Alternative 3: Ruta 40 and Carretera Austral, version one

Argentina

The more I read about Argentina, the more confident I became that Ruta 40 would form the basis of my journey through Argentina. "La quarenta"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation..._40_(Argentina)

My plan was to drive it in its entirety. From La Quiaca in the north to Cabo Virgines in the south.

Ruta 40 is 5,194 km long. (Changes happens) With altitude from sea level to 4 270 m. I didn't just want to drive selected parts, but the whole distance. But at the same time not with the purpose of driving from A to B to tick off an achievement. But to experience Argentina. Culture, landscape and many sights. To follow Ruta 40 and make many small detours. But always return to the same place, so as not to miss any part of Ruta 40. I made a plan, based on two excellent guides, which included the detours. And then the sum was 6,700 km.



Ruta 40

And after Ruta 40, I was going to continue down to Ushuaia. As far south as you can go. Not because it seemed particularly interesting. But a "must."

Chile

Chile also has a fantastic road. A road along the coast. The road was built to unite the southern parts of Chile with its central parts by land. A project that is still ongoing. That road is called Carretera Austral. And is also called Ruta 7

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carretera_Austral

Now it's not the road the whole way. 3 ferries included. Carretera Austral is 1 240 km, and goes largely through "wilderness".

My plan was to go the full length from Villa O'Higgins in the south to Puerto Montt in the north. With the same principle of detours as for Ruta 40. Here too, I made a plan with excursions along the way. It ended with about 2,000 km.


Carreta Austral

Bolivia

I had no special plans for Bolivia. More than visiting a few national parks, the area of Che's last days and La Paz. Before I was to head into Argentina, where Ruta 40 starts.

Putting all pieces together

Starting in Valparaiso-Chile. Driving north through The Atacama Desert.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atacama_Desert

And in Northern Chile, drive towards La Paz in Colombia. From La Paz down to La Quiaca. Ruta 40 to Cabo de Virgines. And continue to Ushuaia. Visit the Torres del Pain National Park. There is no road connection from Argentina across the border to Villa O'Higgins in Chile. You have to go further north. To Chile Chico-Peurom Bertran.

So it will be part of Ruta 40 going north again. Over to Chile. South along Carretera Austral. And then turn north to drive the entire Carretera Austral. So the southern part of Carretera Austral, I would drive in both directions. Then from the end of Carretera Austral in Puerto Montt, there is an easy ride to Valparaiso. (Transport)

In total, it began to approach 20 000 km(17 500)


The complete journey


Alternative 3b: Ruta 40 and Carretera Austral version two


When I released how long the trip was. And that the most challenging and interesting part (Carretera Austral) was almost last, I thought it was better to go the other way.

Starting by riding Carretera Austral. Then via Ushuaia to Cabo de Virgines. And then ride Ruta 40 north. In that way, I can use Bolivia as a buffer / reserve. If there is time / interest and money left, I include Bolivia. If not, Bolivia will be part of a later trip.

So that became the plan. Something like this.


The complete journey

Hello Erik. Interesting times now with RTW planning.
I rode Peru and Bolivia in 2018.
Purchased a moto at Huanuco, Peru, Around The Block Moto Adventures. See his website.
Toby was very helpful and I had no problems buying and selling back to him. Easy to cross borders, and a great trip.
(In Bolivia, petrol is subsidized by the Govt, so you can only buy petrol at YPFB stations, at more expensive "Gringo price".)
Good luck. Lou. (Australia)

__________________
Lou.
Say "Yes", then find a way.

Detailed planing
Ruta 40
Basis for planing

Guía Turística Ruta 40

A guide to Ruta 40 from the ACA (Automóvil Club Argentino). Paper format in Spanish. The guide describes Ruta 40 in 9 stages. Each stage is described in 2 parts. The first part is about the road. Surface, distance, altitude and petrol stations etc. The second part is about sights in the area that the road passes.
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El recorrido completo se presenta en 9 tramos, cada uno compuesto por dos partes: la primera es una Hoja de Ruta en la que se relata el avance del camino, con indicaciones planteadas* por nuestro equipo de relevamiento; incluye además información de servicios y dependencias del ACA. También el mapa del tramo correspondiente, con rutas nacionales y provinciales próximas a “la 40”, kilometrajes totales y parciales, reservas y parques nacionales, hidrografía y dependencias ACA.
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Guía 100 Ruta 40

A guide to 100 most see attractions from Amazon. Kindle format in Spanish. The guide describes 100 sights in the area that the road passes
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The Planing

I read the ACA guide. And I put the stages and the interesting sights into my GPS. Since it's a Garmin, I used Base camp + OSM as maps. I also read through the 100 guide. And added the most interesting sights as way points.
In an excel sheet I created some notes etc. So that once I am in place, I can easily create routes using the way points I have stored, including descriptions and comments.



