Saturday 12th July 2025 Villgran to Santiago
After last nights picnic, both feeling on top of the world, ready to ride the world, well that’s what we are doing, as we eat the cornflakes, banana and yogurt, lets rock. Still eerily dark the sun just breaking through, the roads quiet let’s hit the road baby.

Where we heading is north to the border, not sure which town or city yet, the breakfast has not kicked in yet, hope it does soon, or we maybe riding around in circles, be careful what you wish for. Easy first 30 odd miles, stop just north of Linares, all woke up now, check on the English patient, doing very well, lazing around the hospital, watching and listening to the cricket, tennis and rugby, think he is have the life of O’Riley, that’s another bit of work for him who was O’Riley sounds like he had a good time, so well done him. Met a great Mexician guy Duncan, does not sound very Mexician, in the Oxxon shop really interested in the trip, big photo shoot outside the place, he even had an old 35mm film camera, Steve would love that, great pictures and a massive viajes seguros (safe travels), 10 minutes later they gave us a massive wave as they drove by.

Back on the road, heading for Allende, small town with a few hotels / hostels nothing booked, let’s just see what occurs, eating up the miles, after a good stop, nice roads, bit short on wildlife, but a lot greener that we where expecting. As we pushed on very fast, with a nice tail wind, makes all the difference, Allende was coming into view and still relatively early. We stopped just outside the small town at a little fly infested shop, managed to get two beers inside us before the flies won the battle, the little blighters, off we go in search of a hostel.

Well if we did, two hours later still riding around in circles through this little town, every hotel on google was either not there or not a hotel anymore, no luck finding any place to stay and its getting hot now, very hot. Nothing for it crack on to the next town 20 odd miles away, see what happens there. Tough little 20 mile section, first hotel, still not an hotel, maybe a theme here, had a beer on the side of the road and discussed our options, looks like a few places along the road, we will try them all.

Finally sorted in an oldy Worldy place in Santiago on the banks of a big Reservoir “Presso Rodrigo Gomez” nice place, but both absolutely knackered big 90 odd miles in soaring temperatures took it out of us.

That’s not the end of it, nice shower wash the kit, check the maps, gone a bit wrong, need to redo the tomorrow, ends up, with another long day tomorrow, but safe, so hey ho, worry about tomorrow, later.

Nice meal and early night, so we thought, but a Mexican family in the pool as we got home so joined them for a chat and a little swim, did not get to bed till 10:00, way past my bedtime, can wear the jeans but can’t stay up late no more, that’s me!