Day 451: 2011年10月19日

Santiago (Moai Viajero Hostel B&B)
41,131km

昨晩カルロスから明日の午後にはショックが届くとメールが来たので、今日は朝から気分が晴れやかです。

ハイメさんからもう一度RBXに尋ねてみて、と連絡があったので行ってみました。また違うスタッフと話したところ、パーツあるじゃないですか。しかしこの工具は#14と15スポーク用。ハイメさんが欲しいのは#10のスポーク用ネジ切り工具。一度ハイメさんに確認しないとです。

RBXの近くで道端市場が開かれていたのでイチゴを1.5キロ買いました。1,000ペソ。宿に帰る途中昼飯にファジータを。1,300ペソ。

宿で休憩し、バスターミナルへイキケ行きのバスの時間を確認。意外に多いですね。これで帰りのプランはうまく行きそうです。

今日は学生たちがデモ活動してました。道にゴミを巻いて燃やして通行止めをしてます。どうやら、学生ローン(学費を払うためのローン)は利子が高くとても払えるものではないそうです(1000借りると3000返さなければならないそうです。

宿に戻りましたが、カーロスからの連絡はなし。もう8時ですが、連絡がありません。

こうなると、不安になります。ショックを治すのに今までいろんなトラブルに見舞われましたから、本当に早くすべてが解決し、再びエスペランサで走り出したいです。



Day 451: 18 OCT 2011

Santiago (Moai Viajero Hostel B&B)
41,131km

I received an e-mail from Carlos last night saying the shock will be delivered Wednesday afternoon - it is today!

So I could spend the morning freely. As Jime asked me to check with RBX again, so I went there.

This time I asked another staff, and he came out with the part! But what Jaime asked for was the thread chaser for #10 spoke, but the part was for #14 and 15. I told the staff that I needed to check with Jaime and left the shop.

There was a street market open nearby RBX, and I bought 1.5kg of strawberries for 1,000CLP (US$2). On the way back to the hostel, I had a fajita (1,300CLP) for lunch. 

Back to the hostel and had a rest for a while, then I went to the bus terminal to check the time table of buses for Iquique. There were more buses to Iquique than I thought, so I could make a plan back to Sucre easier.

There was a protest going on the streets. Those students were burning trushes on the street to block the traffic. They were asking for lower rate for student loan (if they borrrow 1,000, then need to pay back 3,000. Something like that). 

Back to the hostel, but I still did not hear from Carlos. It is 8pm now, but I have no good news yet....

Now I worry... To get the shock fixed, I have been through so many troubles... I really want to get it done ASAP and continue my trip on my GS.

[2回]

Day 450: 2011年10月18日

Santiago (Moai Viajero Hostel B&B)
41,131km

今日は朝飯を食べてから、ロックタイト(Loctite)243を買いにと、再びハイメさんに頼まれたパーツの件で例の店(Rafael Burgos - RBX)へ。ロックタイトはちょっと探しましたが購入出来ました。

RBXで違うスタッフに聴いたら、やはり無い、と。しかし、違う自転車屋に有る、というので行ってみました。が、やはり無し。RBXにある、と。こうなると、絶望的ですね。

宿に戻りましたが、まだカルロスからの連絡は無し。12時がチェックアウトなので、過ぎてしまったらもう1泊決定。

昼飯は近くのレストランで。2,300ペソ(4.50米ドル)。宿に戻りましたが、まだ連絡はなし。うーん。

午後は街中まで歩きに行きました。工具屋が、凄い!! 長さ1ｍ以上もあるトルクレンチが売ってたりします。チリ、凄いな。

そうそう、チリでは何故かBIMBOが「IDEAL」なんです。白い悪魔の帽子の「B」はそのままなんだけど。チリでもあの「薬漬け」パンとお菓子を売りさばいているのですね。恐ろしや。

宿に戻りましたが、やはり連絡はなし。マーク&クレアは今日はバイクの輸送の件で空港に行きましたが、貨物地区には税関を通らなければならず、得るもの無し。

夕飯は大学の近くの店でホットドッグを(750ペソ)。ここは大学が多いので安い店が結構あります。

さて、明日にはショック届くかな?カルロス曰く今日か明日には届くといってたので、多分届くでしょう。



Day 450: 18 OCT 2011

Santiago (Moai Viajero Hostel B&B)
41,131km

After having breakfast, I went to buy Loctite 243 and went to Rafael Burgos (RBX) to ask again where I could find the spoke threading tool that Jaime asked. I could buy Loctite 243 after visiting a few shops.

I asked another staff @ RBX and he said I could find it @ another shop. He gave me the address of the shop, and I went there.

But I was told @ another bicycle shop that, they did not have one on sale and I should find it @RBX...

I went back to the hostel but there was no update from Carlos.... Th check out time was 12 noon, so now I had to stay one more night in Santiago.

I had lunch @ a near by reastaurant for 2,300CLP, including a drink and a dessert. It wasn't bad at all.

