Chillan 29-2-12

Tried to get an early start but I had a massive hangover. That's the problem with rest days. I get bored so I get drunk. Then I get a taste for it and get really drunk.

Left Osorno around 9:30, glad to be moving, glad to be seeing a bit of the PanAm; even if it's a somewhat uninteresting dual carriageway albeit with a great surface and some well spaced twisty bits.

Riding in Chile is easy. Everyone stays in lane, there are yellow lights on the corner of each car that flash before it turns or changes lanes and everyone obeys traffic lights. The map in the satnav leaves a bit to be desired though; many of the one way streets are listed as the wrong way and I'm quite regularly having to nip a couple of hundred metres the wrong way. Nobody is beeping me though and I guess in most parts of the world there is a somewhat liberal interpretation of traffic laws for bikes. It's still not as bad as Puerto Madryn where every single street in the central grid was listed the wrong way.

Petrol is expensive, but you don't have to queue to get it. Road tolls are handleable (about a quid every 100kms or so) and the traffic is easy.

No flashing lights and thumbs up signs like in Argentina but a fair few bikes on the road. Met a couple on a Super Tenere and a guy on an Africa Twin; travelling with his family in a separate car.

We were all leapfrogging each other between petrol stations and fag breaks all the way up Ruta 5.

The biggest surprise was the hitch hikers. Not just the odd gringo gap year lot but loads of Chileans. Many of them young, female and attractive. I even thought about trading in the bike for a 4x4 for a minute.

Right. More wine and an early night. Need to make Santiago tomorrow. Looks like I'll be stuck for a few days while I get stuff sent from home and get the rear shock sorted.