Two years later - Palmira, Mendoza

View of Miami, Florida.

Finally, it's time to travel again! After 2 years, 2 months, and 21 days, I once more set foot in South America in order to continue my trip that began in the summer of 2017. I rejoin with my motorbike in the town of Palmira, 30 km east of Mendoza, and I set up my tent in the yard of Valentín's house, where I left the motorbike in storage during the pandemic.

In January 2020, when I decided to take a break at home in Quebec, I didn't know that a COVID-19 pandemic was about to cause havoc. Since I had planned to come back to Argentina after a few months, I didn't prepare the bike for a long hibernation in a warehouse. I didn't empty the fuel tank nor the carburetor. The bike was in dire need of a good maintenance and of a deep cleaning of the carburetor.

I arrived in the Easter Week and it was difficult to have time with a mechanic near where I stored the motorbike. The bike was dead, so I had to push it to the nearest garage for repairs. Nearly 3 weeks was needed before the bike was completely fit to take the road again.

I spent those three weeks at Valentín's place, the first half I slept in my tent, and the other half, in the house using my sleeping bag and mattress. During that time, I met many interesting people in Palmira and I spent some nice time with them.

Palmira

Valentín, my host.

Here is Valentín, my host, with whom I stored the motorbike. Valentín is partly retired, once a baker in his own company, he now lives from lands he rents to other companies. His children are all adults and now live outside the family home. One of his activities is to offer a storage service for vehicles owned by travellers whom he likes to meet in order to share and socialize.

On a nice sunny Sunday, Valentín and myself prepared an asado (barbecue) that we enjoyed with a good bottle of wine.

Argentinians are avid meat eaters and enjoy asados.

Always better with a good bottle of wine.

The first days, I camped in the yard.

Camping in the house.

Repairs and maintenance of the motorbike

After more than two years, the fuel left in the carburetor had degraded and left a layer of gummy residue that clogged everything. Thus a thorough cleaning of the carburetor was needed. In addition, a good maintenance was also performed:

The gummy residue left by the degraded fuel is clearly visible.

The chain and sprockets were changed.

Wear on the battery positive wire.

In front of Marcelo's garage.

Marcelo, a motorbike mechanic.

Inside the workshop.

A crack is visible on the frame.

Crack on the frame.

The new Brazilian tires to install.

A weather anomaly named 'Zonda Wind' brings strong winds that lift dirt and dust. In the high mountains, it means snow is falling. For that matter, that day, the mountain pass between Mendoza and Chile was closed.

Repairs of one of the two cracks in the frame.

San Martin

Ari et Carlos.

While I was looking for muesli cereals, I found a small shop owned by the couple Ariadne (Argentina) and Carlos (Spain). I became friends with them and we had some good times together.

We went out to the town of San Martin to enjoy the fiesta Fallas Valenciana organized by the Casa España.

The club of antique cars

Ari and her father.

Ari's father is a car mechanic with a passion for antique vehicles. He has restored many cars and he is also a member of an antique cars club.

I was invited to join a reunion of the club members where they meet to socialize. During a nice afternoon, the group had an asado of meats, sausages and some good wine.

Alex, Ari and Carlos.

Some of the club members.

Mendoza

While waiting for the motorbike to be fit to take the road, I explored some sites in the provincial capital Mendoza. I walked around the five main plazas (Independancia, Chile, Italia, España and San Martin), the Aristides Villanueva avenue, and General San Martin Park.

General San Martin Park

The day I hit the road again

It is time to say goodbye to my new friends. On May 1, 2022, I hit the road again so I can continue my South American discovery trip.