Well, here we are at home again. But we did spend Christmas in South America this year. They don't make nearly the fuss that Americans (North) do with all the frantic buying and advertising. We find it more bearable.
We left here the 15th of November for San Diego to see our daughter and son-in-law for a couple of nights.
Then arrived in Santiago, Chile on the 18th. No luggage appeared including the newly rebuilt seat for the motorcycle. Actually it was just as well as we only had the carryons with us which made it possible to walk to the hotel when the taxi let us off about 1/2 mile too soon. He made a wrong right turn instead of left and left us off but we were at first not aware of his error.
When the luggage and seat arrived two days later we went to the airport to retrieve the motorcycle. It only took about 6 hours. Part of that time was used just finding out where it was. Then a lot of back and forth with papers to sign, proof that it was ours and avoiding the customs fee they wanted to collect. They finally said if we took it out of the country within 9O days we did not have to pay. Our plans were to be home within 70 days. So no problem. It was rather painless but tiring to wait around, especially due to the heat.
We did not head straight down the Pan American Highway but took a circuitous journey down to Puerte Monte. Puerte Monte is about 900 miles from Santiago but it took us 2000 miles to get there. Once off the main highway most of the roads are unpaved and so we had some adventures.
We traveled for 27 days and about 2000 miles before the first mechanical problem. We had a small oil leak from the start but it really was not a major problem. Out in the middle of nowhere, on the island of Chiloe, Chile, the starter went out. With a good push from me, as it was headed downhill, we got started and didn't stop until we arrived at a shop back in the village. It was the wrong shop. The police had sent us there! So, with four men pushing Eric he got going and finally found the right one. The owner drove his truck and showed him where it was. It was typical of the friendliness of Chile. I sat in a cafe and watched him leave.
While we spent the major part of the day at the shop trying to determine