I went out to the centre of the city. On the main road, there were many hardware stores. One of them was carrying torque wrenches more than 1m long!! Impressive!!

Back to the hostel again, but no news. Mark&Claire went to the airport to check the price of shipping their bikes to Europe, but to get to the cargo section, they had to go through custom, so they could not get any info...

Dinner @ a nearby take away shop. There are many universities around this hostel, I found there are many cheap take away shops around. Good on budget.

According to Carlos, the shock absorber should be delivered by today or tomorrow, so it should be there by tomorrow.

[2回]

Day 449: 2011年10月17日

Somewhere between Iquique and Santiago to Santiago (Moai Viajero Hostel B&B)
41,131km

朝が明けてもまだバスは走り続けます。到着予定時刻は午後2時。

朝飯はクッキーと紅茶が出ました。映画を見ながら時間をつぶします。

ようやくサンティアゴ市内に入り、バスターミナルに到着したのは1時半。予定よりも早くついた!!

昼飯は付かなかったのでバスターミナルのキオスクでチーズエンパナーダを。890ペソ。チリはやはり物価高いですね。

地下鉄に乗ってWilbers Chile - MotouringのあるLas Condesまで。終点近くまで20分位電車に揺られます。片道570ペソ。

流石にサンティアゴ、乗客の身嗜みもオシャレです。若い女の子はスタイルもいいですし、美人が多いな、チリ。

最寄りの駅に到着しましたが、ここからが大変。持っている地図は圏外なので人に聞きながら探します。

406番のバスに乗れ、とのことなので乗りましたが、バスの運転手もその住所を知りません。"バイク屋だ"と説明したら、"OK、バイク屋が多いところがあるから、そこまで乗っていけ"と。優しいです、チリ人。

BMWのディーラーがあったのでそこで降ろしてもらいました。ありがとう!

BMWで聞いてみると、Motouringはすぐそこだとか。歩いて3分位。

Motouringでボスのカルロスと初対面。メールでやりとりしてましたので事情は把握済み。
しかしまだショックは税関にあるとのこと。恐らく明日か明後日には手元に届くと。ブライアンのことを話すと覚えてました。

ショックの説明とか色々してくれました。彼曰くESA用のショックはガスとオイル一体式だからあまりお薦めしない、と。

電車でセントロまで戻り、Moai Viajero Hostl B&B (Hostal de Sammy)にチェックイン。ここでマーク&クレアと再会。まだ、サンティアゴにいたんですね。

しばらく歓談した後、ハイメさんから頼まれていたスポークのねじ切り工具の部品を探しに。しかし、ハイメさんから聞いた店(Rafael Burgos - RBX)に行きましたが、無いと。自転車屋街でいろんな店を尋ねましたが、無いと。うーん、残念。

宿に戻り、夕飯を食べてしばらくマーク&クレアと歓談後、久しぶりにシャワーを浴びて早めに寝ました。

さて、明日にはショック届くかな?


Day 449: 17 OCT 2011

Somewhere between Iquique and Santiago to Santiago (Moai Viajero Hostel B&B)
41,131km

The bus was still running towards Santiago when I woke up this morning. It would arrive Santiago at 2pm according to the schedule.

Cookies and hot tea were served for breakfast. I watched a movie (The new daughter) but it was a really bad movie.

Around 1:30pm, finally the bus got to the terminal. As the lunch was not served, I bought a cheese empànada for 890CLP (Chlian peso). As everyone said, the prices in Chile are much more expensive than Bolivia.

I took a subway to Los Condes where Wilbers Chile - Motouring located. The fare cost 570CLP one way.

The subway was clean and very tidy. Those passengers were well groomed and those young girls were pretty. Chile is definitely "developed" country.

I got off 2 stations beofre the terminal. It took me 20mins or so. Then I had to ask people how to get to Motouring. I was told to get on a 406 bus.

I hopped on the bus, but the bus driver was not sure where I should get off. I told him that I was looking for a motorbike shop. Then he said there was a block many motorbike shops located and I could stay onboard till there. Chileans are very kind indeed.

I found a BMW dealer and got off the bus there. I went into the BMW and asked where Motouring was. They told me it was no far and I could walk there.

Then I met Carlos - the boss of Motouring - for the first time. As we had been communicating via e-mails, he knew all the stories. But the shock was still in custom and most likely it would be at his workshop tomorrow or on Wednesday.

He showed me those Wilbers shocks and explained to me how those worked. He reckoned the ESA shock was not a good idea as it had oil and gas in one compartment. It should be separated. 

I took a subway back to Centro and checked in at "Moai Viajero Hostel B&B" AKA "Hostal de Sammy". And there were Mark&Claire still!! I did not expet they were still staying there. 

After a little chat with them, I went to find the spoke threading tool that Jaime asked me to find in Santiago. I went to the importer (Rafael Burgos - RBX) where Jaime mentioned. But they did not have the tool... I wnet to many bicycle shops in Calle San Deiego, but none had it for sale....

