3 February 2012
0 miles
Potosi, Bolivia
Today we visited the some old mines of the “Magic Mountain” in Potosi Bolivia. An old silver mining town the\at used to be one of the wealthiest cities in the 1700’s. They have been mining this mountain for silver since then. It is still producing silver and being turned into swiss cheese, due to new tunnels still being created. We took a 5 hour tour of the mines, which 3 hours of it was in the mines. Miners are still working in there. They do not mind us being there for a couple of reasons. We brought them gifts. Coca Cola, Fanta soda and Coca leaves. They also like us to see the conditions they are working in to share with the rest of the world. Underground in the dark, needless to say, is unsafe working conditions. There is NO fresh air at all. Staying all day underground is a very tough job. Their life expectancy is around 40.
We were a little nervous to take a tour inside the mine. Being underground for 3 hours was longer than either one of us thought we could take.. It is all mind over matter. Just remember to breath what little dusty oxygen there is. We had to at time crawl through tunnels; climb layers of ladders to get out of holes; and walk through clay and water. We really enjoyed the opportunity in the end. Happy to experience it and really see first hand what it is like inside an operating mine. Happy to make it safely out.
4 February 2012 0 miles
Today was a day of chores. Since getting gas is such a problem here we decided to start getting it the day before. Cleaned the air filters today. Bought some veggies for cooking dinner and breakfast. Did a little laundry and a little blog updating.
5 February 2012.
130 Miles
Potosi- Uyuni Bolivia
Beautiful ride today. Finally the rain clouds were all around us instead of right on top of us. Dropped down into the desert. Really beautiful landscape red rocks and cacti. Headed toward the Uyuni Salt Flats, the largest flats in the world. You Can not get to Uyuni without riding dirt roads. It is the wet season so the dirt turned into slick mud in a lot of places. This is why we have dirt bikes, to have fun on the dirt. We have been really excited to see this place and ride out on it. When we arrived in town we meet 7 other motorcyclists, who just came back from a jeep tour because they did not want to bring there bikes on the salt due to the knee deep water at the entrance of the flats. We need to go see for ourselves.
6 February 2012
63 Miles of Dirt
Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia
Well we spent the first half of the day riding around for 3 hours trying to find the road to the salt flats. At one point the clay road was so so slick Paul’s bike slid out as he flew over the handlebars into a nice roll. Luckily it was soft clay with no cacti around and he and his bike were ok. It is desert and flat out here and there are dirt roads going everywhere in every direction. Getting directions in Spanish does not really help us. After ducking inside out of the rain and hail storm and taking a good long look at Google Earth we found our way out there in the late afternoon. Sure enough there was a lot of water on the flats turning it into a Salt Lake. We could see dry salt only a few hundred yards away. We decided to walk through it to see how deep it is. If it goes past Paul’s knee we do not go. The water is right under and we decide to go for it. What a dream like feeling. It feels as though you are riding in the sky for the flats are reflecting the sky above and at the same time riding on top of a calm lake. You can ride as fast as you like for it is flat and smooth with nothing around for miles. Really glad we did it only wish we had more time out there. The sun was setting and we had to make it back to town for a good motorcycle wash. We found one with a serious high pressure hose for the big rigs. We were defiantly overcharged but we had no choice and it was worth it for the experience we had out there and we would do it all over again.
7 February 2012
153 Miles of Dirt
Uyuni- Tupazi Bolivia
Beautiful desert riding again today. Dirt, washboard road for 150 miles. We will never complain about the washboard in Idaho again. Every dirt road I’ve been on in Idaho is better than this one. Huge washboard here. Paul said his eyeballs were rattling. Believe it or not this road is a Bolivian National hwy. Only 10 percent of roads in Bolivia are paved. I’ve never seen any place that resembles Utah as much as southern Bolivia. I’m not sure, but I am guessing that maybe this is the exact opposite parallel as Utah?? The landscape was so beautiful every bump,wash board, and river crossing was worth it. One thing they don’t have in Utah was the Giant Condors soaring over the red rock cliffs!!
PICTURES
Inside the Silver Mine in Potosi. Paul said “those look really heavy” I Told him to go try lift one for them. The miners did not mind actually they were happy to have a gringo help out.
Cool desert picnic.
Going for it at the salt flats.
We got a little salty. nothing too major but needs to be washed off before it starts corroding.
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