Ottawa, Canada -> Ushuaia

[ElExplorador]

Hello all,

Just about to head off on a relatively unplanned ride with no timeline to Ushuaia.

Heading south through the states to Louisiana and then cruising west before going to Mexico, and from there the only plan is "South". Going the shoestring route on an 02 KLR650 packing stealth camping and minimalist cooking gear to keep expenses down.

Done the research on the gap, aware of skeezy cops on ruta #40 in Argentina, and equipped with native-level spanish and intimate knowledge of Guatemala - so I think I have personal security covered, inasmuch as one can.

Don't have any particular questions to which "use the search" isn't a completely valid response, but I would love to hear from anyone and everyone who has advice, opinions, experience, resources - pretty much anything, as I will be collecting information to guide my journey and compiling it into a rough guide over the next month as I tour the states.

[Growler]

Can't give you much advice, I'm heading out on 1 Aug and taking a quick route on back roads down to Texas. From there I think I'm staying at slightly higher altitudes to stay cool and taking a week for Spanish lessons in Guatemala probably around Lake Atitlan, after that it's make it up as I go. Have a good trip

Cheers Philip

[ElExplorador]

Very cool, maybe I'll catch you on the road Philip.

I'm taking a pretty circumlocuitous route through the states so I may get there after you, but in Guate be sure to check out the highlands of Copan and avoid Guatemala City unless you have a good reason to be there.

[ElExplorador]

So here it is, the beginning of the my trip to the end of the world.

First things first, to say goodbye to my city and the people I will miss. You start to take ownership of a city after a while; without realizing it this became "my" city as opposed to the many cities I had simply lived in, transitionally, throughout my childhood (which I like to think isn't _quite_ over just yet).

Goodbye Ottawa, see you again someday, maybe.


There is going to be a lot of living outside of the comfort zone ahead. For now, I can relax - family en route means an easy start. First to Mackenzie lake by Algonquin park to visit my cousin and her family. A beautiful ride, though I was going a little fast by the end as the sun sank and my handwritten directions became harder to read.*Arrived just shy of 300k out of... well, there's no point trying to guess at it, but it's a long road to Ushuaia, even more so in my circumlocuitous fashion.

Meeting up with family is a great way to ease into life on the road, and not having to start out the journey in the hammock is a good start. Yes, I'm using a hammock instead of a tent. Lets see how that pans out...

And here, enjoying the view with me is Lost, my beautiful partner in crime. We'll both have new scars by the time this is through and plenty of stories to go with them. It's going to be a wild ride, and while I'm still enjoying the relaxed pace of life in the comfort zone, I know there's all kinds of adventure and adversity ahead.

I can't wait.

[Mervifwdc]

Have a great trip! We might still be in South America by the time you get here, so if you spot us there is a cold waiting. I've enjoyed a few brews in Ottawa over the years, and brought home a little maple syrup for my pancakes!.

Merv.

[brclarke]

Good luck! I hope to do something similar, someday... :-)

[saralou]

We are in Houston preparing to enter Mexico this week. We will be in Oaxaca for Oct 27. Maybe we will meet on the Road. Sara

[ElExplorador]

I never know my where and when, but that sounds roughly about right!
Keep in touch, always fun to meet fellow moto-adventurers