Brazil is massive. It took 3 flights and about 12 hours to get to Recife where I rented a hot little Fiat hatchback and rolled south an hour to meet the Cap’n in Porto de Galinhas (the chicken port). Wikipedia if you care to know the story behind that.
So far so good. Miles and miles and miles of scarcely populated and palm lined beaches.
Spanning the Paraná River, which is the border between Paraguay and Brazil, this dam is the biggest dam in the world in terms of energy output. It provides power to 90% of Paraguay and 20% of Brazil. If you are a nerdy engineer type like me, you can check out all the stats on Wikipedia.
Of course, like anything it has it’s ups and downs. To build it, they submerged and blew up one of the biggest waterfalls in the world. Up to 13 million gallons per second with a drop of 350 feet. For comparison, Niagara Falls flows at up to 1.5 million gallons per second with a drop around 150 feet. They say you could hear the roar of the waterfalls from 20 miles away.
It is a good sign that Brazil and Paraguay worked together to make this happen. Of course, it looks now like brazil isn’t really sharing correctly. It is also interesting that Argentina had to get involved in the dam too, due to fears that, if relations ever soured between either country and Argentina, the flood gates could be opened and Buenos Aires could be flooded.
Anyway, pics below. Get your nerd on!
After a day trip to Colonia, Uruguay to escape the pollution of BA (it was a nice little colonial town for smuggling goods into BA back in the day), I took a cama (sleeper, literally “bed”) coach to Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. I really wish the pictures could do this place justice. It is higher than Niagara falls and arguably more impressive. A massive, massive river pours over the Brazilian and Argentine border through 27 separate falls. Super touristy, but for a reason. It was awesome! I’m heading to the worlds largest dam tomorrow (yes, I’m an enginerd). If there are pictures worth posting I will do those separately. Enjoy!
Don’t cry for me Argentina!
It’s been a blast. Thanks for not running me over with your total disrespect for pedestrians. Because of you, I now know that traffic signals and painted lanes are ridiculous suggestions which should be ignored at all times. I appreciate the partially functioning liver that your nightlife left me with. You really worked hard to increase my cholesterol level with all of your late night steak dinners. The wind in your south sure was strong and tried to introduce me to the gravel shoulder of your roads. Your ham and cheese is appropriate and necessary for every meal, and has me wondering if I will ever care for this salty pork combination again. Media-WHAT?!? that’s right, medialuna… Your sweet but stale little breakfast staple sure is part of this good, nutritious breakfast. Neckbreaking and probably bulimic chicas fawning over mullets and rat tails on your chicos. Your people are amazing with their smiling faces.
I have spent over a month within your (and your best friend Chile’s) borders, and I can tell you that you (and your hot pockets, err… Empanadas) will be missed. I can’t wait to come back someday.
I set up a new page for travel stats. What you see now is the data for each bike during the first month. I will try to update as more travel happens. Assuming the Brazilians will give me a travel visa, that should be soon.
Max, you would think they would have forgiven us by now. I mean, it’s been 10 years!
We made it!!!! Despite some seriously nerve racking traffic and about a dozen wrong turns in Buenos Aires, we made it back safely with the bikes and us in one piece. I’m really going to miss it. Such an awesome adventure. But now it is time to celebrate for a bit!
Special thanks to Mariano at Motocare for everything!
Based on the recommendation of other bikers we met along the way, we had to stop in Azul at “La Poste del Viajero en Moto”. Jorge and his family have opened their home to bikers as a traveller’s outpost. They let us set up our tents in the yard where we were kept company by a friendly rabbit and rooster. Jorge also has a room with notes from travelers painted all over the wall. It was a truly memorable experience, and we couldn’t be more grateful to Jorge and his family for their hospitality. It was the perfect last night on the road. Tomorrow we head back to Buenos Aires.
A little trip through the hills of Sierra de la Ventana saved this otherwise long straight drive. Fields of yellow sunflowers and lots of great curves. Not to mention Coronel Pringels and the Don himself, Don Carmelo!
Goodbye Andes, hello desert. We are back in the high desert with endless stretches of highway (think New Mexico). The people here are amazingly friendly. The food is cheap but delicious (unless you are a vegetarian). I can’t believe BA is so close.
Pics below including Jamie’s attempt to water the plants.
CAMPING!!! We picked a spot on the map, and rode the bikes until the road ended. The jackpot was Lago Puelo National Park with a detour through Catedral ski resort outside of Bariloche.
They thought the bikes looked better in the lobby than in front of the building. Ha!
 | Leanne on Aeropuerto, Lima, Peru |
 | Juliana on Sacred Valley & Inka Trail… |
 | chendo on Lake Titicaca, Peru |
| chendo on Lake Titicaca, Peru |
 | John Fenno on Miraflores, Lima, Peru |
Low Waving Through South America 