Finally escaping from the hostel in La Serena, back on the bicycle travlling north. The road out not particularly pleasant.
Quick cup of coffee.
Finally, conclusive proof of climate change. These sea urchins have walked 15km inland and uphill and started flowering. Awesome!
Stopped here after going up all day, reminded me a bit of small towns in Mexico.
Up and up and up.
Okay, maybe they weren't sea urchins!
These trucks to do with mining - copper and much more.
The greenery is brown!
You might start getting an idea that the distances are huge, especially on a bicycle. And also that there is not much here!
Water truck.
The winds can get up a bit - luckily it was quiet at the time.
So we are officially in the desert. Though previously it was not exactly wet!
Not sure where this guy was going.
Somebody thought it was good idea to cycle through the desert. This bit was quite tough!
Got to the top.
Little restaurant. These are far apart, so I generally stop. They were not so surprised by a cyclist. But eyebrows were raised over my three ice creams. Well two just didn't seem enough!
Another restaurant/hostel. Here they were a bit upset by me being bitten by a dog. After a while in the shower keeping the blood flowing to get it clean it looked like a scene from Psycho, but in colour. The dog appeared again later, wagging its tail. Obviously oblivious to its fate - as the owner had indicated with a gesture that the next day would be its last as it would get its throat cut!
The next day their pet dog growled at me a bit and then jumped on my lap! You might thing that I am therefore very brave. I might be wrong, white swans and black swans and all that, but I have never heard of anybody being savaged to death by a miniature poodle.
Came across this little runabout - chance for a bit of shade and a drink. Warm, flat cola is not actually that great.I am carrying 8 litres of water (well water, Fanta and Diet Coke) here, so Fionas 55kg weight not exactly reduced.
The tyres are 4m diamter.
You don't really get the scale in the photo , but it is insane.
Most cars here are fairly ordinary, but sometimes you come across something a bit special. Look! Another Snowy.
Presumably a cattery.
Niebla is fog - this bit was not so pretty.
Trains used for moving ores and minerals from the mines.
Err, my foot hurts and it is a bit hot! Can I have an ice cream?
Strange figure by the road.
No mention of bicycles - and got told off for being in the wrong lane. I was trying to not get squashed. "Foreigners".
70km of nothing, then this possada, which was closed for Easter. Though they did come out and give me a cup of coffee.
The truck drivers are mostly a friendly lot. This monster stopped to check I was OK. Quite often they will toot their horn and wave encouragement which is always welcome. One time a convoy of three yellow ones all starting tooting and waving. The last one was waving both thumbs - after a moment I thought "Hang on?".
A little restaurant. Had chicken and rice here. Thought about checking the menu next door, but didn't.
Amazing descent into Copiapo, 10kn down and down and down.
The hostels sometimes get the room size.just right. I was next door with a similar setup. Petter from Sweden had been up in the Andes in very remote areas. My 8 litres of water dwarfed by his 23.He had some amazing photos of night skies, I liked his page on Facebook if you want to take a look.
The ¨laxa de Armas in Copiapo, note sreet dog - in Chile very common.
There is a hut here - get away from the wife?
Baja Inglese - a day on the beach. Named due to us English. Not fish and chips, but pirates - there may still be buried treasure here. Sadly I didn't find it.
Photos, fossils and relics.
Just a bit before here I went past a group of schoolchildren just sitting by the road in the desert. I greeted them with a "Hola" and they all started clapping me and cheering. Not sure what they were doing, but it was a nice feeling.
Mars is slighly more hospitable possibly. Wouldn't have been surpised to have come across a rover. Not so far to Chile and looks a bit the same.
Birds make this island white. Seal lions on the small island as well.
Rodrigo drives this vehicle, photographing all the roads in Chile. Had a BBQ with him on a Sunday afternoon and a conversation through Google Translate on his phone. Good guy!
More turkey vultures enjoying a bit of lunch!
To another turkey vulture this one is quite beautiful.
Drat - have to slow down!
Lonely Planet said this turn off was 4km before this sign. I had a bit of a confidence crisis here. The next town was a long, log way and I felt very alone looking at the road going on for ever.
With some trepidation I set off down the "road".
Absolutely amazing, awesome and insane.
These guys are English and filming sea otters for the BBC. "The Hunt" to be shown in 2015.
On this island there are penguins. No trip to see them though as it is too rough. Again!
Conger eels.
Another hostel! They laughed when I asked if they had any helados.
Rura 5 keeps going. Part of the Interamericana or Pan American highway, if you follow it all the way you will arrive in Alaska. Maybe not the next day.
Very dry here (OK you got that). In thousands of years aliens might arrive and try to understand the meaning of this strange text. What amazing life form lived here. What intelligence! Unfortunately I cut the "C" off in the foto.
Running out of time, and to be honest enthusiasm for cycling through the desert, Fiona is staying here, for a little rest.
While I continue by bus. When it hasn't broken down in the desert.
Good guy Tom, helped me out a lot!
The hostel here in San Pedro de Atacama. Pretty nice.
Bought a poncho off this lady. Bolivia is supposed to be a bit cold.
San Pedro de Atacama.
Day tour to salt lakes - 400g of salt in one litre of water I think. More concentrated than the Dead Sea.
Took a while getting in as very cold. But not much chance of drowning. My cracked and sore lips hurt though.
It had been a lovely day out, really nice crew. So in the evening let's have a BBQ.
Took a while to get the fire going, but happy faces all around.
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