Ultimate South America 2024

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step is the off-quoted statement about committing to a course of action. It is often also the hardest as it is easy  to be distracted by work and life and put off any adventures to another time. Our first step was to pay the deposit on the trip. That was our commitment to actually undertaking the adventure.  So having committed to the 1 00-day, 24,000km motorcycle trip we knew it would demand meticulous preparation. While Olaf Moon is riding the entire distance, I have a seat in the support van. Therefore my preparation was easier than those riding bikes. who had to do full maintenance on the motorcycle to ensure it was in peak condition and then ride it to Melbourne to ship it to Santiago in Chile. We have heard the bikes have arrived and our tour guide and support driver are helping everyone by clearing the bikes through customs and having them waiting at the hotel when we arrive. Compass Expeditions provided excellent pre-...

Just two weeks after I met my husband, Olaf, in January 1985 we took a road trip from Sydney to Mt Kosciusko and talked endlessly about what we wanted to do in our lifetime: kids, jobs, and travel, the conversation ranged far and wide and we eventually wrote down 20 things we wanted to do in our Lifetime. We have revised and rewritten the list many times and I'm pleased to say we have ticked off many places, experiences and feelings that were on each of our lists. South America was on the list as a location to viist and in 2009 we went to Chile (the top half), Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. We left South America on the list with the hope of one day returning to complete the journey.  Fast forward to 2023, Pittsburgh, USA. Olaf was competing in the Iron Butt Rally  I was waiting for him to cross the finish line when up popped an Instagram post from Compass Expeditions  about the Ultimate South America motorcycle experience which included Galapogas and a trip up the Amazon. I...