A Day of Adventure Riding

Adventure riding to me is really just another day on the motorbike. The adventure part seems to be how I view the ride and my mental state at the time. So it can be an adventure just going across the city or it could be a ride along a little used mountain road. The latter is what I will try to describe here.

Mendoza to Uspallata

The route looks innocent enough when viewed on a mapping application and it might even be a road with an official designation, like this one - RP13

A road that started out on the western side of the city of Mendoza and wove it’s way through construction material dumps certainly did not feel like any great fun adventure. The first few kilometers were through scrub bush on a hard-packed dirt road with wash outs from recent rain as it headed towards the mountain foothills

 I will just check it out a little further and I can always turn back -- the thought going through my head

When the foothills really started at the beginning of a valley the road started to get a little rougher. 

What if I have a problem with the bike out here?

 A little further and a small farm within a stone walled enclosure appears and I decide to stop in an ask about the state of the road further up the canyon

Frederico

After talking to me for at least 15 minutes. a little of which I understood, Frederico declared that the suspension on the KTM should be up to the task of tackling the road up the pass.

The road from here on changed rapidly and turned into a real adventure.

What if have a problem out here?

I will just check it out a little further — I can always turn back

And then the pass started in earnest with switchback after switchback climbing into the dark clouds roiling up over the top of the mountains

What if have a problem out here?

I will just check it out a little further — I can always turn back

Rockslide

A rockslide that had been partially repaired gives me a little more cause for doubt. Am I am doing a smart thing riding by myself with the tracks of only one vehicle having gone over this road since the last rains, two days before.

There is the top of the switchbacks, maybe I will just go that far and then go back down, especially as those clouds are looking a lot more threatening.

Looking back down the valley

Switchbacks

Wow look what I just road up - exhilarating and a great sense of accomplishment - why did I doubt that I could make it?

Clouds rolling in and getting darker. What if it rains and I can’t go on. Do I have enough warm gear to spend a night out here without my camping gear that is back at the hostel in town.

I ride on ......

What if have a problem out here?

I will just check it out a little further — I can always turn back

Down into the drier western side

An amazing sight as the clouds clear and I see over the other side of the mountains. 

Now you really have to decide because if you go on you have to go the whole way 

What the hell just go for it!!

The drier sandier side of the mountains opened up and riding was easier in many places

Guanaco

What the heck are those animals -- my first Vicuña ( correction Guanaco)

Human habitation appears in the next valley and a farmer waves a friendly greeting when I stop to take photos. 

Heck, now I have no problem going on, this seems almost civilized around here and if I do have a problem I can always go back and ask this guy if I can bed down for the night with his goats.

The road now follows a dry riverbed which is always a challenge when riding a heavy bike ( I had filled both my gas tanks before setting off in the morning ) but I soon get into the swing of powering through the thicker sandy/gravel sections

Riverbed / road

Clouds rolling in again and now having only travelled about 60 kms in nearly three hours without catching sight of another vehicle the doubts start creeping in again — was this a dumb move. 

Hell no!! - you are enjoying ever minute of it !!

The scenery is fantastic and now the road gets easier and before I know it I am riding at 80km/h on a dirt road and hanging the back out on the corners — yeah, now this is really fun

Old mine house

The colors in the rocks were amazing

Damn, those clouds are looking like they are about to let loose with all their fury and me having dodged rain all morning.

The heavens open as the little town of Uspallata appears. Get into that restaurant quickly

and reward yourself with a hearty meal of grilled beef

And the adventure continues …