Bolivia (all)

This is our second big trip with bicycle. It just started 1998 from Germany over Africa up to Asia with the destination South Korea (2000). Now, again on the road, we are travelling by bicycle in South America. We are since 06/2005 again on the road.

Dies ist nun schon unsere zweite grosse Radtour. Es begann 1998 in Deutschland mit dem Weg nach Suedkorea und einem Abstecher in Afrika. Nun, seit 06/2005, sind wir mit unseren Raedern in Suedamerika unterwegs.

Sajama - Salta 1350km. Agosto de 2007 (Andes2) touring bolivia cycling.

Após o primeiro contato com a cordilheira, em 2005 surgiu o projeto de percorrê-la de Norte a Sul. Decidi fazê-lo sozinho e o fato de não contar com um companheiro me fez redobrar a atenção nos detalhes para garantir o bom término da viagem. Foram 17 etapas onde encontrei frio, gelo, vento, cascalho e muita areia. No caminho parei para descansar em algumas cidades para recuperar forças e conseguir suprimentos.

Planète D. is our volunteering and filming world tour on the tandem bike. It’s that simple.

We cycle.
We film, edit and share videos.
We volunteer for NGOs.

Just a simple compilation showing some photos of my solo, minimum preparation/planning, fast, travel light, using only my vacation allowance rides across the continents. First ride was with road bike, all other rides on Orange P7 rigid mountain-bike with semi-slick tyres.

We are a couple from London who are taking a year out, from 1st March 2006 to complete our adventure of a lifetime. We plan to cycle from Cancun in Mexico through Central America, then from Equador to Patagonia at the tip of South America.

In doing this, we are hoping to raise money for our two favourite charities; Medecins Sans Frontieres is an humanitarian medical agency providing medical aid wherever needed. The Psychiatry Research Trust raises funds for research into mental illness and brain disease.

I am a 37 year old GIS professional who decided that it was time to leave the big city of New York for awhile and explore places and cultures unknown to me.

The website is mainly a blog about my travels (which I sometimes get behind in) and many photos, as well as pages showing basic maps, information about me and why I am doing the trip.

Like any website mine experiences periodic problems so if there are no new photos or postings - there is usually a problem that I am trying to desperately fix at an internet cafe somewhere on the South American continent.

We are 60 somethings, retired but inspired to ride our tandem around the world over the next five years. We rode out of Los Angeles, California September 2005 and proceeded south into Baja California, over by ferry to mainland Mexico. We have woven our way back and forth across the various countries as we have proceeded south. We plan to fly to New Zealand and Australia December 2006 and then after several months of exploration, begin to ride north through Asia. Our web site is a regularly updated journal with pictures. Visit us!

Even in this remote western corner of Bolivia, I feel the impact of the political unrest. There is practically no traffic. In fact traffic is virtually impossible because around La Paz and the other big cities, people have thrown thousands of big stones on the road. I can easily circumvent the stones, cars and trucks cannot. The situation causes me problems as well. There is nearly no food available any more. There are only few villages and nowhere I can obtain anything substantial. I have to do with a few biscuits the whole day.

So far the trouble. Further, The Andes countries have the cyclist a lot to offer. High passes, deserts, rain forests. Add the colourful markets, nice villages and friendly people and you have the complete picture. Ehh.. nearly complete. The food in the poor villages on the Altiplano is occasionally substandard.

The Route:

Americas: Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina
Atlantic Traverse: Azores Islands [Portugal]
Europe: Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey
The Middle East: Iran
Central Asia: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, India
South East Asia: Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia
Australasia: Australia

Welcome to the Brink Expedition!

Imagine attempting a global traverse that would take you 50,000 kilometres through some of the most difficult terrain and extreme weather on the planet, all the time attempting to use only human power and the natural elements.

Starting deep in the heart of Amazonian South America the Brink Expedition will encounter unforgiving Patagonian winds, snowed over Himalayan Mountain passes, monsoons on the sub-continent and the oppressive heat of Australia's Red Centre.

So while the clock ticks, the seasons will turn, making this a full-throttled Race Against the Elements!