On Jan 16, 2008, I started thread about Dave Liddell who was riding his bicycle down Baja. He began his journey in Seattle, WA and was heading for the
tip of South America. He's been on the road now for a little over 2 years. Dave is an interesting writer so you may want to catch up on his trip by
checking out his blog: http://www.ridesouth.net/
Anyway, he has made it to Ushuaia, Argentina. Look at the bottom of the world and Ushuaia is under the print way down at the bottom.
Congratulations Dave!
elgatoloco - 11-28-2009 at 07:30 PM
Wow! That guy is a good rider and a good writer. Just reading about some of his adventures in the last month includng a bad crash! What a feat. I
will be thinking about him when I go on my 30 mile ride around San Diego Bay tomorrow!
I am always amazed when I am travelling down Baja and I see someone on a bicycle headed for the tip of the Peninsula. Baja tends to draw a pretty
diverse group of adventurers.
A year or so ago when spending a few days at Juan y Juan in San Juanico we met 2 guys on wave runners that were travelling from Alaska to Miami, via
the Panama Canal. They were from south Africa and were really a trip to talk to. They ended up spending the night at the house and had some great
stories.
Only in Baja!Skipjack Joe - 11-28-2009 at 11:08 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Carlos Fiesta
....from Alaska to Miami, via the Panama Canal. ....
?????rhintransit - 11-29-2009 at 07:08 AM
I didn't meet Dave, am sorry he didn't stop at my place. there are many fascinating cyclists out there making the trip down (or up) Baja. after
meeting them, I try to follow each on their journeys whereever they are headed. the tip of South America seems a fairly common destination though
many stop short of that for various reasons.
if you enjoyed Dave's blog, if you enjoy good company and are willing to open your doors to the travelers you will be richly rewarded. see
Warmshowers.org a site dedicated to bicyclists/bicycle friendly people. I was the first Warmshowers host in Baja, there is now a second in Mulege
and I hear a third in Ensenada. more are needed for these cyclists, many of whom would welcome a chance to sleep somewhere besides under a cactus.
I've not met a single one I would not welcome back again and again.DENNIS - 11-29-2009 at 08:42 AM
That was a pretty heated thread if I recall, and the general concensus was that he had to be insane to be on HWY 1 on a bicycle.
I'm really glad he pulled it off. This guy's got a pair to be proud of.msawin - 11-29-2009 at 09:00 AM
Great photos. Taking the time to share. I wish I could take one trip and just take my time and do the same, take some photos. and a few more tacos.TMW - 11-29-2009 at 11:03 AM
I hope someday Baja will have widened the highways so it is more safe for the bicyclist. I hate to think of a rider going around a curve on hwy 1 with
a semi coming in both directions. Taking a bicycle trip down Baja and especially from Seattle to the tip of SA has got to be a wild adventure.BMG - 11-29-2009 at 11:07 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
That was a pretty heated thread if I recall, and the general concensus was that he had to be insane to be on HWY 1 on a bicycle.
I'm really glad he pulled it off. This guy's got a pair to be proud of.
Be sure to read about his
encounter with the bull and fighting it off with his machete.
He does have some very cool photos posted.
DENNIS - 11-29-2009 at 11:42 AM
Jeeezo...that is one long telephoto lens he's using. The road looks like a piled-up hose.Skipjack Joe - 11-29-2009 at 01:02 PM
Started reading the bicycle journal and it brought back a flood of memories. This was shot near Huaraz:
Skipjack Joe - 11-29-2009 at 01:28 PM
On the other side of Cordilleria Blanca:
DENNIS - 11-29-2009 at 01:32 PM
That looks medieval if not for the power line.Skipjack Joe - 11-29-2009 at 01:37 PM
Yeah. Going back in time really jolts you.
Drying corn for winter:
Skipjack Joe - 11-29-2009 at 01:59 PM
Andean village close 1 hour from paved road. The 'medieval' village was 1 day from paved road.
Skipjack Joe - 11-29-2009 at 02:01 PM
Looking up from lowland village.
Bajahowodd - 11-29-2009 at 02:04 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
That was a pretty heated thread if I recall, and the general concensus was that he had to be insane to be on HWY 1 on a bicycle.
I'm really glad he pulled it off. This guy's got a pair to be proud of.
Couple of years ago, we met a young couple from Austria as we shared a panga in San Ignacio Lagoon to play with the whales. These folks were doing the
reverse direction, having flown from Europe to Argentina, and were headed to Vancouver. They were on motorcycles. And we thought that was nuts.BMG - 11-29-2009 at 02:44 PM
Here is the latest word from Dave.
Quote:
Nov 29, 2009
18,766km, 743 days. I rode to the end of the Earth today. HUGE!!! thanks to all for the love, support, and interest in my journey along the way.
Bajahowodd - 11-29-2009 at 02:59 PM
Wow! Two years on a bicycle seat. Anyone know if his voice has changed?bajarich - 11-30-2009 at 10:16 AM
Back in 2002 we met a couple who were riding to Argentina. I don't know if they ever made it all of the way, but we did get e-mails from them in So.
America. They told me that riding Highway 1 really wasn't as dangerous as you might think due to the low volume of traffic and the fact that you can
hear the cars coming from a long distance. I'm not sure what they did on the uphills like south of Loreto, but they said the truckers were very
courteous to them and that everyone gave them plenty of room. Of course that was before cell phones and texting. What would scare me the most are
the "it's either him or me" gringos that are in too big of a hurry to slow down and pass with care.Doug/Vamonos - 11-30-2009 at 03:12 PM
I just returned from LA Bay last night. Saw a kook on a fully loaded bike pedaling southbound in the hills just south of Catavina. I met him on a
blind curve, along with a semi-truck moving fast in the opposite direction. That guy is very, very lucky not to be dead. Crazy people.tripledigitken - 11-30-2009 at 03:18 PM
Igor,
Very nice compostion in those pics, especially in the 2nd and 3rd photos.
KenSkipjack Joe - 12-1-2009 at 01:00 AM
Thanks Ken.
That day was probably the best of the entire trip. They build those structures out of dung, straw, and clay. I happened to stumble across the
enterprise quite by accident. I could smell it 200 yards away as we approached the workers. It smelled like a toilet that hadn't been flushed for
days. But there they were, meticulously shaping and smoothing the surface of their dung bricks. This was so far off the beaten track that these people
didn't even use the ubiquitous latino cinder blocks you find everywhere.
It truly was like stepping back in time. Walking along that road we came upon a group of farmers that were separating their wheat from the 'chaffe'
(sp) by tossing it upwards, letting the wind carry off the excess. A pile of golden seeds lay in the center as men would go through this tossing
procedure. Campesinos don't like to be photographed so I have nothing left but my memories. I found all this fascinating.Natalie Ann - 12-1-2009 at 09:33 AM
I read much of the blog, saw the pix, and still find it difficult to wrap my mind around the fact of this trip. A true epic adventure!
Amazing photos, Igor! I guess you know how fortunate you are to have witnessed such places before the rest of the world arrives to change them.
Living amid the smell you describe sounds awful.... until I look at that last shot of the view looking up from the village. Seeing that each
morning, I figure I could grow accustomed to the smell.
nenaBMG - 12-3-2009 at 07:04 PM
Dave's last blog post was made today.DENNIS - 12-3-2009 at 07:35 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by BMG
Dave's last blog post was made today.
Sounds so final. Has his next of kin been notified?BMG - 12-3-2009 at 08:25 PM
Quote:
The final chapter. I gotta say, I'm happy to be done blogging.
