Minneapolis to Ushuaia, and back again! NOV 2012
 

Hello everyone, Dave here, just throwing this out there to see if anyone bites: I plan on departing Minneapolis November of this year, not tied down to specific dates. I'll arrive in Ushuaia when I get there, and want to take an Antarctica cruise. I may stop in Buenos Aires and never leave, we'll see. Happy trails!

PS I'm looking at a sweet 2009 BMW F800GS, can't wait to test drive

Hey Dave,

Sounds like a great trip.

One thing to keep in mind is that the peak season to be in Ushuaia is their summer, so basically around Christmas. Unless you will be cruising quick, you may not make it in time for the summer or the Antarctic cruising season. That is unless you move so casually that it will take you a year, which is not a bad plan in itself:)

One other option is to fly your bike down to Buenos Aires, spend the prime riding season in the south and then work your way back north. Only issue as you point out is that some of those places are pretty hard to leave so you may not make it back north at all!

cruises
 

Thanks Mountain Man, good points! The last Antarctic cruises from Ushuaia that I found are in March, but my hope was that I could make it down there by January. But of course I'm going to be spontaneous, so if I have to store my bike and fly to Ushuaia from wherever I am in order to make it in time, I will. Thanks again! This will be my first major trip ever!

2008 Sportster 105th Anniversary Edition Custom
 

...is what I will be riding

That was quick. What happened to the BMW?

Two months to Ushuaia is moving ridiculously fast. If you really mean what you say about storing the bike and flying down, that's fine. But it sounds to me like your scheduling needs some tweaking (which is putting it very mildly). Most would consider four months a nice, brisk trip. Down and back in a year felt rushed to me.

enjoy,

Mark

Yes, may have to push departure date up to mid-October, but there's an inmate on advrider that made it from Chicago to Panama City in 9 days, and I don't plan on spending much time in Mexico or Central America either. I don't plan on moving that fast, more like no less than 2 weeks.

I'm still going to test drive the BMW, but I already own the Sportster so I'm trying to determine if I can make it work. From what I've read, a fair number of Harley's have made it quite successfully, though obviously my route options will be significantly limited. I appreciate the constructive input, keep it coming.

Hope to see you on the road....leaving Bracebridge Ontario the 1st of September for Ushuaia......will likely take the STahlratte sailing ship to Cartenaga Columbia from Panama.

Bob:scooter:

Rumour has it that the boat fills up early. You should look at booking really early. I'm leaving Nova Scotia beginning of August, maybe see you on the way

Cheers Growler (Philip)

Stahlratte
 

I'm going to try and hop on the 17 November sailing, assuming the dates on the website are not subject to change

Hey Bob and Philip, hope to see you on the way! beer

Fatemaker
 

I am planning on catching the Stahlratte around that time....so we may meet up

Bob:scooter::scooter::scooter:

It does sound like we'll run into each other down that way. Looking forward to meeting fellow adventurersbier

Cheers Philip

Minnesota to Ushuaia!
 

Hey there Dave, I actually am doing this exact same trip (Which I was planning on starting this summer but now everything is subject to change...) I'll be taking my BMW F800 GS from Darwin MN, and leaving but have no one to do the trip with. If you would be interested in meeting up in May (I'm currently living in Washington for a few more months), it would be cool to see your route and your thoughts on teaming up I'm planning on doing my trip for charity.

PM me!

-Ryan

Regarding your semi-planned timeframe FateMaker I left Ottawa Ontario on September 23/11 and just arrived in Ushuaia 2 days ago, and I missed a LOT on the way down. The temps here were in the high 40's but thankfully no rain. May I suggest heating clothing (if you don't already have it) for some of the higher mountain passes and southern latitudes. You won't be sorry.

Choice of bike? Depending on your route of course virtually any bike can do it. If you come down Ruta 3 from Buenos Aires you'll find about 75 miles of unpaved, potholed and washboard road covered in loose gravel when you cross into Chile on Tierra del Fuego. Not much choice on that one. Other than that you can pretty much stay on paved roads, if you so choose.

Oh, and you're right about BA ... hard to leave.

Enjoy!