Carretera Austral
Basis for planing

Chile: Carretera Austral: A guide to one of the world's most scenic road trips

A Guide to Carretera Austral. Paper format in English. I read the description and the suggestions for excursions that are given. And I noted the ones that seemed most interesting.
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This is the first guidebook focussed entirely on the magnificent and historic road uniting northern and southern Patagonia. The few hardy travellers that embark on this journey struggle to find even basic information about the region. The book provides visitors to the often-visited Bariloche and Chilean Lake District with a spectacular alternative means to reach the southern extremes of Patagonia.
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The planing

The plan is to drive the complete Carretra Austral with excursions towards the border with Chile, and towards the sea.

February 2020
My Self
I'm in better shape than in a very long time. I underwent a number of surgeries a few years ago. And since then, I have trained regularly to get in shape. Not related to this trip. But to be in good shape for any type of life. I spent 3 days a week in the gym. And 2-3 days a week with bike cycle rides (During the summer). Plus walks. I also had eye surgery. So that I do not have to use glasses. Which makes it much easier when working in the garage, for motorcycle riding etc.

The regular house
I have contacted brokers. We have made a plan for the sale of the house. A plan that gives the new owners access from 1/7. Even though I have already done a lot of work, there is still a lot to do before the house is ready to hand over. It will be a difficult time in April-June. Large part of the work can't start earlier.

The apartment in Portugal
The apartment in Portugal was purchased as a holiday apartment 2 years ago. Some things need to be fixed for it to function better as a permanent home. I travel down to Portugal and arrange with population registration, tax liability etc. And I booked a trip in March for relaxation and another trip in May, to arrange various bureaucracy before the move itself.

The vacation house in Sweden
It is closed during the winter. In anticipation of spring. And that I should be able to move some furniture and my own things there. And get it ready as summer residence. I need it when I leave the permanent residence.

The garage
I have rented a garage in Arboga from April. So that I can move motorcycles and some larger equipment there.

The storage room
I have rented a small storage room in Ludvika. To store my furniture, clothes and ornaments that I want to keep. And other things that is not needed for the now, but want to keep.

The Plan
The plan is to empty the regular home during the spring/early summer. April-June. To distribute everything to the recycling, garage, storage and summer house. To sell the house early in the summer. And to live in the summer house until autumn comes. And then move permanently to Portugal.

The journey
The plan for the trip is to ride a motorcycle from Sweden to Hamburg in September. To put the motorcycle on a boat to Chile. Then travel to Portugal and stay there until it's time to take the flight to Chile.
The transport company has an offer for those who book early. "Early bird discount" So in February I make a booking of the transport for the bike.
But in February, it was winter break in the Swedish schools. And during that period, quite a large number of people from Stockholm's upper class went to the Alps. Cross-country skiing in the Swedish forests or alpine skiing in the Swedish mountains is not good enough. In the alps, they spent the nights in Italy and Austria with after-ski. It was when the Covid 19 was common in that area. We know the result. They came home with Covid 19. Something we had no idea of what it was. Or how it would affect everything. At first it was seen as a new mild flu. Then they began to suspect that something worse was going on.

Portugal saw what was happening in Central Europe before themselves were affected. And they introduced "state of emergency" and "lock down" directly. In an attempt to keep the infection away or down to a minimal level. My trip to Portugal in March I had to cancel. There was not even transportation from the airport. And no opportunity to do anything in Portugal. The trip in May was cancelled by the airline. In May, a lot of paperwork would have been fixed. My official move date was May 1st. Since the trip was not done, it made it harder later.

Then it was not long before I realized that there will be no trip to South America this year. Of course, this was a big disappointment after all the preparations, expectations and dreams. And I also feel sorry for those who were travelling in South America when Covid19 struck. And got stuck there. At first, many thought it was better to wait out Covid19 in South America, than in Europe. But with a curfew, etc., it became difficult. Visa for people and TIP for motorcycles expired. And since you could not drive on the roads, you could not even get to the airport or harbour. And get your bike back to Europe.

But my preparations for a South American journey remain for the future. If / when Covid 19 can be handled. And if I can keep the health needed for such a journey, the journey will be done. Covid 19 will probably be over soon, I thought then. So I'm going next year instead.

So it was Covid that killed the trip. I wondered whether it would be as I read through the earlier episodes or whether, like a book that keeps you guessing to the last page there would be a last minute twist. Maybe you'd have second thoughts at the foot of the steps onto the plane or abandon it all a week in.

