This ride report is based on a blog I ran on Facebook, so that family and friends could follow my trip. I've added a few bits since then.

So it’s less than one week to go before I set off for Buenos Aires, and I’m getting nervous. Bike is packed and shipped, it’s New Years Eve, and hopefully I’ve finished all the preparation.

The plan? To ride Ruta 40 north to south, and then see how much time I have left for the Carreterra Austral in Chile. The bike is a second hand RE Himalayan I bought from a Polish builder in London, for a very good price. He was heading back to Poland after suffering a stroke, and wanted to sell the bike before he left. Poor guy was in tears when I picked it up.

The last few months have been spent getting the bike ready. Heated grips, a USB port, pannier racks, engine guards, spotlights, tool tube, fender raisers, and switch for the ABS, wired through the fuse box. I also installed an INNOV 2 Power Hub. I was going to do some videos, in fact started to do so, but most of it would have been me swearing and looking for tools I’d just put down. I will try and shoot a lot of video on the road though, I’ve even bought a drone. The bike has been serviced, courtesy of Bolton Motorcycles (thanks guys!) new tyres, chain and sprockets, and I’ve got probably far too many spares packed on the bike. Luggage is all from Lomo, a Acottish company better known for wetsuits, but now making a very reasonably priced range of motorcycle luggage. They gave me a free bag, so thanks to them too!


Tool tube



ABS Switch


Packed and ready to go

So why Ruta 40? Initially, I wanted to ride to Mongolia and Magadan this summer, but, faced with having to leave a very good job to do so, instead I took the company’s offer of two months off at half pay in the winter instead. Then I needed a destination; initially, I was gong to Peru, but the idea of riding around aimlessly in the mountains for two months somehow didn’t get me excited. I wanted a journey. So where else can you ride in the southern hemisphere during their summer? Africa, been there, done that (I grew up in Botswana) Oz is too hot. South America seemed to tick the right boxes, so Ruta 40 it is.

A quick introduction for anyone who doesn’t know me, I guess… I’m an old fart of 59, not ridden dirt bikes for decades (had an XR500 in Botswana for many years), and my travels in the last few years have been mainly on a Harley Davidson Softail Slim, on which I’ve ridden in Qatar, toured Jordan, and ridden the UK north to south on B roads. My wife Jackie and me have been to many bike rallies in the last three years, her on her Sportster and me on the Slim, and last year we had two fantastic weeks touring around and camping, the first week in the Lake District, the second one in the Peak District (a bit of a wet week, but great fun nonetheless). I’ve also toured Italy on a Harley Road Glide with a group of friends from Qatar. I commute year round on the Slim,though lately have been using the Himalayan. When I left Botswana, my plan was to ride the XR 500 to the UK, but events conspired to scupper that trip, and it’s remained an itch , getting more annoying with time, to the point that I now need to scratch while I can still reach it.

A few people have asked me why I’m shipping a bike there and back for two months of riding. Well, rental worked out about the same, and this way, I get to ride the bike I want, set it up how I want, and keep it afterwards. Buying wasn’t a practical solution, as the paperwork would have eaten into my available time.

The plan is to camp a much as possible, stopping at a hostel or hotel when I need a shower, clean clothes, and . I’ll update the ride report as and when I can; I’m not taking a computer, so everything will be done on my phone.