After having dinner, I chat with Mark&Claire, then I took a shower (I did nt take a shower for 3days).

As I was so tired, I went to sleep really early. I hope I can get the shock tomorrow.

[3回]

Day 448: 2011年10月16日

Pisiga (Bolivia) to somewhere between Iquique and Santiago (Chile)
41,131km

朝は7時前に起きて、皆で国境沿いまで歩きます。本線ではなくちょっと脇道へ。
国境線の近くにバンが何台か停っていて、ディエゴたちが交渉。イキケまで10,000チリペソで、と。20米ドル! 高い!!と思いましたが、ボリビア人は皆その値段で納得。

考えてみれば昨日バスが故障した時も、皆返金の要求なんかしてなかったし、ボリビア人結構お金に対してタンパク、なのか?

まぁ、高いけど、とにかくイキケまで行かないことには仕方がないので皆とバンに乗り込みます。心配なのは国境超え、と思ったのもつかの間、そのままダート道を走りあっさりとチリ側へ。ゲートも何もありません。これでワシのボリビア1夜不法滞在は無かったことに。しかし、いくらなんでもこれでは国境、甘過ぎるでしょ。

ダートをしばらく走り本線へ。ここで昨日のバスで一緒だったオジさんが合流し、再びダートへ。小川があるのですが、凍り付いてます。バスで一晩過ごしたら、死んでたな。



しばらく走ると、ありました、バス。流石に誰もバスで一晩過ごさなかったようです。

イキケまでは4時間くらい。途中の景色はなかなかです。

イキケは砂漠が海に迫っている所に出来た街。けっこうな都市です。パラグライダーをやっている人も多く、チリは流石にお金を持ってます。走っている車も新車が多いし。

街中でディエゴたちが下車。大変だったけど楽しかったよ。バスターミナルに着いたのは12時過ぎ。チリはボリビアより1時間進んでいるんですね。

丁度1時出発のサンティアゴ行きのバスがあったのでチケット購入。20,000チリペソ(40米ドル)。セミカマです。ボリビアの物価からすると高いですね。

驚いたことに、飯付!! なかなかいいじゃないか、チリ。DVDで映画鑑賞。スペイン語ですが時間が潰せます。

途中ミランダという所のバスターミナルで一時休憩しましたが、バスターミナルは近代的でしたね。チリ、先進国ですね。

夕飯も付いて、バスはなかなか快適です。ちょっと足が伸ばせないのはきついですが、ね。


Day 448: 16 OCT 2011

Pisiga (Bolivia) to somewhere between Iquique and Santiago (Chile)
41,131km

We all woke up before 7am and walked to the border. We went to the side of the boder and found a few collectivos. Diego and others started to negotiate the price to Iquique. The driver told us 10,000CLP (Chilean Peso) each. Which was about US$20! Very expensive, I thought. But all Bolivianos agreed with the price. So I hopped on to a collectivos too.

I reckoned that Bolivianos were poor, but yesterday when the bus broke down, none was argueing for the refund or compensation. They might be very easy with money?? Or they just do not like argueing??

I worried about the border crossing as when I came back to the Bolivian side, I did not go through the immigration process. But it was no use worrying about it. The collectivo was going on the dirt track and crossed the border. There was no gate nor fence to divide the 2 countries. I was very surprised.

We stayed on the dirt for a while and the collectivo went to the main paved road. Where we picked up a few more passengers. One of them was an ld guy from the same bus.

Then we had to detour to the dirt road again (as yesterday). There was a creek on the way and it was frozen... If we stayed on the bus a night, we could have frozen to death.

We passed the broken bus and none was onboard. Everyone seemed hitch hiked out of the desert.

The ride t Iquique was about 4 hours. The sceneries to Iquique were pretty good, deserts, multi-coloured mountains, valleys etc. 

We got to Iquique around 12noon. Chilean time zone is 1 hour ahead of Bolivia even though it is located the west of Bolivia.

The city of Iquique is located on the coast where desrts and mountains meat the Pacific Ocean. Very interesting view, indeed. There was a huge sand dune just next to the city and it looked like it could cover the city anytime. There were may parasailers. Many of cars on the streets were new. I could see Chile is much wealthier than Bolivia.

Diego and others got off the collectivo in the middle of the city. We said good-bye there. It was hard but very interesting day we spent together, amigos.

I got to the bus terminal and luckily I could buy a ticket for 1pm bus to Santiago for 20,000CLP. It was US$40, considerably more expensive than Bolivian bus prices.

But what surprised me was that it included meals! Also movies were played onboard, so I did not get board.

We stopped at Miranda bus terminal for a while. The terminal was very modern and clean. Chile is definitely a "developed" country.

As it was a semi-cama seat, I could not streatch my legs completely. But otherwise, it was a comfy ride. 

[3回]