Doug Ruth's 1996/97 Trip Report Summary -- Feb'97

Date: 28 Feb 1997
From: druth@bayarea.net
To: BMW -GS motorcycles mailing list 
Subject: Trip Report - February 1997 Summary


                          February Summary

NOTE: For more detailed information, refer to the weekly trip report for the
indicated date.

WHERE AM I NOW?

February 28 found me in Antofagasta, Chile.

WHAT WAS MY ROUTE?

The following is a brief summary of my route, naming the city/town I stayed
in that night.  

February

1       Banos, Ecuador
2       Cuenca, Ecuador
3       Mancora, Peru
4       Chiclayo, Peru
5-8     Huanchaco, Peru
9-10    Caraz, Peru
11-12   Huaraz, Peru
13      Huari, Peru
14      Carhuaz, Peru
15      Huaraz, Peru
16      Casma, Peru
17-18   Ancon, Peru
19-23   Lima, Peru
24      Huacachina, Peru (near Ica)
25      Puerto Inca, Peru
26      Moquegua, Peru
27      Arica, Chile
28      Antofagasta, Chile

BORDER CROSSINGS

Feb 3  - Ecuadorian/Peruvian border at Huaquillas, Ecuador and Aguas Verdes,
         Peru
Feb 27 - Peruvian/Chilean border at Tacna, Peru and Arica, Chile

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

Feb 3     - Road through the Cajas National Recreation area from Cuenca,
            Ecuador to the coast.
Feb 5-8   - Fishing village of Huanchaco, Peru
Feb 7     - Moche and Chimu culture archaeological sites in the vicinity of
            Trujillo, Peru
Feb 9-16  - The entire area of the Cordillera Blanca and the Callejon de 
            Huaylas with spectacular views of the surrounding snowcapped
            mountain peaks.
Feb 9-10  - My stay at Hostal Chamana in Caraz, Peru.
Feb 13    - Ruins at Chavin de Huantar
Feb 14    - Road between San Luis and Carhuaz, crossing a snowy pass at 15518
            feet with spectacular views of Volcans Chopicalqui (20846 feet)
            and Huascaran (22132 feet).
Feb 15    - Lagos Llanganuco west of Yungay, Peru
Feb 15    - Road to Portachuelo de Llanganuco pass (15643 feet).
Feb 16    - Road from Huaraz to Casma, crossing the 13858 foot Callan pass.
Feb 16    - Ruins at Sechin, near Casma, Peru.
Feb 17-18 - Seaside resort of Ancon, Peru.
Feb 19-23 - Lima, Peru
Feb 24-25 - Desert oasis of Huacachina, Peru
Feb 25    - Nazca lines
Feb 27    - Massive El Morro headland, floodlit at night, in Arica, Chile
Feb 28    - Atacama desert

LOWLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

None really, other than:

Feb 16    - Not doing the ride up to Lago Llaca.
Feb 16    - See "BIKE DROPS, SPILLS, AND CRASHES"
Feb 20-21 - Stomach flu in Lima, Peru

INTERESTING PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS

Jan 22    - Jacklyn in Lima, Peru

BIKE PROBLEMS, REPAIR, AND MAINTENANCE

Feb 7     - Replace lost screw in helmet with stainless steel bolt.
Feb 9     - Lower mounting bracket for rear shock breaks completely free.
Feb 10    - Get shock mounting bracket welded.
Feb 11    - Repair centerstand bashplate which had gotten bashed after the
            shock bracket broke.
Feb 16    - Break electrical connector for my palmtop and GPS in one of my
            spills.
Feb 18    - Routine 5K service

BIKE DROPS, SPILLS, AND CRASHES

Feb 9     - Dropped bike after stopping to check map.
Feb 16    - Three "spills" in one day, two within a mile of each other.

PROBLEMS WITH THEFT, VANDALISM, POLICE, CHECKPOINTS?

None

WHERE AM I HEADED FROM HERE?

My plan still is to continue blasting south to Puerto Montt, Chile, where I
hope to take a 4-day ferry south to Puerto Chacabuco.  There I'll pick up
roads over to Argentina and then down through Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego. 
Then I'll turn around and sort of zig-zag my way back north, picking up the
interesting places I blasted past on my way south,  eventually returning to
Southern Peru and Cusco and Machu Pichu.