It's a pity when things don't work out for reasons that are outside your control but travel plans, whether industrial grade or home brew, seem to have been one of the biggest casualties of the pandemic. Certainly last year it was responsible for two of my major travel ideas being postponed and neither of them have been resurrected this year. Whether I'll be able to put the spark of life back into them next year or just accept that their time has passed and move on to something new is still uncertain. One of them in particular has involved considerable time and a not insignificant amount of expense (probably getting on towards £10k at present). I'm still uncertain whether to keep financing it in the hope of an eventual departure date or just cut my losses. I also suspect quite a few other people here will have similar curtailed plan stories to tell.

October 2020
Now I live in Portugal. And I am not on my way to South America, but will spend the winter here. There will be no long-distance travel this year. This is what happened the last half year, and how the situation is in October 2020.

My house in Sweden
It was sold according to plan. And the new owners moved in 20/7.

The apartment in Portugal.
There was no trip to Portugal, neither in March nor May. Due to Covid19 restrictions and canceled flights. It was mid-August before I got here. I arranged some things (paperwork related to the move)). Then I went back to Sweden for a short period.. After than, I returned to Portugalin early October, for the winter. I drove my car down. With computer, TV, motorcycle equipment and a little more. It was all that was included in the move.





Pictures from Portugal

The holiday home in Sweden
I lived there during July-September. And fixed some things that was needed to be able to live for a longer time. I also fixed some shortcomings in the property. So now it works well as a summer home. It will be waiting for me until June next year.





Pictures from Säl

The garage
The garage is full. After many transports. There is now a workbench, tools, equipment and motorcycles.





Pictures from a man cave

The basement storage
It is ccording to the plan There is furniture, clothes and ornaments that I want to keep, and that is not needed now.





Pictures from the storage

The preparations for the trip to South America
All the preparations for a possible trip could be carried out, although it was hard work. Significantly more than expected. Not so much related to the trip itself. But related to selling the house and move.

The journey to South America
The plans are ready. I hope that my health and situation in the world make it possible to go another winter. It is unlikely to be as early as 2021-22. Covid19 is significantly worse than we thought. And affects us for a long time to come. This is especially true of the opportunity to plan something over a longer period of time. Things change quickly.

The winter 2022/21
I hope for many nice Motorcycle tours in Portugal, during this period.

Erik, this is great info, especially for someone heading for South America. Do you mind if I change the thread title to "Report from a canceled trip - planning for South America"?

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Two years have past since this trip was supposed to happen.
A period of Covid 19, Portuguese bureaucracy that made me without drives licence for some period. And a broken meniscus that needed surgery.

But the recovery is on the way. Even it goes slow for an old man.

Planning has restarted/continued even during dark periods.
And it has taken another direction. I have dome quit a lot of research of regulations, costs and possibilities to buy a bike instead of shipping.

I do not write the whole story here. But I am heading for Colombia.
Where I can buy a bike ,get it registered with myself as owner. And drive it wherever I want. Legally. At least that is the plan. So I take my riding gear, camping equipment and a debit card and go to Bogota !!

Bikes are also rather cheap there. The downside is tha the my main goal was to ride Carretera Austral and Ruta 40. That is far from Colombia.

I want a "small" bike. That can carry hard panniers and quite some luggage. That has a decent seat height. And that is rather common in South America.
I have made my choice. Both regarding model and new or used. That is a compromise that fits best with what I want to do with the bike. Hint: The bike is produced in Argentina. (That is goof when it comes to taxes. Import taxes are much higher for complete vehicles than for parts. => That creates jobs in Colombia) But for opinions about bikes, I refer to the section "which bike"

Flight to Colombia is October 4th. So it is rather close. I have contact with a dealer. And I have information about the process for RUNT. I expect a couple of days to fix the RUNT registration. And the dealer wants 3 days to do the paper work. I will also add a list of extras to the bike. Panniers and a top case. Some protectors. And some electric stuff. Outlets and mount for navigation equipment.

Maybe I should end this topic here ?? And start a new thread about the trip.
That starts with "Buying and registration an bike in Colombia"
And "making it ready for travelling"

Vaya con Dios

I wouldn't take too seriously any claims of rugged adventure and pristine wilderness on the Carratera Austral (e.g., " The few hardy travellers that embark on this journey struggle to find even basic information about the region."). It's a well-worn route, frequented by all sorts of soft-in-the-middle travelers like myself. If you're craving difficulty, there's a route between El Calafate and Villa O'Higgins which can be done on a small bike. Even there, plenty of information is available, scattered all around the internet.

Fair warning: lots of people tire of the distances, landscapes and sometimes headwinds along Ruta 40. And don't discount Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, or Bolivia....

"The downside is that my main goal was to ride Carretera Austral and Ruta 40"

No, there will no travel story.

Try Punta Gallinas Colombia if your really into a great desert Adventure
Not too many foreigners go as far north as you can go in South America