found the Ice cream shop "Cioccolat Italiani" on the street Via Raffaelle (between Mc Donalds and Adidas Shops). I suggest to every Ice Cream Lover !!! 

Then I went to my Hotel Star. I decided to visit Duomo and Chiesa Santa Maria delle Grazie tomorrow morning. and slept.

Next day, after the breakfast at the Hotel I went out for Duomo and I bought a ticket for the visit of Duomo. I went inside and the top of the Duomo. Then I walked to the Chiesa Santa Maria delle Grazie to see the "Last Supper" of Leonardo. Because of overbooked situation I couldn 't visit and I turned back to my Hotel.

This are pictures of my last day in Milan. Hope you enjoy my notes on mt North Italy Tour.

Floor covering tiles of the Duomo

Duomo

 

Duomo

Vetro di Duomu

 

On the top of the Duomo

View over Milan from the top of Duomo

Side street of the Duomo

Maria delle Grazia Kilisesi